Second Century of Hope Receives $500,000 Gift
In December 2008, we began serving older youth who want to continue their education beyond high school at our new Ray Campbell Independent Living Village. Since its launch, our high school graduation rate has climbed to 84%, and several youth have completed certificate or degree programs. Currently, 15 youths are in residence, with another five receiving higher education support.
Now, we’re ready to launch the next phase in helping older foster care youth find success. At the heart of the Second Century of Hope Campaign is an exciting new apprenticeship program that will provide older youth an alternative to a traditional education. While we will continue to support youth who want to pursue a degree, we are also developing programs for those interested in a hands-on approach to learning a skill that will help them earn a living wage after completing their apprenticeships.
Last June, we signed a 60-year lease with NC State to use their former 4-H camp adjacent to our campus. This allows us to open the facility to outside groups, creating apprenticeships for youth and income for the ministry, which will decrease our dependence on government funding. We will focus on four apprenticeship tracks: hospitality, culinary, maintenance/automotive, and outdoor recreation/leadership.
Our fundraising goal of $3.5 million will allow us to add new and upgrade existing facilities to give hope to youth facing challenging futures. Last fall, we received a $500,000 lead gift to jump-start the campaign, with several other donors contributing toward doubling that initial gift. If you want to learn more about the Second Century of Hope Campaign and how you can help, contact Tom Campbell at 828-686-3451. Also, please make plans now to attend our West Campus Open House on June 3.
