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Community Foundation Announces Boys Home Fund

 
Covington, VA (Sept. 24, 2018) - The Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany is pleased to announce the establishment of the Boys Home of Virginia Inc. Fund. The fund has been established by donor Fred Swope to provide ongoing support for the mission of Boys Home.

Established in 1906, Boys Home’s mission is to help each resident strive toward becoming a productive member of society by developing his potential spiritually, mentally, physically and socially. Located on 1000+ acres in the beautiful Alleghany Highlands, young men ages 6-17 who have been impacted by poverty or family instability come to live at Boys Home to be educated and have a second chance at success.

Boys Home of Virginia’s dedicated staff of administrators, educators, house parents and support staff work 365 days a year to provide an atmosphere where students are taught honesty, respect, and responsibility. Typically, students arrive with behavioral or attitudinal challenges that are the result of a poor or negative self-image. In most cases, students have struggled with academics and function below their grade level. While Boys Home is not a therapeutic agency, students’ participation in the program results in young men advancing academically, maturing behaviorally, and knowing—perhaps for the first time—what it feels like to achieve.

Boys Home is a member of Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities (VAISEF) and functions as an independent school. Boys Home School is also a candidate for membership in the Virginia Association for Independent Schools (VAIS). Class sizes are small, averaging between five and six students per class. This allows students to receive the individualized attention they need to make academic strides. Boys Home also offers trades-based classes such as HVAC, computer aided drafting, materials and processing, construction technology, basic brick laying, manufacturing systems technology, robotics and electronics, and National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) core curriculum. Learning about trades is encouraged at Boys Home so students will leave being job ready, able to pursue future education if they choose, and more importantly, able to secure a job so they can take care of themselves as they enter adulthood.

Boys Home is intentionally comprised of students who are culturally diverse. At any given time, about half of the students are residents of Virginia while the remainder are from across the nation. One-third of the student population is adopted and represents more than ten different countries of origin. Residents at Boys Home make friends with boys from across the world, this widening their understanding of others and affording them the opportunity to learn about different cultures.

Boys Home students participate in school and community events such as sports, music, drama, and volunteerism within the Covington community. They take part in activities hosted by colleges and universities, attend sports and arts and humanities events, and when in ninth grade, join a very active Key Club in association with the Alleghany Highlands Kiwanis Club. Students also have opportunities to camp, fish, mountain bike, explore caves, and canoe or kayak, building confidence and skills all along the way.

Boys Home is a 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to offering the young men within our care a second chance at success. To give to this fund, please visit cfrba.org or call Lori Turner (lori.turner@cfrba.org) at 463-0943. Donations can also be mailed to the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany at PO Box 20, Lexington, VA 24450.
 
 
 

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