- Grant will support a major foster parent recruitment campaign during a time of great need.
- Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina is one of 39 organizations to collectively receive $1 million in local grants through Duke Energy Foundation.
LAKE WACCAMAW, NC (August 14, 2023) – Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina received a $10,000 grant from Duke Energy Foundation to meet a major deficit in the number of foster parents in the state of North Carolina. Boys and Girls Homes is one of 39 organizations in North Carolina to collectively receive $1 million in grants from the Duke Energy Foundation. The nonprofit that serves youth and families who are at-risk or distressed will focus the Duke Energy grant funds on a much-needed foster parent recruitment campaign. The campaign will include movie theater, billboard and online advertisement campaigns designed to increase the number of foster parents in the state.
“Duke Energy is proud to support organizations like the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina that make a difference for children,” said Pam Hardy, Duke Energy district manager, Columbus County. “These funds will go a long way toward supporting agencies like this one as it provides assistance to those who need it the most.”
For Boys and Girls Homes, the reduction in the foster parent population has been stark. The number of its licensed foster homes is at its lowest in a decade at 118 homes. Before COVID, Boys and Girls Homes typically had 180-185 licensed foster homes.
“Many foster parents elected to not renew their license or close out their license because they were very fearful of taking in a child that they did not know or what kind of environment they had been in for fear of getting COVID,” said Carrie Decker, Foster Home Licensing Social Work Supervisor for BGHNC. “The other reason I believe that people have decided not to come forward and be foster parents is due to inflation and everything costing more.”
But foster parenting can see rewards in the effects a stable home and steady, loving care has in
the life of the child.
“Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina is so pleased to partner with such a prestigious North Carolina charity as Duke Energy Foundation,” said Marc Murphy, President and CEO of Boys and Girls Homes. “The support Duke Energy Foundation is providing us will allow Boys and Girls Homes to recruit Foster Parents at a time of unprecedented need in this state. During the pandemic, North Carolina lost about 25 percent of its foster homes. Our Boys and Girls Homes
Foster Parent recruitment campaign will increase the number of available Foster Parents statewide, which will help even more at-risk children find safe homes and hope for their futures.”
Boys and Girls Homes supports its foster parents every step of the way with training, a Success Coach and regular check-ins from experts at our agency. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please call 910-646-3083.
Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina
Headquartered in Lake Waccamaw, NC since 1954, Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina has served more than 7,500 children as a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 agency. Its mission is to provide a comprehensive array of services for children and youth who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or other family dysfunction. BGHNC offers adoption, family and therapeutic foster care, Success Coach services to prevent children from coming into foster care, and free children’s therapy, as well as residential care on the campus at Lake Waccamaw. The campus features a SACS-accredited school with a middle and high school curriculum, vocational education, recreation facilities, farm, equine therapy and a chapel. More than 320 children are cared for through the residential, community-based services, and school program provided by BGHNC at any given time. BGHNC operates its program, services and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws. BGHNC is nationally accredited by the Council on
Accreditation. To learn more, please visit https://boysandgirlshomes.org/
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.
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