In celebration of Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina’s 70th year, the organization is hosting its first formal gala at 5 p.m. Nov. 2 under elegant tents and the majestic pecan trees of its Lake Waccamaw campus. The gala is a fundraiser to continue its mission to provide for all aspects of the needs of children in its care.
Boys & Girls Homes (BGHNC) is marking several major anniversaries this year including its founding in 1954, 25 years of foster care, 20 years of adoption services and 5 years of Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center, its justice division in Whiteville.
Through the years, when North Carolina had childcare needs, Boys & Girls Homes filled it.
“The way I’ve always viewed BGHNC is we fill in the gaps in the rural counties of North Carolina which don’t have as many services,” said Marc Murphy, President and CEO of BGHNC.
One example of filling a critical childcare need was the launch of the foster care program. “When we started foster care, we did it because there really weren’t many agencies doing it,” Murphy said. “There was such a need. If you think of the more than 100 foster homes we have, if we didn’t exist, that would be a tremendous burden on Southeastern North Carolina.”
The organization estimates that it has served more than 7,500 children through its residential, foster care, adoption and therapy programs in its history. In its early years, about 100 children lived in cottages built by statewide civic clubs on its campus year after year. Now, though the residential and teen mom programs are still active, foster care has grown to more than 100 children living in homes across the region.
“The priority is ALWAYS the kids!” said Board of Trustees member Julie Wolfe. “And look at the results. From the numerous successful alumni and their unwavering support for and commitment to BGHNC right up to and including our current residents. These kiddos demonstrate in multiple ways how much love, care and guidance they are receiving at BGHNC.”
Douglas Delk lived at BGHNC from 1968-1973 and has fond memories of slopping pigs and taking trail rides on horses from the BGHNC Farm. He went on to a career as a commercial truck driver and an EMT captain with Sandridge Volunteer Fire Department in Cross, S.C.
“We had 100 boys here back then, and we used to get on our hands and knees across campus picking up pecans. When we got the sack full, we could quit. All in all, it was good,” he said. “I knew I always had a place to go. Without me being here growing up, I probably wouldn’t still be here today.”
