Boone continues service with Boys and Girls Homes
Published 9:57 am Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Contributed
When Albemarle’s J.C. Boone started going to Optimist Club district meetings, he began to hear more about the needs of Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina. At the time there was an effort to raise funds for the organization serving abused and neglected children on the campus located 160 miles away at Lake Waccamaw.
“When I witnessed the care the children received on campus, I knew I had to do more,” Boone said. “Boys and Girls Homes was doing an outstanding job with children, and they still do.”
Seventeen years later, Boone continues to serve on the Board of Trustees for the nonprofit organization founded in 1954. Since then, more than 7,500 children have benefitted from the services of the not-for-profit, 501(c)3 agency.
Its mission is to provide services for children and youth who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or other family dysfunction.
It offers adoption, family and therapeutic foster care, 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, chapel and cottage life.
As many as 320 children are cared for through the residential, community-based services, and school program provided by B&GH at any given time.
Over those 17 years, Boone has served on various committees, including the civic club committee, audit committee, strategic planning committee and governmental affairs committee.
“I never wanted to be chairman of the board,” Boone said. “I want to be a worker.”
One of the biggest accomplishments during his tenure, according to Boone, was the recruitment of CEO Gary Faircloth.
“Gary has done a tremendous job with the Homes and the board,” Boone said. “I am a real fan of the work Gary has done to bring new services and opportunities to the children, families, and communities served.”
The admiration is mutual.
“J.C. has done so much to make an impact on the lives of children through his work on our Board,” Faircloth said. “He works tirelessly to make sure that the children have every opportunity and benefit possible to create the brightest future for themselves. We are truly blessed to have him providing guidance and leadership through his work with the board.”
Working together with the staff, Boone is looking forward to increasing excitement for the organization in the coming years.
“There is plenty of room for growth in community based services offerings,” Boone said. “We’ve added two new programs through C.R.E.A.T.E. Hope and Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center that will help children victims of crimes and their non-offending caregiver. There are other opportunities like those that we can bring our expertise to serve more children and families in the community.
“I have worked for more than 17 years to help support Boys and Girls Homes,” Boone added. “I will continue to do anything I can to help make it more successful and share the excitement that making a difference in the life of a child can create.”
To learn more about Boys and Girls Homes, call 910-646-3083 or visit www.boysandgirlshomes.org.