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The Rainbow Center for Children plans to expand their services with the help of a $2.9 million “Join Us on Our Journey” campaign.  The project is a comprehensive effort designed to increase the spectrum and availability of services to Wilkes County and the surrounding area.  Mr. Petro Kulynych, along with other supporters, has been working with Rainbow Center to help broaden the agency’s ability to serve more children and families. 

“We are so blessed to have this opportunity to expand our services to children and families. Mr. Kulynych, along with other supporters, has generously given time and resources to help us touch more lives,” says Board Chairperson Susan Whittington.

“In the past, we have only been able to take referrals from Social Services, Mental Health, and Juvenile Justice.  This facility will allow us to offer an array of services to all families.  Our expansion plans include providing marriage and family counseling, divorce and grief counseling, along with parenting classes, support groups for various identified needs, and an adolescent substance abuse program.  We also plan to establish a Day Treatment Program for troubled youth in our Caplinger Training Center that will become available once we are in the new building,” continues Whittington.Campaign Chair John Matthews states, “Our campaign has three goals: 1) Build a facility that will house new and expanded services for children and families in Wilkes and surrounding communities; 2) raise funds for operating programs and services; and 3) develop an endowment fund that will ensure our ability to continue helping children and families in the future.”  

The first goal of the campaign is already in motion.  Plans for the Kulynych Family Life Center are being finalized and the Rainbow Center expects to break ground on this facility in early May 2005. Completion of the project is anticipated in the spring of 2006.  Last fall, Wilkes County Commissioners committed approximately 1.5 acres of land on Court House Drive in Wilkesboro for this project. The new center will offer much needed counseling services, expand outreach programs, provide training and meeting space that will be made available to the community and house the center’s program and administrative offices.  Building committee members for this project include Gerald Lankford, Chair; Arnold Lakey; Jim Gray and Carla Cooksey.  Architect Bob Ham of Isom Associates has also played a key role in assisting the Rainbow Center with developing this project and maximizing the use of the facility’s space.    

“Naming opportunities in the new facility are available for donors who would like to help us reach out and touch more lives,” states Campaign Member Fred Robinette. 

The second goal of the campaign is to acquire adequate funds to meet operational expenses.  The Rainbow Center currently receives approximately 75 percent of their funding from government reimbursement.

“We need to raise funds that will enable us to provide services to children regardless of whether they qualify for Medicaid or other state funding sources.  The type of care children and families receive should not be diminished by limited governmental funds.  The lack of sufficient funds should not result in a child being excluded from needed services.  Therefore, our goal of sustaining operations is extremely important,” says Glenda Andrews, CEO of Rainbow Center for Children.    

         Chairman, Susan Whittington of the center states, “Our board is also very committed to ensuring the future of the agency by raising an endowment fund.  The campaign committee is currently working on the third goal with individuals who wish to establish legacy gifts that will honor their families by helping other families in the future.  ‘Families for Families’ is a gift that will identify a family’s support of helping other families.  ‘Legacy Partners’ is a gift that will identify businesses who want to reinvest in healthy families in our community.  A charitable person once said:  "I don't want the cemetery to be the only place my children and grandchildren will see my name," she continued.

            The “Join Us on Our Journey” campaign team includes John Matthews, Campaign Chair; Tommy Huskey, Gardner Glass Products; Rainbow Center Board members Susan Whittington and Arnold Lakey.  Rainbow Center staff assisting the campaign team includes Glenda Andrews, CEO; Lisa Lofland, Development Assistant; and Fred Robinette, Fund Development Counsel. 

            “This is an exciting opportunity,” states Arnold Lakey.  Mr. Lakey was initially involved with the grassroots committee of Rainbow Center when it was first established in 1986.  He notes that Charles Sheppard, Founder of the Rainbow Center, solicited the help of the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club, who gave the first $5,000 to the center.  The grassroots funding was donated for the purpose of conducting the initial feasibility study to determine the community’s need for an emergency shelter for abused children.  Mr. Lakey was also a founding member of Boys Town, now owned and operated by the Rainbow Center.  Boys Town was established in the mid 1960’s to provide shelter, food and clothing for troubled boys. 

            “Rainbow Center has been called home for over 2,000 children and hundreds of families have been helped.  Wilkes County is blessed to have this agency in our community and their growth will be an asset to many families in the future.  We hope the entire community will get involved with our mission of helping others,” continues Lakey.

When asked about his involvement Mr. Kulynych stated: “The reason I’m involved is because it was my late wife Roena’s desire to help children.  I want to continue her strong interest in helping families raise well-rounded children.  After spending  twenty-two months with Roena  in a nursing care center,  I came back to Wilkes County and wanted to devote my time to helping children in this community though several projects including this family life center,  Tiffany’s Place, the BMX park, and several other projects,” said Mr. Kulynych.

            The Rainbow Center for Children has long been a proactive partner is fostering child development. The center currently operates one temporary shelter and four group homes.  They also provide in-home services in seven counties and offer counseling and family reunification services to Wilkes and surrounding counties.  For more information or to make a donation, please contact the center Rainbow Center at 507 Court House Drive, Wilkesboro, N.C. 28697, by phone at (336) 667-3333 or visit www.rainbowcenterforchildren.org. Donations may be made by mail, phone or online.  Individual and group tours are available by appointment. 

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