LIFT Youth Center Inc 2022-2023 Impact Report

‘22–’23 School Year

DEAR LIFT Supporters,

I know what you’re thinking! It’s astounding to have come so far so fast. But when local moms and dads decided to fill a big gap in local services, to meet the needs of local students, the support of local government, businesses and families made it all possible. Five years of development, one building purchased, seven extraordinary employees, and an awesome Board of Directors later… we have completed YEAR TWO of operations at the Claudia Nance Rollins Youth Center! Look through this report and you’ll see – it IS astounding!

This year a new Surgeon General’s Advisory was released on the public health crisis that loneliness, isolation, and disconnection pose to the American public. Disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health. In fact, loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives, and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

The Surgeon General said, “Strengthening the social fabric of our communities is essential in order to improve the health of people and communities and must be a national priority. Addressing loneliness is as vital to protecting our health as addressing obesity, tobacco, or addiction.” A new National Strategy to Advance Social Connection recommends that individuals, governments, workplaces, health systems, and community organizations take steps to strengthen relationships and increase connection. What happens each afternoon at LIFT Youth Center is doing exactly that. Yes, kids are learning things and having fun. Yes, they are staying out of trouble when they are here. Yes, they are building leadership skills and developing resiliency. But the value and investment of the time they are spending creating and deepening relationships with each other and with trusted adults is priceless. When I asked some students about this idea, one responded with enthusiasm, “I have for sure made connections here and I am much more confident – I mean, I even take my hoody off here.” If you speak teenager, then you know… that is HUGE! A willingness to be vulnerable and open, not hiding behind the bulky wall of comfort, but daring to know others and be known… that is magic.

THANK YOU for being a supporter of our work at the Center. Thank you for standing up with these children and helping us to provide such a needed resource. It means the world to them! I asked a few students how it felt to have strangers support them by financially providing the Youth Center. One said, “It makes me feel amazing, because this place is helping me!” Another said, “Their support makes me think that they must be people who want to see us get better and do better.” One student saw it this way, “They are making a good investment in the community. LIFT is essential for todays’ teens and this kind of support SHOULD BE free.”

Let’s keep this astounding movement going!

* 2022-2023 Staff: (Pictured below from left to right– Taitlyn Chesser, Chrissie Brown, Lilian Villafuerte, Tina Pinkston, Tonita Stickney, Morgan Wright, and Emily Momberg)

LIFT Team Staff

tina pinkston

Lilian villafuerte

executive director

tina@lift-ringgold.org

Program coordinator Lilian@lift-ringgold.org

Taitlyn chesser Assistant program coordinator taitlyn@lift-ringgold.org

chrissie Brown

Morgan Wright

Marketing & Development director Chrissie@lift-ringgold.org

support coordinator morgan@lift-ringgold.org

tonita stickney office manager tonita@lift-ringgold.org

‘22–’23 Interns

Nicholas COnrad Masters in social work intern

rafael Encarnaction

Bachelors in social work intern

Board of Directors

brandon bell, mja board president/ chief law enforcement officer/ adjunct college professor

Tammy Thatcher

jessie thornton OWNER AND FOUNDER, JESSIE THORNTON’S UNITED KARATE STUDIO, INC.

Marlin Gines, pe department manager/ burns & mcdonnell

board vice president/ masters in social work/ yoga instructor

owner, a fern and a feather general store Babs bell vice president of finance/ high school teacher

Melody Nichols Retired Educator/ Former cea president

Sherry Vaughn attorney

David Dunn

John Francis, MSSW

Retired Executive Director

Claudia Nance Rollins Youth Center

Claudia Nance Rollins was a devout Christian, a talented musician, a dedicated elementary school teacher, and a gardener so gifted with plants and flowers that her extended family in Catoosa County often compared her gardens to a beautiful painting. But Mrs. Rollins was first and foremost the mother of O. Wayne and John W. Rollins, both successful entrepreneurs and business men.

Born on September 28, 1886 to Robert and Emma Nance, Claudia was one of nine children raised by a widowed mother in the rural community of Smith Chapel. When she was 24, she married a local farmer named Henry Rollins, a man whose quiet strength and quick temper were a perfect match for the energetic and insightful Claudia. An early champion of education, Mrs. Rollins helped the community build churches and schools. She was known to all as a neighbor who always helped the less fortunate, someone who set in motion the very principles of philanthropy that her sons later embraced.

As a mother, Mrs. Rollins impressed upon her two sons that they could achieve anything through honesty, integrity, and hard work. Her two sons never failed to heed their mother’s words and collectively founded eight different companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Claudia Nance Rollins lived to be nearly 90 years old. She died on April 13, 1976.

YOUTH CENTER CLAUDIA NANCE ROLLINS

Student Voices

LIFT is an amazing and welcoming place to go and I truly feel it has a positive impact on my life.

At LIFT I can be me, not a fake me, I feel like I can tell the staff things that I don’t tell other people.

I LOVE LIFT!!

I guess I could say it’s like family here and I love that about LIFT.

I am a student leader here and I’ve

People accept me for me at LIFT. found attending workshops helps me come out of my shell.

LIFT is a super fun place where you can do many activities and it makes me happy.

LIFT is an amazing helpful place for people. I’ve had amazing experiences here, remember to be yourself, make new friends, and have fun.

I feel at home at LIFT.

I know I can always talk to someone at LIFT.

LIFT is very welcoming and open.

I love coming to LIFT – I get the support I need.

Mission:

Creating

opportunities for students to be... Loved as they are, inspired to be more, found in community, and trusted to make a difference.

Vision:

LIFT provides a free drop-in afterschool youth center for 6th-12th grade catoosa county students, where we foster an environment of inclusion, positive self-worth, and self-discovery within our youth while faciliting inner growth to prepare them for future success.

IN ‘22-’23 LIFT BEGAN A NEW SCHEDULE of MON./wed. for high schoolers and TUES./THURS. FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WITH FRIDAYS OPEN TO EVERYONE.

393 different students served

74 LARGEST MIDDLE SCHOOL DAY

34 LARGEST HIGH SCHOOL DAY

77 LARGEST FRIDAY (BOTH MIDDLE & HIGH)

STUDENTS SERVED STUDENTS SERVED

301 HOUSEHOLDS ENROLLED 22/23 school year

7,128 STUDENT visits to lift’s afterschool program

R.E.A.C.H.

At LIFT we believe in the power of our REACH. We are called to REACH those who are underserved, isolated and in need of support. We believe that we can make a difference because hope for all students is within REACH. Our events, facility, and afterschool programming are focused on the following core areas which we believe bring a holistic approach to asset development and resilience building.

“At

I’ve

- LIFT Student

246

Recreation

Students participated in recreation programs

• basketball, soccer, volleyball

• outdoor games: 9 square, gaga ball, ping pong, etc.

• indoor games: card & board games, pool, air hockey, puzzels, etc.

• gaming days with Ringgold High School’s G-society

• movie days

Youth ages 6-17 years are recommended to have “60 minutes or more of physical activity each day.” It is recommended to “increase access to afterschool and summer learning programs that support healthy living and active lifestyles through opportunities for formal and informal physical activity and recreation.”

*Recommendations made in Georgia Voices Report, “All About Kids: Factsheets about Georgia’s Children.”

177 Education

Students participated in Education programs

• stem workshops

• homework help

• skool skillz, a workshop on learning tools for success in school

• financial literacy workshops

• practical life skills workshops: car maintenance, resumes, hygiene, etc.

• mini-library and classes co-hosted by catoosa county library

• language classes: spanish and american sign language

• free tutoring

• book club

“25% fewer absences for students who are in afterschool programs for two years.”

* Attendance Works: Advancing Student Success by Reducing Chronic Absence. Making the Case: How Good Afterschool Programs Improve Schoolday Attendance.

Art 192

Students participated in ART programs

• daily arts and Crafts projects

• Photography, videography, and digital editing

• stage lighting class

• guitars for kids, students learned how to play the Acoustic guitar with Songbirds Foundation

• sew what, a local group that partners to teach sewing workshops monthly

• impRov, theater, and comedy workshops

• Open mic nights, students have the opportunity to showcase their talents

“My favorite memory at LIFT was making simple art with my hands.”

- LIFT Student

Community

Students participated in CommunitY programs 237

• Monthly service projects: handmade wooden outdoor pumpkins for neighbors, clean-up for dfcs, fall festival, cookies for first responders, Clean Catoosa (a county-wide clean-up earth day event), landscape clean-up at the center, installed bird houses for the Ringgold Creek trail, packed snack packs for Nourishing Children in Catoosa, built a bench and little library for city of ringgold, made cookies for neighboring preschool, made and delivered hats, blankets, and art for residents at a local nursing home, spring wreaths for neighbors, and thank you notes to veterans.

• Strength for Catoosa, a Sources of Strength suicide prevention program

• Tribe building workshops

• Monthly LIFT OFF meetings with all students attending that day, to help celebrate and evaluate the past month

• Student Leadership

Health 224

Students participated in Health programs

• Weekly cooking workshops

• social-emotional Workshops where students discuss a different mental health topic each time

• Physical Fitness/Workouts

• Music matters: The connection between music and the mind has long been researched and scientists say that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory.

• Yoga/Mindfulness

“I am thankful LIFT Youth Center is free because LIFT is essential for today’s teens and if it wasn’t free a lot of people would have to miss out.”

“

In 2022: 73,000 students reported having seriously considered harming themselves

43,905 students reported having harmed themselves.”

*Georgia Voices Report, “All About Kids: Factsheets about Georgia’s Children.”

- LIFT Student

STEM Workshops

LIFT students had the opportunity to choose STEM workshops during the ‘22-’23 school year. These workshops focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, giving students a chance to learn through hands on activities. Here are some examples of STEM workshops offered this past school year.

• Robot build

• Electric racers

• energy conservation

• Speed of Sound

• Light & Lasers

Tutoring

• Tower Garden

• Civil Engineering

• Catapults

• building challenges

LIFT was able to help 4 students by providing them with free tutoring with an educator. This free service is vital to the students who utilize it, and we hope to see growth in this program during the ‘23-’24 school year.

LIFT is excited to be able to fund this tutoring program at no cost to students and families thanks to the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network approving LIFT Youth Center Inc to receive funding through the competitive Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Grants Program!

ACT Prep

* Students names have been changed for privacy.

LIFT was able to help 9 students by providing them with a free ACT prep program from 36 University. Students are given a curriculum book to use along side an online series of video lessons. These lessons can be done at the center or at the self-guided pace of our students at home.

Social Emotional Learning

Social Emotional Learning is configured of five components:

• self-awareness

• self-management

• social awareness

• relationship skills

• responsible decision-making

During after-school programming at LIFT, we offered SEL workshops with a monthly theme that we encouraged all our students to participate in. Here are some examples of SEL workshops offered this past school year.

• Ethical Decisions

• Choices & Consequences

• How to deal with Stress

• How to communicate

• Resume & Interview Role Play

• Illustrating Your Goals

• Express your Gratitude

• Unveil your Mask

• Mental Health Awareness Poster

We had other social-emotional learning-focused workshops like Music Matters which is where students discussed their favorite song and how the song makes them feel. This workshop was a great way for students to express their emotions. We also held many team-building workshops which relates back to the social and emotional learning component of relationships skills.

Teen Group Therapy

LIFT was able to add free Teen Group Therapy with a licensed counselor to students during the ‘22-’23 school year. Over the course of the year we had five students participate. As stated by the group’s counselor the year met a need in the lives of our students. “We had a small but great group of students who participated in group therapy at LIFT this year. All of them were consistently open to sharing about their lives despite it being challenging and vulnerable at times. Each week we explored topics that were relevant to students including grief, boundaries, building healthy relationships, family dynamics, self-harm, and self-esteem. We realized the group functioned best when we incorporated some kind of activity, and these games and activities served to help reinforce emotion regulation, communication, and teamwork skills in the students. When topics arose that required a higher level of treatment, group members and parents readily accepted referrals for individual therapy or another form of mental healthcare. All in all, it was a really great year, and I’m grateful for the chance to get to know some of these kids!”

Mentoring

During LIFT’s second year open, afterschool students were given the opportunity to have a mentor. We had 2 students who met consistently with their mentor throughout the 2022-2023 school year. The ability to offer mentoring is important as it can result in an increase in better grades and school attendance while decreasing anxiety, likelihood of drug use, and negative behaviors in students.

Mentoring for me is connecting with a different generation, sharing thoughts, hopefully leading to a better understanding and appreciation for what that younger person might be walking through. We need them as much as they need us. Mentoring is a win, win for everyone!

- LIFT Mentor

Support Groups

Over the 2022-2023 school year LIFT was honored to partner with local organizations to host support groups. These groups are offered in the evening and are open to the community.

• SURVIVORS OF SUCIDE LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

• Foster Youth Support Group

• SNAPS - Special Needs and parent support

We love building bridges to help make supportive resources more accessible to our community.

LIFT was thrilled to add the SNAPS support gathering to our evening offerings during the school year. SNAPS is a monthly gathering bringing families of exceptional children/adults with special needs together to offer support, resources, and social connection as they navigate life.

We are excited about a new way to serve more Catoosa County students! LIFT Club at Heritage High School started in the spring of 2023, it was a dream of a few students to have a safe space in their high school for students to receive more support. LIFT was excited to be able to partner with HHS to provide this safe space for their students. LIFT Club creates a culture where students will experience belonging, where they can support each other and build connections. Students will be engaged by LIFT Staff with programming, which will stretch and encourage them. Meeting twice a month, LIFT staff provides social emotional programming to help students cope with anxiety and depression. Student officers lead the club by promoting the meetings and offering valuable insight into what students need support with.

LIFT Club’s mission is to promote acceptance, respect, and growth throughout the school by providing a common and safe space for students to feel LOVED as they are, INSPIRED to be more, FOUND in community, TRUSTED to make a difference.

New in 2023 Family Nights

LIFT offered six Family Nights during the 2022-2023 school year.

• Journal Making

• Culture Experience: Hispanic Heritage Month

• Trivia Night

• Self Defense Workshop

• Game Night

• Tie Dye Craft Night

LIFT opened the Youth Center in the evenings for Catoosa County 6th-12th graders and their families to come experience the positive, skill-building, and FUN environment of what happens at LIFT afterschool. We provided free dinner, and students participated alongside their parent(s) in an activity. Student enrollment was not required to attend Family Nights.

Surveyed Students

LIFT Surveyed 95 students during the 2022-2023 school year.

LIFT used evidence-based practices to assist youth in constructing building blocks that they need to grow up to be healthy, caring, and responsible adults. These survey results show LIFT was successful in our evidence-based goals for the 22-23 school year.

97%

Students felt LIFT was a safe space

97%

91% Students know they can find help at LIFT

students discovered new interests, talents, or skills at LIFT

86% Students made a new friend at lift 99%

Students SAW A GROWTH IN LEADERSHIP SKILLS SINCE COMING TO LIFT

97%

STUDENTS HAVE MADE A CONNECTION WITH A TRUSTED ADULT, VOLUNTEER, OR STAFF

81%

Students who said their confidence level went up since coming to LIFT

Summer 2022

LIFT’s main focus is providing free afterschool programming during the school year, but we understand the importance to keeping connections during the summer. After our first year open we decided our summer would have two components, all day events for middle and high school students and STEAM camp for 2nd-5th grade students.

Our summer events for LIFT students were each an opportunity for forming friendships, learning, expoloring, and staying active.

2022 lift student summer events

• LIFT Lock-in

• creek day @ elsie holmes

• cooking and sewing day

• red clay day

• fitness day

Before the start of the ‘22-’23 school year, LIFT held an Open House to give families the opportunity to stop by and learn about the afterschool programming LIFT provides for free! Families were given a tour of the center, introduced to the programs offered for the upcoming school year, and offered school supplies if needed.

During the 2022 summer LIFT held our first STEAM Super Camp for 2nd - 5th graders. We had two camp weeks that were each half day sessions for a week where we focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Each day featured a different superhero with an elemental superpower. LIFT middle and high school students helped our staff during the week as camp counselors. They each went through a training prior to the camp and their expereince as counselors gave them the opportunity to practice leadership skills while guiding our campers.

LIFT’s first year of STEAM Super Camp was a success with 26 campers over two weeks. Our campers had a full week of hands on STEAM learning!

2022 STEAM Super Camp labs and activities:

• Edible soil layers

• Rock mining

• make a volcano

• paper planes, construct and fly

• soap bubble art

• cloud bottles

• bernoulli’s principle

• snow lab

• oobleck

• water cycle bracelets

THANK YOU to our camp sponsor!

• slime

• water games

• paint abstract fire

• charcoal drawings

• learn about camp fires

• s’mores

• color flame test with elements

• elephant toothpaste

• math races

• Math & movement

2022 Student Leadership Strength for Catoosa

LIFT’s 2022-2023 Student Leadership focused on the county wide initiative Strength for Catoosa with monthly meetings to develop leadership skills and plan events. Kicking off with a trip to Lula Lake, our student leaders bonded and planned for the school year. Student leaders are a critical group of students that model the expected behavior during after-school and often help during workshop time. Our student leaders enjoy being a critical part of our community events such as the Catoosa County Fall Festival, Ringgold Christmas Parade, and monthly service projects.

The main focus this past school year was the HOPE mural in downtown Ringgold. Student leaders were among those who submitted mural designs for the mural contest and they planned the ribbon cutting event. The HOPE mural encompasses all of the 8 strengths from Strength for Catoosa (Mental Health, Physical Health, Positive Friends, Mentors, Generosity, Spirituality, Healthy Activities, and Family Support). We believe that by spreading the message of #holdontonhope, we can make a positive impact on our community by reducing the stigma around mental health, and how to utilize each of the strengths that we all possess.

Mural Design Contest

In December of 2022 LIFT began our very first Mural Design Contest for Catoosa County middle and high school students. We asked contestants to share their artistic vision of HOPE and the results were uplifting. 26 students submitted designs and the community got involved in the voting process in a big way with 1,740 votes. Our contest winner won the chance to work alongside the Artist SEVEN to finalize her design and get it mural ready! LIFT also held a coloring contest for K-5 grade students, resulting in 180 submssions. We celebrated the completion of the mural with a Ribbon Cutting on May 27!

to our Mural DesignChloeWinner, Lyles!

26 Mural design Submissions

180 coloring contest submissions

YOU to our mural sponsors!

to our contest winners!

2,740

Events

LIFT Youth Center Inc, in conjunction with Catoosa County government, the City of Fort Oglethorpe, the City of Ringgold, Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce, and other local non-profits held our fourth & fifth annual county-wide Earth Day initiative to celebrate and contribute to the beauty of our environment.

in 2023 we served catoosa by...

2,190 44 540 LBs of trash projects participants picking up completing with the help of

Thank you to our 2023 sponosors!

Thank you to the Catoosa County Fire Department for keeping everyone safe on the creek and grilling lunch and to Burns and McDonnell for providing all the food for lunch!

Thank you to the City of Ringgold, Georgia Government and Thatcher School Transportation for shuttling boats, floats, and participants!

Thank you to Kayak Ringgold for providing boats and tubes for some participants and shuttling our tubers!

Thank You to all who called in and supported LIFT students during our 2nd annual telethon!!

Mark your calendar for this year’s Giving Tuesday Telethon! 11.28.23

2022 Financials

*Includes previously designated grant funding.

2022 Grants

CHI Memorial

LIFT Youth Center Inc is grateful to have made valuable partnerships that will aid us in successfully carrying out our mission and vision.

Community Foundation of Northwest GA

Frank P Pierce Foundation

The George R Johnson Family Foundation

Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation, Inc

Mckenzie Foundation

Nabors to Neighbors Foundation

United Way

Boost Grant

LIFT Youth Center Inc is honored to have completed our second funding year from the competitive Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Grants Program that was approved by the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network.

LIFT Youth Center Inc is honored to be one of 104 organizations (4 statewide organizations with statewide reach and 100 community-based organizations) awarded a BOOST grant, funded with American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds.

“The BOOST grants are a crucial part of our strategy to address learning loss as a result of the pandemic,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “These 104 organizations will provide opportunities for students that support both academic learning and the needs of the whole child. I appreciate the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network lending their expertise to this initiative.”

The BOOST grant allows LIFT to greater serve Catoosa County 6th-12th grade students with robust programming at no cost to LIFT students and families. Having no fees for these services further gives access to what has become high quality programming, family support, and student services. All of LIFT’s programming falls under one of the five categories of our R.E.A.C.H.

About BOOST:

The BOOST grants program provides three-year grants, renewed annually, to community-based organizations that operate comprehensive out-of-school time (OST) programming year-round, over the summer months, or after school during the academic year. The goal is to provide evidence-based afterschool and summer enrichment programs that target learning acceleration and provide whole child supports, thus removing nonacademic barriers to learning for students most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants will support students’ learning, connectedness and well-being, all while addressing the learning loss experienced across the state in recent years. The purpose of these grants is to:

1. Expand access to serve more youth, with an emphasis on students and communities most impacted by the pandemic,

2. Reduce barriers, such as transportation and enrollment costs, to ensure access for all, and/or

3. Increase programmatic quality and expand or enhance supports and services offered.

Partners/Collaborators

Thank you to all the organizations who have collaborated with us for the 2022-2023 school year.

Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce

Catoosa County Conservation District

Catoosa County Family Collaborative

Catoosa County Fire Department

Catoosa County Health Department

Catoosa County Parks and Recreation

Catoosa County Public Library

City of Fort Oglethorpe

City of Ringgold

Department of Family and Children Services

Department of Juvenile Justice

Four Points Inc

Heritage High School

partners who led workshops

Antonio McMath, TRANS4ormed

Ariel Wright, LMT, Always Wright Massage

Brandon Parker

Bridgette Martin, FHC Productions

Bruce Phillips

Catoosa County College & Career Academy

Catoosa County Fire Department

Catoosa County Sheriff’s Department

Cecil Williams, Adventures of Cecil

Chris Dutto, Cadence Bank

Cindy Tahler

Corey Richard, Paper Cactus

Deana Keys Lane

Diana Hoagland, Sew What?

Dr. Corbin Wellford, Lookout Eye Care, Ft. o.

Edy Putnam

Emma Schmucker

Eric Pinkston, Pinkston’s Complete

Fran Randall

Gennell Green, Chattanooga School of Language

Grady Wilson, Chattanooga Floor Care

Hillary Begley, FHC Productions

Jaime Ellis

Janet Cumbee

Jason Carter, From Here to Career

Jason Gamel, Georgia North Techinical Collage

Jennifer Jenkins, Unified in Recovery

Juvenile Court

Kayak Ringgold

Nothin’ Like Ringgold

Nourishing Children in Catoosa

Recovery at Ringgold

Ringgold High School

Ringgold United Methodist Church

Rise-Up Cooperation

Sexual Assault Victims Advocacy Center

Songbirds Foundation

Southern Adventist University

Water Ways

Jessie Thornton’s United Karate Studio

Jim Tahler

John Banker

Kalista Bartee, RISE-UP cooperative

Kathy Mindel, Love on a Leash

Kennedi Bryant, MT-BC

Kevin Peterson

Larry Scott, Agoge Combatives Krav Maga

Lynn Fant

Mark Collins, Metro Boiler Tube

Mary Parker, Sew What?

Mike Wicker, Publix Ft. O.

Nick Conrad

Rachel Carr & Ringgold High National Honor Society

Rachel McCord

Rafael Encarnacion

Regina Young, Erlanger

Ronald Bristow, Bottled Tears Ministries, Inc.

Scott McDaniel, Catoosa County Fire Department

Scott Reese & Ringgold High Gaming Society

Shawn Petty

Sherry Vaughn

Spencer Pennington, Catoosa County Public Library

Tammy Thatcher

Terri Deem

Tina Lambert, Sew What?

Wayne Brown, Empower Chattanooga

Thank You!

Thank you to all our 2022 donors for LIFTing students in Catoosa County. We couldn’t do it without you!

2022 LIFT Youth Center inc supporters!

$5,000-$10,000

Theo Pinkston

First Bank

Simply Bank

$2,500-$4,999

Michael and Sandra Steakley

Pinkston’s Complete

Builtwell Bank (formerly First Volunteer Bank)

Georgia Power

US LBM Foundation

Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Priscilla Atkins

Ringgold United Methodist Church

$2,000-$2,499

Barry and Sherry Vaughn

John and Tammy Thatcher

Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union

$1,500-$1,999

City of Ringgold

Ian O’Shea, Real Agents Realty

$1,000-$1,499

Janet and Carol Cumbee

Chick-Fil-A, Fort Oglethorpe

Basement and Crawlspace Solutions LLC

Bob and Melodie Church

True Life Chiropractic

Kevin and Gail Peterson

Greased Light’n Inc

Richard and Kimberly Graham

Top of GA Economic Development

Dr. Nancy Ligon

Roger Gates

Jacob and Jessica Parker

McCracken Poston Law Office

Wilson Stiles

John F. Eary

Michael Giglio

Ringgold Feed and Seed Antiques

Gary Thacker Insurance

Whitmire Construction

$500-$999

Mark Collins

Kiwanis Club of Ringgold

Price Ringgold Drug

Drucilla M Allen

The Blackbaud Giving Fund by its agent,Your Cause

Boynton United Methodist Church Men’s Account

Jessie Thornton’s United Karate Studio, Inc

Jim and Cindy Tahler

Stephen “Jump Keys” King

Cheryl Rogers

Daniel and Melody Nichols

Ronald Cannon

Jenkins Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Inc

Northshore Development LLC.

Chattanooga Business Machines

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United

Anonymous

McCarver Family Chiropractic P. C.

Metro Boiler Tube Co. Inc.

Amelia Parrish

Pine Ridge Outdoor Supply

Chris & Chance Stockburger

Mashburn Equipment LLC

Kevin and Marjorie Whiteside

$250-$500

Brandon and Babs Bell

Anna St Laurent

Alan and Belinda Crisman

Jason Webb DDS, Webb Dentistry

Starr Mathews Agency, Inc

Robert Kidwell

Greg and Amy Jackson

Celeste Green

LeeAnne Smith

Edwin and Joy Williamson

Rose Yates

Anthony and Brandy Rood

Corbin Wellford

Craig Coleman

Jessica Garrett, Mighty Oaks Realty

Thank You!

2022 LIFT Youth Center inc supporters!

Georgia Department of Agriculture

Mountain View Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

Ringgold Telephone Company

Vaughn Spine and Orthopedics

Willow Tree Farm

David Dunn

Medora West

Terri E Deem

Mike and Miriam Thompson

$1-$249

Brett and Shannon Lemoine

Merle Stickney

Alice Tatum

Russell Crowe

Tomie Kottwitz

Kristy Layne

Jane Smith

Hannah Brown

Kiwanis Club of Ft. Oglethorpe

Lisa’s Gold & Diamonds

Chris McKnight, CNM Appraisal Firm

SMH Consctruction, Inc

Brigid Tussey

Melissa and William Jones

Shawn and Summer Petty

Melissa Pittman

Cindie Robinson Patty

Dean Hodge

John and Pat Brinsfield

Jerrianne Howard

Daniel and Kristen Scoggins

Mary Torbett

Bruce Phillips

Lilian Villafuerte

James and Judith Lambert

Lauren Locke

Tommy and Sarah Ogle

Ellen Lann

Diane Brown

Amy Crews

FreeLife Soap Co.

Lisa Gothard

Gary and Portia Knowles

Phil Ledbetter

Jerry Lusk

Sheryl S McKinney

Vickie Porter

Kim and Lisa Ray

William Scruggs

Ann Bolden

Staci Hendrix

Charity McDonald

Michael Pilkington

Randi Smith

David Buntin

Elise Carder

Roddy and Sara Clark

Bill and Phyllis Copeland

Covenant Marketing Services LLC

Dale Duckett

Alma Estrada

June Green

Sharon Hardin

Earl Henderson

Diana Hoagland

Hilary Jones

Dennis and Sue Mason

Karen McKinney

Osbourn Family

John Pearce

Rebecca Pickett

Steve and Marlee Snow

Larry Varnell

Karen Willis

Loraine and Joe Young

Danny Morrison

Nichole E Giambrone

Charles Bacon

Kevin and Jessica Cummings

Thomas Davis

Roxe Hurley

Keith and Stephanie Parker

Sandra Pitts

Colleen Crawford

Thank You!

2022 LIFT Youth Center inc supporters!

Judy A Howard

Bill Leiper

Carolyn P Towns

Bridgette Martin

Jake Steele

Marcus Debolt

Michael Moore

Carly Davis

Geo and Portia Mejia

Betty Pitts

Breeanna Cavanary

Kimberly Crews

Allison Franks

Mallory Vaughn

Charles and Sue Brown

Jessica DiMarco

Vickie Green

Pricsilla Henderson

Tripp Jones

Nelda Thompson

Miwa Sasaki

Merilee Daniels

IN-KIND

Alleia

Boathouse

Chattanooga Business Machines

Chattanooga Whiskey

Chick-Fil-A, Fort Oglethorpe

Chuys

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United

Community Pie

Craft Axe Throwing

Enviroguard

Firebirds

Fruition Prints

Giardino

Holy Smokes

Pat Jennings

Jonathan’s Grille

McCallister’s Deli

Moyer & Company

Naked River Brewing

Pam’s Place

Pinkston’s Complete

Plainview Outdoor Advertising

Scenic Suds Car Wash Express

State of Confusion

Taco Mamacita

Top Golf

Triple S Quail Farm & Hunting Preserve

Urban Stack

Wanderlinger Brewing

Waycaster, CPA LLC

Afterschool Volunteers

Benjamin Peterson

Bruce Phillips

Cindy Tahler

Corey Richard

Dawn (Sky) Taylor

Diana Hoagland

Emma Schmucker

Eric Pinkston

Fran Randall

Gail Peterson

James Ellis III

Jim Tahler

Janet Cumbee

Jerry Smith

Kevin Peterson

Mary Parker

Medora West

Nick Conrad

Nick Millwood

Priscilla Atkins

Rachel Carr

Rachel McCord

Shawn Petty

Sherry Vaughn

Summer Petty

Sydnee Brown

Terri Deem

Theo Pinkston

Tina Lambert

Trecena McKinney

Thank You to our volunteers!

Thank you to LIFT photography students for sharing their beautiful work with all of us!

Thank you for the georgous photos featured on pages 8 & 9!

Ways to support LIFT

become a monthly donor contribute a one time donation In-kind donations donate food or program supplies attend a fundraiser become a corporate sponsor donate your birthday on facebook Volunteer make an ira charitable contribution make a legacy gift

“A lot of people I know here wouldn’t be able to afford to pay otherwise and so I-m thankful for LIFT to be safe and free for others like them.”

- LIFT Student

“Because LIFT is free it allows more people to experience the many things this program offers.”

– LIFT Student

LeAd a workshop

“LIFT is a positive for people who may not have the money for it to come to LIFT WITH NO-WORRY.” LIFT

Student

www.LIFT-ringgold.today

“My experience was priceless –so if it did cost money I probably wouldn’t have been able to come.”

- LIFT Student