LIFT Youth Center Case for Support

LIFT Youth Center, Inc. 7197 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736 info@LIFTyouthcenter.org 501 (c)(3): 83-1676980

The NEED FOR AFTERSCHOOL

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FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR PROBLEMS STUDENTS FACE TODAY Connection

In the 2023 Surgeon General’s Advisory,

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned about 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 and physical health challenges in their lives.

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332

students said they do Not feel connected to others at school 1

Lacking social connection is as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

No effect

Lacking social connection

“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.”

– Dr. Vivek Murthy, The U.S. Surgeon General

Mental Health

Smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily Drinking 6 alcoholic drinks daily Physical Activity Obesity Air Polution 0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Mortality comparison: odds

1

795

334

231

159

students said they have felt depressed, sad, or withdrawn for 10 or more days of the last month

students said they have seriously considered attempting suicide on 1-2 occasions in the last year

students said they have seriously considered Harming themselves on purpose 1-2 occasions in the last year

students said they have attempted suicide at least one time in the last year

1. Data from the 2024 Georgia Student Health Survey that surveyed 4,507 Catoosa County middle and high school students.

2. “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community”, hhs.gov

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Will you LIFT up one student at a time so they can LIFT their community?

oved as you are nspired to be more ound in community rusted to make a difference

100% 88% 98% 88%

Students felt LIFT was a safe space Students discovered new interests or skills at LIFT Students made a new friend at LIFT Students said LIFT has helped them become a better leader

* The data above was collected via LIFT surveying 128 LIFT students during the 2023-2024 school year.

Join LIFT as we work to increase our impact in Catoosa County by way of a two-phase Expansion Project. Phase 1 will involve LIFT launching a new facility in Fort Oglethorpe, the R. Randall Rollins Youth Center and Phase 2 will include the expansion of the Claudia Nance Rollins Youth Center in Ringgold. Additionally, LIFT is focused on sustainability through the launch and growth of LIFT Youth Center, Inc.’s endowment. We hope you join us so that we can fully serve 6th-12th grade students county-wide with free afterschool programming and support.

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 afterschool youth centers for 6th-12th grade Catoosa County students, where we foster an environment of inclusion, positive self-worth, and self-discovery within our youth while facilitating inner growth to prepare them for future success.

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The NEED In Catoosa County

55%

of parents in Georgia say they did not enroll their child in an afterschool program because

“Programs are too expensive”

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Community Needs: 2023 Feasibility Study

62%

of students not engaged afterschool

66%

66%

were interested in attending LIFT

of HMS/HHS/LMS/LFO students said they would need some kind of transportation to attend LIFT.

76% SAID Catoosa County students are in need of Youth Centers where additional support services are offered.

43% SAID they personally know students who are dealing with life-threatening struggles.

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2

66% SAID they believe there are many students who do not have enough connection/ friendships in their lives.

54% SAID to attend a Youth Center they would need there to be NO COST required.

1 Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network.

2 The data for the 2023 Feasibility Study was collected via LIFT surveying 183 Catoosa County students and parents.

61%

Qualify for free or reduced lunch

Students still to serve Catoosa County Public Schools FY 24 Enrollment

FY 24 ccps Served by free/reduced LIFT in FY 24 Lunch

Ringgold Middle School

753

206

27%

53.14%

Ringgold High School

1,023

113

11%

50.1%

Heritage Middle School

887

16

2%

42.7%

Heritage High School

1,244

32

3%

36.74%

Lakeview Middle School

631

0

0%

73.23%

LFO High School

981

2

0%

69.03%

*

28 students attended alternate schooling.

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Three yeaR snapshot, 2021-2024

910 22,392

1,350 500 8

Hours of Afterschool Programming Days of Afterschool Programming

Different students Total number of student visits afterschool

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

– LIFT Student

54%

of LIFT Students qualify for free or reduced lunch *

Percentage for the 2023-2024 school year.

87,929

Snacks served

R.E.A.C.H. afterschool Workshops

2,005

510

401

Total R.E.A.C.H. Workshops

404

Recreation

students engaged in

Education

students engaged in

• Basketball & Other Sports • Board & Yard Games • Game Room

• STEM • Career Exploration • Spanish/ASL 101 • Financial Literacy

students engaged in

462

468

ART

students engaged in

Community

students engaged in

• Photography • Guitar Lessons • Sewing • Artistic Medium Workshops

• Service Projects • Team Building • Student Leadership

• Social Emotional Learning • Physical Fitness • Healthy Cooking • Suicide Prevention

Health

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Where we have been LIFT began as a concept developed by a handful of friends in March of 2018 out of a recognition that our county was missing a needed resource. With no Boys and Girls Club or county-wide afterschool options for middle and high schoolers, there was a large gap in services, especially for students in low-income families, those who feel ostracized for some reason, and those without extracurricular connections or community. LIFT formed a founding Board of Directors and became a 501 (c)(3) on July 8, 2018. We chose to target Catoosa County 6th-12th grade students, as existing afterschool care stops after 5th grade. LIFT supports students through Positive Youth Development at an afterschool youth center, open any time school is in session.

Our Board worked diligently for 2 years to lay a solid foundation, as we wanted to ensure that LIFT would be sustainable and not just launch but become a long-lasting pillar of student support in our community. LIFT opened the doors of the Claudia Nance Rollins Youth Center in August of 2021 and began providing free afterschool programming using our strategic philosophy to programming, what we call our R.E.A.C.H. (Recreation, Education, Art, Community, and Health). The first year open providing free afterschool programming was a huge success, serving 391 different students afterschool, that clearly indicated we are filling a need in our community. We quickly reached capacity, and after writing a three-year strategic plan it became clear that expansion was necessary.

LIFT’s timeline Aug. 2021

Grand Opening of the

July 2018 LIFT became a 501 (c)(3)

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May 2023 Completed

Second Year, served 393 different students

May 2022 Completed

First Year, served 391 different students

Fall 2024

Groundbreaking for the

May 2024 Completed

Third Year, served 397 different students

May 2025 Completed

Fourth Year, served 400+ different students

Where we are going Since its inception in 2018, LIFT has seen an amazing community response as LIFT has risen to meet a significant gap in services for 6th-12th grade students in Catoosa County.

LIFT’s two-phase Expansion Project will allow LIFT to double our impact, remove barriers to service, and provide needed afterschool support to Catoosa County middle and high school students.

LIFT will be spending the next three years working diligently to complete this project and we hope that you join us in giving more students opportunities to be Loved as they are, Inspired to be more, Found in community, and Trusted to make a difference.

Fall 2025 Grand Opening for the

May 2026

Serve an estimated 800 different students county-wide

Fall 2025 Groundbreaking for the expansion of the Claudia Nance Rollins Youth Center

May 2027

Serve an estimated 1000 different students county-wide

Fall 2026 Grand Opening of the newly renovated

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LIFT Youth Center, Inc. Leadership Board of directors brandon bell, mja

John Francis, MSSW board vice President/ Retired Executive Director

Tammy Thatcher

babs bell

Melody Nichols

Jessie Thornton

Marlin Gines, PE Department Manager, Burns & McDonnell

Sherry Vaughn, MSW

board President/ chief law enforcement officer/ adjunct college professor Board Treasurer/ high school teacher

RETIRED EDUCATOR/ FORMER CEA PRESIDENT

Board Secretary

OWNER AND FOUNDER, JESSIE THORNTON’S UNITED KARATE STUDIO, INC. Masters in social work/Yoga Instructor

Ambassadors Nick millwood

mayor of ringgolD LIFT Ringgold Ambassador

Paula stinnett

City of fort Oglethorpe council lady LIFT FORT OGLEthorpe ambassador

Fort Oglethorpe Advisory Council Andy Johnson

Tammy Hardin

Catoosa County DFCS Director

Catoosa County Juvenile Court Administrator

Cris Cusac

Tina Pinkston

CFO, Cusell Marketing

LIFT Executive Director

Amy Faulkner

Keith Sewell

Fort Oglethorpe Business Owner

Fort Oglethorpe Chief of Police

Lynn Fant, msn rn emc

Paula Stinnett

Fort Oglethorpe Kiwanis

City of fort Oglethorpe council lady

Ben Friberg

Sherry Vaughn, MSW

Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, LIFT Board of Directors catoosa county of commerce board chairman

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More Students need us afterschool!

LIFT Youth Center expands across catoosa county 1

2

1 Lakeview middle school

3

Fort Oglethorpe

2 Future R. Randall Rollins

Youth Center 3 LFO High school

5 6

4

RinggolD

e

bl u o d l ct l i w we r impa ou

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4 Heritage middle &

high Schools 5 Claudia Nance Rollins Youth Center 6 Ringgold middle & high Schools

expansion capital campaign:

A $6 million dollar project with 3 focus areas

1. expanding iNTO FORT OGlethorpe

Lakeview Middle School 6th - 8th 631 students

LIFT has purchased and will be renovating the R. Randall Rollins Youth Center.

• Short 1/2 mile walk from Lakeview Fort O. High School • Adding Transportation services at this location to remove barriers for schools farther away • The 8,700 sq. ft. facility will have classroom space and an indoor gym • Outdoor space for recreation and room for future expansion • Adding free afterschool services for the west side of the county

• Anticipate serving 500 new studentS!

1337 Battlefield Pwky Fort Oglethorpe, Ga Lakeview fort o.

High School 9th - 12th 981 students

HVAC TUTORING

CLASS ROOM

HVAC

GAME ROOM

CORR PANTRY

KITCHEN

ART ROOM

TLT

CLO

DN

UP

CLASS ROOM

WORKROOM

GATHERING ROOM CONF

CORR

GYMNASIUM

CLO

CLASS ROOM CLO

TLT

BACKPACKS

CORR

DN

MUSIC ROOM PLATFORM

CLO CORR

STAFF

STAFF

OUTDOOR REC

LOBBY

TLT

TLT

HVAC

OUTDOOR REC

HVAC

TLT

TLT

FRONT PORCH

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2. expanding our Ringgold facility LIFT will expand the existing Claudia Nance Rollins Youth Center by renovating the back half allowing for: • An additional 3,500 sq. ft. to increase program space and administration offices • Potential addition of Behavioral Health Services

Potential new gym

• Anticipate serving 100 more students!

LIFT has purchased and plans to renovate the neighboring property at 102 Old County Rd, Ringgold, GA allowing for more programming 102 Old County Rd ringgold, ga space: • A new indoor multipurpose gymnasium with additional classrooms • Increased outdoor recreation space • Additional parking and improved access to the Center

expansion of the claudia nance rollins Youth center

3. iNCREASED SUSTAINABILITY

83% of our campaign goal is met! make your pledge toward the last million.

10¢

40¢

50¢

Endowment

Opperations

Expansion Fund

Every dollar raised supports LIFT today AND tomorrow

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LIFT’s Integrated Philanthropy Plan will make the most of every donation. Your campaign gift will allow LIFT to increase sustainability by providing funding that will serve both short and long-term goals to support our mission of LIFTing students.

“It’s all about people.

The people here at LIFT bring positivity into my life and into others. LIFT is my safe haven.”

– LIFT Student

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“As soon as I walk into LIFT, I feel like all the burdens of the day are lifted off my shoulders.”

– LIFT Student

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Capital Campaign gift levels Please consider helping us LIFT more students in Catoosa County! Gifts made in the amount of $25,000 or more include naming rights to classrooms and large spaces at the R. Randall Rollins Youth Center. Your contribution to LIFT’s Expansion Project will help us DOUBLE our impact and make free afterschool services accessible to students in need of additional support!

Lead gifts

Starting at $100,000

Made as a one-time gift or over a three-year commitment

Investor gifts

Starting at $25,000

Made as a one-time gift or over a two-year commitment

Foundational gifts Starting at $10,000

Made as a one-time gift or as a monthly payment for a one-year period

TEAM gifts

Starting at $1,000

Made as a one-time gift or a monthly payment for a one-year period

ALL gifts

are important and impact students! Thank you!

All gifts are tax deductible as LIFT Youth Center, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3).

LIFT Youth Center, Inc. Tina Pinkston, Executive Director tina@liftyouthcenter.org 706.935.5438

LIFTyouthcenter.org