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This year marked the 20th anniversary for Camp Challenge, a week-long summer camp experience for high-achieving, low-resource middle school students from North Carolina. Campers attend at no cost, thanks to sponsors like CAHEC who donate money for all camp scholarships. Located at the Sertoma 4-H Educational Center near Hanging Rock State Park and supported by the North Carolina Bankers Association Foundation, the camp focuses on financial literacy.
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Camp Challenge campers pose with counselors on a hike during their week-long camp experience this summer. |
For the kids who attend, the experience includes much more than typical camp activities. In addition to horseback riding, swimming, and hiking, Camp Challenge attendees spend time learning age-appropriate personal finance and personal development skills. Campers focus on various topics, including checking and savings accounts, spending habits, public speaking, entrepreneurship, business concepts, and conflict resolution.
The mission of Camp Challenge is similar to that of CAHEC's Youth Recognition Program, which is to promote improved academic performance and good behavior. Because of this, the decision to partner with Camp Challenge was an easy one for CAHEC. This is our third year as a sponsor, and we're proud to help Camp Challenge celebrate its 20th year of reaching out to North Carolina's youth and preparing them to be our future leaders. |
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CAHEC Closes New Markets Tax Credit Project
in Atlanta |
CAHEC is pleased to announce the closing of Charles R. Drew Junior and Senior Academy. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the new Junior and Senior Academy is an expansion of the successful Charles R. Drew Charter School - the city of Atlanta's first charter school - that opened in 2000. CAHEC New Markets, LLC, is providing $12,000,000 of New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation for the construction of the 205,000 square foot middle and high school. The space will create 600 new high school seats, which will allow the current elementary and middle school to expand enrollment by 400 students.
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The architect's renderings of Charles R. Drew Junior and Senior Academy showcase the beautiful design the finished project will have. |
The students of Charles R. Drew Charter School have accomplished significant academic achievement over the last 12 years. When the doors first opened in 2000, the school ranked 69 out of 69 public elementary schools in Atlanta. Last year, 99% of the students met or exceeded state expectations for reading, while 98% accomplished the same in math.
Charles R. Drew Junior and Senior Academy marks CAHEC's fourth New Markets Tax Credit project and the first with the $45 million NMTC allocation awarded to us in April.
For more information about CAHEC's NMTC program, please contact Brian Oxford, Senior New Markets Manager (boxford@cahec.com). |
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Writing Workshops Inspire Senior Residents |
One of the core principles of CAHEC's mission is to empower the residents living in the communities we help finance. In keeping with this goal, in 2007 we teamed up with the North Carolina Writers' Network and began holding writing workshops at some of CAHEC's North Carolina senior communities.
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Linda and David Williams, who have been residents of Golden Leaf Apartments for more than seven years, enjoyed writing and sharing their life experiences during the writing workshop. |
These workshops, which are led by a published North Carolina writer, are meant to inspire residents to write down and share their own life experiences. The author teaches basic writing techniques and provides participants with writing prompts. After they spend time writing, they often share their stories with each other. Not only does the workshop encourage them to write about their lives, but it also fosters an environment where residents can engage in deeper conversations with their neighbors.
Linda Williams, who attended a workshop with her husband earlier this month at Golden Leaf Apartments in Wilson, NC, enjoyed being a part of the group. "It got me thinking about writing, and how I can put all of my thoughts and experiences into a story. The more we talked and shared, the more I realized that there is a good story in all of us."
The purpose of these workshops isn't to create an author out of all the participants, but rather to provide seniors with the tools necessary to ensure their most cherished memories are never lost. At the end of the workshop, Linda said, "I'm definitely going to start writing now, but whether or not I let anyone read what I have to say? That's a completely different question."
For information about hosting a writing workshop, please contact BJ Aungst, Community Programs Specialist (baungst@cahec.com). |
