The groundbreaking event for Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina’s (BCH) newest ministry, the Bob and Carolyn Tucker Greater Vision Ministry Center, was not only a celebratory event but one with an unexpected surprise. The special ceremony on Monday, June 27 at BCH’s Mills Home in Thomasville brought together Bob and Carolyn Tucker, the founders of Shoe Show, Inc. who gave a $1 million gift for the new center, along with Davidson County dignitaries, and BCH staff, residents and supporters.
While addressing the audience, Bob Tucker made a spontaneous announcement pledging to give as much as $500,000 in additional support to match funds BCH raises towards the new center.
“I will match everything you raise up to a half million dollars,” Tucker told the crowd who rose to their feet with applause.
It took a few moments for BCH president/CEO Michael C. Blackwell to compose himself after Tucker’s bombshell.
“Bob’s full of surprises and that’s good,” said Carolyn Tucker of her husband.
“The culture of excellence that will be provided through this ministry will become well known,” Blackwell said. “When people ask us how we are able to accomplish this level of excellence we will say that is because of the role model we have in God that shines through Bob and Carolyn Tucker.”
BCH sees an abundance of good things in store for families in the Triad and across the state through the Greater Vision Ministry Center. Services will include resources to aid families in crisis, feeding programs for hungry children, health programs and preventive services, and educational classes to strengthen families and encourage spiritual growth.
“Greater Vision Ministry will be innovative, inspiring, powerful and life changing. It will only be limited by our imagination,” Blackwell emphasized.
The nonprofit is one of the largest child care organizations in the southeast operating in 20 communities throughout the state. BCH provides residential homes to North Carolina children who come from a variety of challenging circumstances ranging from family dysfunction to abuse, neglect and abandonment. Since its founding in 1885, BCH has evolved to now offer services for adults with developmental disabilities, senior adults and single mothers.
“This is a natural progression of what BCH has been doing since it was established 130 years ago,” Blackwell said. “This new program allows us to enhance our reach into the community by offering resources and educational programs to edify and strengthen families.”
In addition to the aid it will offer the community, Blackwell sees Greater Vision as a means for strengthening existing partnerships as well as establishing new ones.
“This is an invitation for organizations, businesses, churches and others to join us in this new endeavor,” Blackwell said. “We desire for Greater Vision to unite people who possess a passion for using their expertise and resources to shape our community.”
The Tucker donation not only paves the way for the outreach center, but it is also making renovations possible at two other facilities located at the Mills Home campus. Funds are being used to convert a dormant facility into an office building for BCH’s Programs and Services Department, which manages the daily operations of the nonprofit’s statewide services.
Blackwell says the restorations will allow that department’s current office building, which was a former residential cottage, to be reopened to once again serve children. “This gives us the capacity to care for even more children,” he said.
Restorations for the new office building have already begun. Construction on the outreach center is scheduled to begin later this summer. Blackwell shared that BCH is already in the process of hiring a director for the center and plans are for the new center to be operational in approximately six months.
“Six months from now when the Greater Vision Ministry Center is dedicated, it will be a milestone in BCH’s storied history,” Blackwell said. “It is going to be a historic outreach and an opportunity to take our organizational vision of ‘sharing hope…changing lives’ to the next level – a greater level,” Blackwell said.
MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE!
HELP US REALIZE A GREATER VISION FOR
NORTH CAROLINA FAMILIES!
Your gift to help establish the Greater Vision Outreach Center will be matched for dollar up to $500,000 - that is an additional $1 million that will bring hope and healing to families in need!
Make your online gift today at www.bchfamily.org/givenow.
For more information, contact Brenda Gray at 336-689-4442.