Press release from Eliada Homes:
Donnell and Alex recently purchased their first cars from Paramount Kia! The day they picked up their cars, an announcement was made over the loud speaker at the dealership and the boys received a round of applause. Just one year ago, Donnell and Alex, along with their classmates Eric and Collin, came to Eliada with little to no personal resources or support networks, and a mere backpack full of belongings.
Donnell and Alex getting their cars is just one of many stories Eliada’s staff has been sharing about the abundance of success the students in the Eliada School of Trade Arts’s (ESTA) Culinary Arts Program have been experiencing recently. From securing jobs at Deerfield and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, to signing leases on their first apartments, to taking on leadership roles in Eliada’s kitchen and cafeteria, these culinary students are showing us they’re ready to graduate.
Donnell, Alex, Eric and Collin are graduating on July 11, 2014 in Eliada’s PARC building! The ceremony is from 4-6pm and the students each chose a country and built a thematic menu of heavy hors d’oeuvres to serve to guests. Their menus will display their culinary skills and celebrate the culmination of their year in ESTA. Community partners, supporters, friends and family will all be in attendance.
Please join us in celebrating their success! Community members and the press are welcome to attend. Contact Tami Ruckman, Development Director, at (828) 254-5356 x306 to attend and/or address all press inquiries.
ESTA is a cohesive transitional living and vocational education program for at-risk youth aging out of systems of care ranging from foster care to residential treatment. The program provides safe and stable housing, adult mentors, life skills training, job training, financial education, and access to health care while addressing each student’s needs individually. Students receive paid work study opportunities in Eliada’s kitchen and cafeteria as well as paid internships in area restaurants, resulting in savings up to $5,000 in a single year. Eliada believes that the program ensures that our collective societal investment in children and adolescents is not lost once they reach adulthood. ESTA furthers Eliada’s mission of Helping Children Succeed.
Founded in 1906, Eliada Homes, Inc. is a non-profit agency serving the children and families of Western North Carolina. Originally a refuge for women and children and later maintained as an orphanage, Eliada’s services now include Residential and Day Treatment for high risk children and adolescents; Child Development Center services, including Day Care, Summer Camp and School Age care; Foster Care and Therapeutic Foster Care; Vocational and Transitional Living services; Therapeutic Recreation featuring TASC (Therapeutic Animal Stewardship Cooperative) and NYPUM (National Youth Project Using Minibikes); and Community Support services. Learn more about Eliada’s history and services by visiting Eliada.org.
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