Successful Non-profit After-school Program Continues to Serve Students, Keeping Them Safe
While most Executive Directors were enjoying family time over the holidays, Vince Gaddis, Executive Director of Youth Believing in Change (YBC) was mopping up water that flooded the YBC facility as a result of a busted pipe during the recent freeze.
“Everybody at YBC does windows," Gaddis says. “Our staff does whatever it takes to keep our overhead low so that the majority of our income goes to further our mission to give children the spiritual and educational foundation they need to succeed.”
Located a few blocks away from Greenville Avenue and just up the road from Stults Road Elementary School, YBC has over 250 children enrolled in the after school program and another 275 enrolled in its summer program. YBC also reaches over 400 more children through its assemblies and in-school programs.
Volunteer Needs
Gaddis says, “If you can read, you can meet YBC's needs.”
He encourages Eagle Scout candidates and potential Gold Girl Scouts to come to YBC to do their final projects to receive their awards. There’s also room for those who’ve been required to do court- ordered community service hours, or for anyone who has a desire to give back to the Dallas community. Volunteers are especially needed from the hours of 4:30-5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, or Saturdays at 10 a.m. to help tutor the children.
YBC employs nine teachers who lead children through daily lesson plans and homework time.
The program fills a crucial need in the children's lives as after-school hours are the most dangerous time for school age children. Many of YBC's students would otherwise go home to apartments as latch-key kids, unsupervised in an area where murder, rape, drugs and other crimes are rampant.
YBC serves children who attend nine different schools in the Vickery Meadows Neighborhood and surrounding areas, the majority of whom live at, or below, the national poverty level.
Gaddis says, “At YBC you will also experience children being led through an exuberant time of praise and worship. As their thirst and hunger after righteousness is nourished, they also receive a nourishing hot meal two days a week and milk, and healthy sandwiches and fruit or vegetables and milk the other two days a week.”
With a Master’s degree in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary, Vince Gaddis and his wife, Angela, who has a degree in Music Education from UT Arlington, are the leaders of YBC.
Broken Pipe, Not Broken Dreams
As a responsible entity YBC has insurance to cover the damage of the flooded hallway and the damage done to the facility, but will have to pay a $2500 deductible.
Gaddis knows that’s a small price to pay for his program, teaching the youth of Dallas to believe in themselves, do well in school, and change the world.
Youth Believing in Change is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Donations are 100% tax deductible.
For more information, contact ybc@ybcdallas.org or call 214-692-9242 for a tour or to volunteer.
Donations can be mailed to: Youth Believing in Change, 8574 Stults Road, Dallas, Texas 75243.