Category: News

Supporter Spotlight: Roanoke Higher Education Center

Posted on July 17, 2023

In order to serve over 5,000 people each year, TAP relies on the help of community partners. This is especially true of the Roanoke Higher Education Center (RHEC). Not only are they a sponsor of our Bringing Hope Home campaign, but the building also houses several TAP programs.

A One-Stop Shop

Located in downtown Roanoke, the RHEC provides a state-of-the-art facility for colleges and workforce agencies. Kay Dunkley, executive director of the RHEC, explains, “The Center was established to provide access to education and training opportunities to meet the needs of the citizens of our localities.” The similarities in our missions made the move of TAP’s This Valley Works youth and adult education programs to the RHEC a natural next step. This addition made the RHEC a one-stop shop for those hoping to improve their lives through education and job training.

“The RHEC has been home to This Valley Works for more than 20 years. It not only houses the majority of our programs but serves as a learning tool to our students. Sharing the same hallways and classrooms as college students helps our students understand that they really aren’t different; they are equal and can succeed in a world that has always seemed a distant, unachievable dream to many,” explains Jo Nelson, director of TAP This Valley Works.

Serving the Community Together

Kay notes that the services of TAP and the RHEC dovetail perfectly to serve the community. “TAP, through all their programs—Head Start, Project Discovery, workforce readiness, housing assistance, veterans, etc.—contribute[s] to the quality of life of the citizens of our region. RHEC’s mission is aligned,” she says.  “Both our organizations contribute to creating a productive workforce and lending support to human capital results in positive economic development.”

Reinforcing their support of this shared mission, the RHEC has been an annual sponsor of TAP’s Bringing Hope Home campaign. Kay notes that she’s seen firsthand how TAP helps individuals in the region achieve their goals. “TAP gives hope to so many people in our community to better their lives,” she says. “Securing affordable housing means folks can support their families. Earning job skills results in increased earnings. Having a TAP mentor and/or a coach who believes in you gives you confidence and motivation to be a better person. All of these things boost changes for success!”

Here at TAP, we are incredibly grateful for the support of the Roanoke Higher Education Center and look forward to continuing our partnership in creating opportunities for education in our community. If you’d like to become a Bringing Hope Home sponsor and contribute to change in your community, contact Robin Reynolds at robin.reynolds@nulltapintohope.org or 540.283.4866.

TAP Head Start Partnership in Craig County

Posted on July 17, 2023

Before Craig County Child Care Center existed, the area’s only option for early childhood education was a half-day preschool open three days per week. Once the Center opened, families had more reliable childcare. But as the only licensed provider in Craig, the community’s need surpassed what the Center could provide–that’s where TAP Head Start came in.

A Successful Partnership

The partnership began in 2016 when TAP provided funding for eight children to attend the Center tuition-free. The partnership has since grown to slots for 26 children.

“When we partnered with Head Start originally, we were operating on a shoestring budget. This has really grown our facility,” says Teresa Oliver, the Center’s executive director.

TAP also helped the Center improve its service quality through curriculum selection and staff training. “We use a high-quality curriculum that we didn’t use before. Hygiene and health has become a focus of ours, so all of our children brush their teeth every morning and get dental checks every year. All of our children get vision checks every year. That’s not something that was happening, especially in a rural community like ours,” says Teresa.

All Center staff now have Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials and an endorsement in early childhood, and some, Teresa says, “have completed the advanced certificate program at Virginia Western.”

Beyond Childcare

Teresa notes that the partnership’s benefits go beyond childcare. “It’s helped with parents being able to go to work,” she says. “If you didn’t have a quality childcare center that you felt comfortable and safe sending your kids to, then how did you work outside of the home? Now that we have these paid-for slots, we’ve had more families that have been able to go to work and have an income.”

One such parent is Kristin Foster, a single mom. With reliable childcare, she’s been free to work toward her associate degree and the next step in her career.

“I want to thank TAP and the Center for everything they do…,” Kristin says. “They always go above and beyond.”

Find out more about TAP Head Start

Click here to find out more about our early childhood education programs.

Spotlight: Bringing Hope Home Sponsors

Posted on June 16, 2023

As our 2022–2023 fundraising year comes to a close, we’d like to take a moment to thank this year’s sponsors of our Bringing Hope Home campaign.

Hope Sponsors

American National Bank & Trust Company

Member One

Wells Fargo

Through the generosity of these fundraising partners, we can continue to provide hope and pathways to success for our neighbors in need. We thank them and applaud their commitment to making our community a place where everyone can thrive.

Join Us

If you’d like to become a sponsor and create change in your community, please contact Robin Reynolds at robin.reynolds@nulltapintohope.org or 540.283.4866.