Thornwell Updates - March 2018

St. Giles is grateful for the faithful work of our mission partner, Thornwell Home for Children. In addition to our annual Thornwell Sunday in January and housing office space for Thornwell’s Building Families program, Dr. Mike Payne and Mrs. Tea Madden (members of St. Giles) serve on Thornwell’s board of directors. Included below is Mike’s report from the March 2018 board meeting. Read on to learn more about the ministries of Thornwell and how we might support them in Service to the World.

The spring Board of Trustees meeting was held at Thornwell on March 8-9. Tea Madden and I were fortunate to attend. The following is a summary of information provided at that meeting.

A summary of services provided by Thornwell in 2017 was given.
 

• The Building Families Program in SC, Ga., and Fla. reached 1,681 children and families, 106 children were provided safe homes in a cottage setting on campus, 73 children and family members were served by the Foster Care Program, and 70 at risk family members were supported by the Strengthening Families Program in Clinton. Also, 150 children attended the after school and summer programs provided by the Learning Center, 235 children attended the Kindergarten and Early Head Start Programs, and 35 teens and young adults were enrolled in independent living classes.
• Financial reports were provided by the staff, reporting a 17% increase in giving in the calendar year 2017! The Finance Committee was pleased that 81% of income went to programs and services, earning a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator. 

  
The staff has worked hard to provide excellent quality programs while holding expenses to a minimum. Much of the program was dedicated to the education committee, with a report given by the Director of Education, Norman Dover. He gave information regarding personalized learning and plans to incorporate that approach in the Charter School which should open in the fall of 2019 or 2020. Upgrades to facilities will be required for the school and are estimated to be around $3 million. Some of that has already been raised from recent bequests and sale of properties, but a Capital Campaign is planned for the next year or two to complete this ministry. An application has been submitted to the state and is in the process of being approved. There has been a great deal of support from the community in both prospective students as well as interest in teacher applications.

There are important issues to be worked out in the coming months, but it is an exciting time to be involved with Thornwell. Please follow the website for updates and news. If anyone is interested in taking a tour of Thornwell, this can be arranged through me or Tea.

Respectfully submitted,
​Michael Payne