About The Center
After moving into a new facility in the spring of 2004, Community of Hope Church in Columbia City, Ind., had a dream. Having outgrown their building at 201 West Market Street and moving into a new one, they now pondered what to do with their old building. Could this facility become the center of a new movement to grow happy and healthy young people?
From that dream and a partnership with the Community Foundation of Whitley County was born The Center for Whitley County Youth.
In December 2006, Community of Hope Church and The Center were legally separated, and today The Center has achieved its goal of becoming a broad-based community partnership, promoting youth development in the community through service, outreach and collaboration with like-minded youth-serving organizations.
By providing after-school, weekend and summer programming and facility space for other youth organizations, while partnering on important initiatives to support our young people, The Center has become a hub for impacting the next generation of leaders, families, citizens, and the workforce.
Our Mission
"To promote youth development
through service, outreach, and collaboration"
Our Impact
During the 2022-2023 school year, The Center served 1057 student enrollments through 14 diverse program opportunities. This impact is all thanks to the financial and volunteer partnerships of local community members. Click below to view our most recent impact report.
Our Financials
At The Center, we believe in full transparency and providing our generous supporters the knowledge they need to make informed giving decisions. Click to view our most recent Form 990 report!
Our Board
RD Schrader - President
John Snyder - Vice President
Katie Dewitt - Secretary
Kyle Bauer - Treasurer
Roberta Hollenbaugh
Michelle Lee
Carrie Meyer
Amanda Schortgen
Jim Sittler
Vanessa Schoon
Our Staff
Jeff Wike - Executive Director
Brad Boyles- Director of Operations & Outcomes
Jake Johnson - Community Engagement Director
Jill Stetzel - Office Manager
Krista Pope- Director of Student Growth
Sarah Johnson- Director of Finances & Human Resources
Shawna Balsiger- Director of Middle School Programs
Maren Gernhardt- Columbia City Program Director & Development Associate
Kylee Gudeman- Program Co-Director
Kate Boehnlein- Churubusco Program Director
Noah Reichenbach- Whitko Program Director
Jacie Stahl- LifeWise Program Director
Jayda Gregory- Whitko Programming Assistant
Evan Camomile- Whitko Programming Intern
Lisa O'Dell- LifeWise Teacher
Sarah Banks- LifeWise Teacher
Terry Dailey- Director of Facility Maintenance