Christian Activity Center
Home of the best kids in the world! -- Rev. Chet Cantrell, Executive Director
"We have gone from being a mom-and-pop, small center, to becoming a full-fledged agency that can sustain the winds of time," says Christian Activity Center's executive director, Rev. Chet Cantrell. As an Impact Partner, the Christian Activity Center has pursued many core activities, all meant to create a stronger homebase for the nearly 500 East St. Louis youth who visit the Center every week. Those youth find welcoming adults at the Center, and can participate in a range of daily activities that range from Tai Kwando to cooking to intensive homework help. (To read about the CAC's programs and accomplishments, go to:
www.cacesl.org.)
For the past five years, CAC staff and board have committed significant time to taking advantage of the resources the Impact Partnership offers. As a result, their organization is stronger. "We are seeing more and more kids every week, and their needs for time, love, and opportunities never gets smaller. Through the Impact Partnership, I know that the Christian Activity Center can be a source of hope for them not only today, but also far into the future," comments Cantrell. Support from the Deaconess Impact Partnership has helped Christian Activity Center to:
- Develop a core set of programs with defined outcomes that CAC consistently measures;
- Increase its individual donor base by nearly 300%;
- Formalize its board structure and grow board membership and participation;
- Establish an advisory board;
- Increase its staffing from 11 to 22 staff;
- Add new program areas including a fine arts program, martial arts and college preparatory efforts;
- Increase the professional training available to staff;
- Launch new fund development strategies including special events;
- Formalize an HR system;
- Engage in strategic planning.