CAHEC, a community investment organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina, has completed its 2026 Youth Leadership Initiative, delivering educational resources and summer camp experiences to children across its Southeast and Mid-Atlantic footprint. The initiative matters because it addresses a persistent gap in summer learning and enrichment for low-income families, while demonstrating how cross-sector partnerships can stretch limited resources to serve more residents than any single organization could reach alone.
Nearly 300 youth in the YMCA of Richmond's summer camp program received age-appropriate books, essential school supplies, and learning games at no cost to their families. A summer book fair allowed campers to select books based on their interests and reading levels, helping them build at-home libraries and encouraging reading beyond the classroom. The support came from CAHEC community partners Bernard Robinson & Co., Center Street Capital Advisors, First Citizens, Harkins Foundation, Scott Insurance, Yardi, and Zeffert & Associates, whose contributions made the resources possible at no cost to families.
The initiative also supported personal development through summer camp opportunities for CAHEC youth residents. CAHEC partnered with various YMCAs throughout its footprint to connect youth with camps offering character-development activities, literacy instruction, athletics, and, in some cases, swimming lessons. Donations from Banc of California, First Bank, First Citizens, North State Bank, Mountain Housing Opportunities, Taft-Mills Group, Thomas and Amanda Boothby, Urquhart Development, and relationships with YMCAs across its footprint enabled CAHEC to sponsor 330 weeks of discounted summer camp for children from low-income families during summer 2026.
Stefanie Lee, Community Relations Manager at CAHEC, said, "We're honored to support these initiatives for the youth residents living in our properties and are grateful to have the support of so many of our partners. These strategic partnerships allow us to stretch every dollar further and serve more residents than we could through CAHEC alone – it's amazing what we can do when we come together to serve!"
The implications of the initiative extend beyond immediate charitable impact. By investing in youth through literacy, school supplies, and summer camp, CAHEC and its partners are addressing summer learning loss and providing enriching experiences that can shape long-term educational outcomes. The collaboration model also shows how affordable housing organizations can integrate resident services that support the whole family, strengthening communities where residents live, work, and grow. For more information about CAHEC's contributions to affordable housing and surrounding communities, visit its website.
