CAHEC has completed its 2026 Youth Leadership Initiative, a program that delivered educational resources and summer camp opportunities to youth across its Southeast and Mid-Atlantic footprint. The initiative matters because it addresses two persistent challenges for low-income families: summer learning loss and the cost of enriching summer activities. By providing free books, school supplies, and subsidized camp weeks, CAHEC and its partners helped ensure that children remained engaged in learning during a season when many lose academic ground.
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. A summer book fair allowed campers to choose books based on their interests and reading levels, helping build home libraries and encouraging reading beyond the classroom. This approach not only supports literacy but also gives children agency in their learning, which can boost motivation and long-term academic engagement.
The program's reach was made possible by contributions from CAHEC community partners including Bernard Robinson & Co., Center Street Capital Advisors, First Citizens, Harkins Foundation, Scott Insurance, Yardi, and Zeffert & Associates. These partnerships highlight how businesses can pool resources to create outsized community impact, stretching every dollar further than a single organization could alone.
Beyond books, the initiative sponsored 330 weeks of discounted summer camp for children from low-income families during summer 2026. Campers participated in character-development activities, literacy instruction, athletics, and sometimes swimming lessons. Donations from Banc of California, First Bank, North State Bank, Mountain Housing Opportunities, Taft-Mills Group, Thomas and Amanda Boothby, Urquhart Development, and YMCA relationships across the footprint made these weeks possible. For families facing rising costs, such support can be the difference between a summer of isolation and a summer of growth.
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 extend beyond one summer. By investing in youth leadership and learning, CAHEC is helping to build stronger communities and a more prepared future workforce. The initiative demonstrates that affordable housing organizations can play a broader role in resident well-being, addressing not just shelter but also education and enrichment. As CAHEC continues its work as a community investment organization based in Raleigh, NC, and Columbia, SC, offering low-income housing tax credits, loan programs, and resident services, the Youth Leadership Initiative serves as a model for how cross-sector collaboration can create lasting change. More information is available on CAHEC's website.
