PAT LAVINS
Gifford native Freddie Woolfork prepares for the new school year like Santa Claus prepares for Christmas. Luckily, Woolfork’s decades of dedication to the youth in his community has allowed him to develop an extensive network of little elves who share his dedication.
As a graduate of Vero Beach high school, Woolfork knows his community well and he has been an eyewitness to the evolving needs that he strives to address. In the process, he has developed an extensive network of generous local donors who share his commitment to make a difference in the life of a child.
The beginning of each new school year begins with a school supply drive. This year the goals for the program were exceeded primarily because of the strong partnership of Holy Cross church which provided four truckloads for the annual school supply drive now at the 15th year mark. Thanks to a little elf named Debbie True at Holy Cross Church the supplies were collected from June through August. This effort in combination with 25 other sponsors and 42 volunteers allowed 650 students to begin this school year with the resources that they needed.
The Gifford Youth Activity Center was just a dream in the hearts and minds of a few dedicated Indian River County citizens but it has become a reality when Freddie hit the deck running when he was hired in 1997 and the facility was opened in 1998. Today the Gifford Youth Activity Center is a Mecca for both young and old because programs have been developed and implemented to fill the needs of the entire community.
The physical plant at the Gifford Youth Activity Center now houses:
1. An after school program for kindergarten through 12th grade
This program is intended to meet more than just the basic needs of teacher assigned tasks. Freddie who practices what he preaches encourages all the kids to “stretch out of your comfort zone.”
Participation in the after school program requires parental commitment and is based on a community developed initiation known as “KAPS” KAPS is a corporate identity of the Kellog cereal corporation which encouraged neighborhood commitment that would also allow Academic, Program, and Success.
Since 1999 there have been 121 children who have graduated from this program and the goals for these future achievers is that they will continue their education and encourage others in their community to do likewise.
2. Homework program costs $1,500 per sponsor for each child that provides year around commitment to provide assistance to students from 3 to 5 p.m. daily. Under the direction of Alfonso Chester this program last year offered 180 children what is described as “hours of power.” Interest in this program is so extensive that there is a waiting list.
Working with the Indian River County School District bus transportation is provided to bring the children from their assigned school to the GYAC facility. This allows those parents who work weekdays to have their children participate in the program.
3. Sports programs are routinely offered to the children in the community seven days a week with adult supervision. The campus facility includes recreational opportunities for swimming, basketball, kickball, and organized team sport recreational competitions. As a part of its partnership with the Indian River County School District, Freddie and his staff are fully committed to the goals of Moonshot moment which is a program intended to ensure that children are reading at grade level. The GYAC commitment to this initiative begins with a book giveaway program to get school age children interested in reading about sports and athletic superstars.
The academic aspect of the GYAC goals and objectives is where the local community can volunteer to be a part of the process. Anyone who is willing to make a regular commitment of at least 20 hours a week is welcome to sign up and participate in individual student development. Retired teachers are particularly encouraged to volunteer by calling 772-794-1005.
4. Since Woolfork and many of his staff enjoyed the advantages of a strong family bond unit, the GYAC now has an active youth and family guidance services that allow for family members to address those things that might be interfering with academic success.
The GYAC has on staff experienced counselors to assist with educational and behavioral problems that might be an impediment to classroom learning.
As a part of its partnership with other organizations in the community, the GYAC staff works with organizations such as the Gifford Health Center, Boys and Girls Club, and other community resources to meet the needs of the individual student.
5. Music program is a part of the cadre of services at GYAC that is dear to the heart of Freddie who graduated from Florida A&M with a major in music. Even today at age 61 he still plays the trombone. In the annual Martin Luther King parade, the GYAC youngsters line the sidewalks to see him playing his horn and leading the parade.
The Gifford Youth Orchestra is one of the most successful undertakings and since 2003 the non-profit organization founded by Crystal Bujoi has offered classical music education to students ages 6 to 18.
It is the music program that could now benefit the most from the generosity of the community. Anyone who has a musical instrument that they are willing to donate can drop it off at 4875 43rd Avenue in Gifford at any time. Anyone who is s skilled musician is welcome to volunteer at the GYAC to give more individualized instruction and to encourage a child to develop the habit of daily practicing of the musical instrument.
6. The mentoring program has proven to be a real success. It is dependent on the voluntary hours of successful adults who are willing to foster the hopes and dreams of future leaders in the fields of science, medicine, finance, and education. The children benefit from having a volunteer mentor/friend to provide them with friendship and guidance. Screened and trained volunteers serve these children as positive role models.
7. Senior community resources is a program that resulted from the comprehensive view that Freddie and his staff take in meeting the needs of the Gifford community. They recognized that many of their senior citizens were isolated at home alone during the day so there is now a comprehensive program that offers;
– Bible study
– Learning computer skills
– Sewing/Quilting
– low impact aerobics
The catalyst for all of Woolfork’s dedication to the evolving mission of the GYAC came from watching his father’s commitment to Piper Aircraft for over 38 years. His mother who was a “gifted cook” was always there for her children. So this is the family that Freddie wanted to emulate. It is the same message that he conveyed to his own three children who all achieved their personal academic goals. Freddie says that he tells the youngsters at GYAC often that “it is not where you are from but where are you going.”
So where does Woolfork want to see the GYAC go now. Naturally he wants to retain the success that he has been an eyewitness to for decades. However, he also still has dreams for the future. He wants to now work with the County Commission to develop a comprehensive land use program that would maximize the campus as it now exists to include the building of a 10,000 square foot multi-classroom facility that could have a second floor added to it in the future.
Working with United Way and the other individual generous community supporters he wants to see an expansion of computer equipment so that the current generation is “fully prepared to meet the needs of the next generation.”
Working with the Sheriff’s Office and keeping restless teenagers engaged in positive pursuits will decrease the crime that seems to follow the same patterns as our economy.
Most of all though, Wookfork and his elves in the community want to see an expansion of the scholarship programs. This past year the GYAC awarded 12 scholarships and the goal now is to offer more opportunities for the young people in the Gifford community. With a role model like Woolfork, they already have the blueprint for their lives.
Indian River Guardian 