As part of its 50th Anniversary Celebration this year, Brighton Center has introduced a “50 Years, 50 Stories” series to highlight some of the customers, volunteers, donors, community partners or supporters who are part of its history. The Northern Kentucky Tribune has partnered with Brighton Center to share some of those firsthand accounts with our readers.
In the coming weeks, the Trib will publish individual stories that demonstrate the breadth of services Brighton Center provides in Northern Kentucky. Occasionally some slight edits may be made in the text and, to protect confidentiality, we might only provide the first name of the storyteller.
These testimonials, however, describe some of the programs and services Brighton Center has provided in its first 50 years, in the words of the people who have benefited from them.
“Our parents instilled values in us to understand the necessity of individual work and commitment, as well as to recognize the responsibility of serving the community and others,” Roger Rawe.
Albert and Anna Rawe instilled a sense of community into their 12 children at a young age.
Members of the Rawe family with Brighton Center President Tammy Weidinger.
In honor and memory of Albert and Anna Rawe, the family decided to honor the compassionate nature of their loved ones through the creation of the Albert S. and Anna L. Rawe Family Foundation.
“Our parents instilled values in us to understand the necessity of individual work and commitment, as well as to recognize the responsibility of serving the community and others,” said Roger Rawe, one of the 12 siblings. “Having grown up in Newport, the Rawe family has always felt a connection with Brighton Center. Brighton Center’s mission is all about helping others in need through numerous services, and is aligned with our family values and the Rawe Family Foundation mission. We recognize and appreciate the quality of work and passion of their staff.”
Seeing the beauty of the values imprinted on them through their upbringing, the Rawe family decided to use their gift to give back to those youth not as fortunate.
Recognizing that not all children have had the good fortune as us to have grown up in a safe and caring environment, the primary focus of the Rawe Family Foundation mission has been to help at-risk youth.
Homeward Bound Shelter plays a key role in providing a safe environment and needed services to homeless and at-risk youth in Northern Kentucky, said Roger Rawe.
Brandon Rawe, one of the grandchildren, visited the shelter recently. “After visiting for only one night, I understood the importance of the shelter. Protected within the walls of the shelter are some young boys and girls, not much younger than myself, who are struggling to overcome a family life or an environment that is much different than my own.”
Brighton Center appreciates the generosity of the Albert S. and Anna L. Rawe Family Foundation and their continued commitment to our mission.
From its beginning in 1966 as a modest Newport storefront, Brighton Center has grown to provide a range of programs and services which include meeting basic needs, adult and early childhood education, workforce development, substance abuse recovery for women, affordable housing, financial education and counseling, and neighborhood based programs.
Last year Brighton Center impacted the lives of 60,892 individuals from infants to senior citizens through 37 programs in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati
For more information about Brighton Center and its programs and services, or to become a volunteer, click here http://www.brightoncenter.com/
