Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 29, 2026
CAHEC's 2026 Youth Leadership Initiative Empowers 300+ Kids
TLDR
- CAHEC's Youth Leadership Initiative with YMCA and corporate partners delivers nearly 300 book fairs and 330 camp weeks, positioning the company as a leader in community impact.
- CAHEC's Youth Leadership Initiative operates through partnerships with YMCAs and donors to provide free books, supplies, and discounted summer camp weeks to low-income youth.
- CAHEC's Youth Leadership Initiative gives low-income children free books, school supplies, and summer camp, fostering learning and brighter futures for families and communities.
- Nearly 300 kids chose free books at CAHEC's summer book fair, while 330 camp weeks included swimming lessons and literacy activities for youth in need.
Impact - Why it Matters
This initiative matters because it directly addresses summer learning loss and resource gaps for low-income youth, providing books, supplies, and camp experiences that foster academic and personal growth. By leveraging partnerships, CAHEC multiplies its impact, ensuring more children have safe, enriching summers that build brighter futures and stronger communities.
Summary
CAHEC, a community investment organization based in Raleigh, NC, and Columbia, SC, has successfully wrapped up its 2026 Youth Leadership Initiative, delivering educational resources and summer experiences to youth across its Southeast and Mid-Atlantic footprint. Through partnerships with local organizations and YMCAs, nearly 300 children from low-income families in the YMCA of Richmond's summer camp program received free books, school supplies, and learning games. The summer book fair allowed campers to choose books matching their interests and reading levels, fostering at-home libraries and continued learning beyond the classroom.
Generous support from CAHEC community partners Bernard Robinson & Co., Center Street Capital Advisors, First Citizens, Harkins Foundation, Scott Insurance, Yardi, and Zeffert & Associates made these resources possible at no cost to families. Additionally, the initiative sponsored 330 weeks of discounted summer camp for CAHEC youth residents, offering character development, literacy, athletics, and 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 local YMCAs fueled these opportunities.
Stefanie Lee, Community Relations Manager at CAHEC, praised the collaborative effort: "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!" CAHEC's product areas include low-income housing tax credits, historic tax credits, new markets tax credits, renewable energy credits, loan programs, wellness and education initiatives, affordable housing development, and property management services. To learn more, visit CAHEC's website.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, CAHEC's 2026 Youth Leadership Initiative Empowers 300+ Kids
