At a groundbreaking ceremony in Elizabethton, Eastman Credit Union announced a $300,000 contribution supporting the construction of a national Isaiah 117 House training center to prepare teams across the nation to change the way foster care begins, everywhere.
Kelly Price, Eastman Credit Union’s president and CEO, applauded local communities for their spirit and drive that has so strongly impacted the success of Isaiah 117 House’s expansion across the country.
“Other communities see how successfully you worked together for this great cause. They experience Ronda’s servant leadership and the great model put in place by the hard work and resourcefulness of so many wonderful volunteers. They realize they can do this, and that’s inspiring,” said Price.
“The growth we have experienced is a direct result of great community partners, like Eastman Credit Union. Community partners that believe in our ministry, believe in the children of their community, and believe in being a part of the solution.”, said Ronda Paulson, founder and executive director of Isaiah 117 House.
Since 2018, Isaiah 117 House has grown from one house in Carter County to over 50 locations across 12 states in just 5 years.
“The growth we have experienced also tells us the problem of children waiting in child welfare offices for foster placement is huge, but we believe our God is bigger,” said Paulson. “This new space will allow us to continue to expand and support locations across the country by providing a training center for our growing team as well as more office space for additional support personnel.”
ECU’s donation will spearhead the facility expansion project. The new building will also allow the organization to host community training events at their resource center, including local volunteer training and foster care training classes.
Preston Construction is leading the almost 2,000 square-foot training center project. The training center is expected to open in the summer of 2024.
About Isaiah 117 House
Isaiah 117 House is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting foster care placement. Currently, when a child is removed in a county without an Isaiah 117 House, the child must wait in the child welfare services office. The child is often dirty, hungry, tired, scared and unable to bring any personal possessions. Isaiah 117 House allows for that same child to never go to an office, but rather a home with loving volunteers to care for them.
Isaiah 117 House provides for that child’s needs, whatever they may be, in these critical moments between removal and placement. Isaiah 117 House has locations in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. To learn more about Isaiah 117 House, visit isaiah117house.com.
About Eastman Credit Union
Eastman Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee. Serving areas of Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and East Texas, ECU is one of the nation’s top 50 largest credit unions with over 320,000 members and employs a workforce of approximately 1,000. For more information about ECU, visit ecu.org. Funds are federally insured by NCUA. Member Equal Housing Lender. Equal Opportunity Employer.
