Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ local center for philanthropy, has awarded the 2021-2022 David W. Robinson Catalyst Award to Killingsworth Home for its commitment and innovative approach to helping women emerging from crisis situations.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened certain services offered to their residents — specifically free mental health counseling — the Killingsworth staff leveraged their innovation and creativity to form partnerships with private entities, ensuring hundreds of hours of free mental health counseling for their residents,” says JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “Killingsworth Home’s commitment to assisting women emerging from a crisis situation is commendable and exemplifies the type of collaboration, perseverance and leadership the Catalyst Award recognizes.”

Originally established as a boarding school, Killingsworth Home transformed into a shelter for women in 1972. The organization’s key programs include Feed My Sheep, Dress for Success, Job Readiness, Life Skills and Mental Health Counseling. In 2020, these programs resulted in:

• 12,472 meals served to residents.
• 580 clothing items distributed to residents.
• 1,040 invested in career-readiness skills.
• 156 hours of life skills workshops.
• 144 hours of mental health counseling.

The David W. Robinson Catalyst Award, created in memory of inaugural board member David W. Robinson, was established by the Community Foundation and the Robinson Family in 1994. It recognizes organizations in the Foundation’s 11-county service area that have exemplified leadership, creativity, vision and commitment in addressing critical community issues. The recipient is selected by the Foundation’s Community Impact Committee.

For more information about the Catalyst Award, visit www.yourfoundation.org/catalyst.