NOTE: As of Feb. 29, 2024, Carolina Youth Development Center (CYDC) has rebranded to Landmarks for Families. Our nonprofit, community programs and residential services remain committed to cultivating thriving youth and families in this new chapter.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Dorothy A. Badger
What is your name and job title?
Dorothy A. Badger, Attorney at Law LLC
I am a Sole Practitioner meaning I have my own Law practice and am my own boss. I work alone with 
support from two full-time paralegals.
How did you learn about Carolina Youth Development Center?
I was introduced to Carolina Youth Development Center through an old client of mine who was a former Little Sister in CYDC’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
What was your first experience with the organization and how long have you been involved?
I became involved three years ago when I donated Bartercard bucks to them and sponsored a pizza party during the children’s Spring Break. I was asked to be on the Gala Committee that year and have been on the committee ever since.
Why do you feel it’s important to give to CYDC and support its mission?
Carolina Youth Development Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters fill a unique but very important need in our community. The foster children and disadvantaged youth that are served by CYDC are the children most at risk for suffering from circumstances beyond their control in a way that could affect them negatively for the rest of their lives. CYDC provides them with support and opportunities they would not have otherwise. These most vulnerable members of our community are provided with the security, stability, mentoring, education, training, positive role models, and enrichment necessary to fulfill their full potential in life and to reach their dreams.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Mike Christmas, Cummins, Inc
How long have you been volunteering with CYDC and how did you learn about CYDC?
In 2011, Cyndi Nigh (now retired after 25 years with Cummins) introduced me to CYDC. Since then I’ve been coordinating two to three activities a year between Cummins and CYDC.
In what capacity have you volunteered with CYDC?
Over the course of these six years we have had an average of 25 Cummins Employees volunteering eight hours at each of these events. During these activities we were able to tackle all projects with which CYDC challenged my team.
Mike Christmas (center) being interviewed for Trident United Way’s 2016 Day of Caring. Cummins and his team of volunteers finished a number of critical campus projects at CYDC during Day of Caring.
Projects have included painting, landscaping, pressure washing, building shelters, relocating mulch piles, installing flooring, installing wainscoting, installing trim, plumbing, porch demolition, replacing rotten wood, cleaning out gutters across the campus, installing gutters, organizing donated items, administrative work, relocating furniture, cleaning out the garden, pulling weeds from the volleyball court, sheetrock work, installing LED lights, designing/building outside trash receptacles and building and installing shelves.
Why is it important to you to volunteer at CYDC?
My team of Cummins co-workers enjoys giving back to the community. Some are able to take the lead on projects, along with sharing a special skill with coworkers. For others they are able to gain experience and learn a new skill. At the end of the day we all know we have helped strengthen the community where these children live and showed them that people do care about them.
Thank you Cyndi for introducing me to CYDC and giving me an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children in our community. I plan to continue leading activities between Cummins and CYDC for many more years to come.
