Spruced up Boys Hope to match program’s success

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

Construction has been underway all summer at Boys Hope New Orleans to enhance and better accommodate its eight scholars and three full-time staffers during the school year.

The last time major renovations were completed at Boys Hope was after Hurricane Katrina, so renovations were in order.

Among the $250,000 upgrades as part of the Hope Renovation Project are painting; new carpeting; woodwork; a kitchen remodel with new appliances; a larger homework room in addition to bedrooms with desks, new lighting fixtures and furniture; window resealing; new interior doors; repairs to outdoor siding; an enlarged washroom; a bathroom remodel and a seven-passenger van.

New landscaping may be included in the future.

“I definitely look forward to it feeling more like a home,” said scholar Keshawn Tervalon, 16.

Going strong for 43 years
Founded locally in 1980 by Jesuit Father Harry Tompson and Judge Adrian Duplantier, Boys Hope New Orleans helps students reach their full potential. Its mission is to “nurture and guide motivated young people in need to become well-educated, career-minded men and women for others.”

Its first house was donated by the Rick Flick family, said Jessica Sita Couch, who is assisting with Boys Hope publicity. A second house was later added and, in 2001, converted to the first Girls Hope. The current Girls Hope house was built after Hurricane Katrina.

Boys Hope Girls Hope, which has 15 affiliates across the U.S. and Central America, is open to those ages 10-14 (at the time of application) and provides tutors and counselors who offer academic, life and leadership skills; all meals; housing; transportation; community service engagement and more.

The investment made in each scholar is roughly $38,000-$45,000 annually.

“It is expensive raising kids,” said Chuck Roth, executive director in New Orleans.

He said success is realized because of the three-way partnership among the nonprofit, the scholar and the scholar’s family, who collaborate “in goal setting and decisions related to their scholars’ health, well-being and academic achievement.”

Each scholar, who comes from a low-income background, is vetted and has to be self-motivated, have positive goals and a cooperative work ethic, complete two hours of homework a night and maintain a 3.0 grade-point average. Privileges such as driver’s licenses are earned based on how helpful the scholars are.

“Our goal is to get these scholars through their secondary education,” Roth said. “We know if we provide them with support, structure and accountability, performance will come.”

Local Catholic schools – Jesuit High School, St. Mary’s Dominican High School and St. Anthony of Padua Elementary School were the first educational partners, Roth said.

Secondary schools – Brother Martin, St. Augustine, Cabrini, De La Salle and Archbishop Rummel – and Holy Name of Jesus, St. Francis Xavier, Good Shepherd Nativity and Stuart Hall elementary schools have since joined as partners with Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Some schools offer scholarships, while Boys Hope Girls Hope pays tuition for others.

Boys Hope Girls Hope keeps up with its scholars beyond high school into college as well.

“I think the combination of a stable and supportive environment and a high-quality education is what every kid needs,” said Roth, who was the founding director of the Baltimore Boys Hope. Roth is a Lafayette native with six siblings.

“The best opportunity for changing kids’ lives is to provide those critical pieces – a solid home and education,” he said.

What’s expected
Boys Hope Girls Hope touts a 100% college attendance rate of its high school graduates. Its life-long commitment to scholars has assistance reaching even beyond high school. Roth said, just recently, Boys Hope helped a graduate with moving expenses to New York for a job.

Scholar King Smith, 10, is entering fifth grade and has lived at Boys Hope for the past year. He likes being a resident, and he appreciated Boys Hope’s willingness to let him select the new red paint color for his room.

“They taught me how to do things I didn’t know,” said King, one of nine children from a New Orleans family. “They are very supportive. I also enjoy all the activities we do such as basketball, football and wiffleball.”

Scholar Kevaun Tervalon is twins with Keshaun. He’s having fun at Boys House.

“It’s taught me to stay disciplined and stay on top of my work,” Kevaun said.

For details, visit bhghnola.org or call (504) 484-7744.

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