A nonprofit that has served about 20,000 youth in the Wilmington area began 30 years ago with a single teenager.
In 1994, Jimmy Pierce, an attorney, mentored a foster child and introduced him to woodworking in his garage. Two years later, Pierce found himself unfulfilled practicing law and used the opportunity as a chance to devote more of his time to helping kids.
“Recognizing the value of woodworking as a tool for building patience, self-esteem, and perseverance, he envisioned teaching it as a way to develop character and life skills in children,” Julie Phillips, spokeswoman for Kids Making It, said in an email.
In 1996, Pierce partnered with the Wilmington Housing Authority, helping kids learn woodworking on a volunteer basis. Then in 2000, he was able to run the program year-round thanks to a grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission. That program, Kids Making It , is a 501(c)(3) organization that serves kids ages 7 to 18.
“Our mission is to teach valuable vocational, entrepreneurial and life skills to at-risk, low income and disadvantaged youth with three goals for each student we serve — stay in school, stay out of trouble, and transition successfully into either the workplace or college,” Phillips said.