When Cingo first shared Whitney
Gilliard's story in 2019, we introduced you to her vision: A nonprofit that
would give other foster youth the same stable, loving foundation she once found
in a foster family.
A lot has changed — and grown — since. That
vision has developed into Gilliard & Company, which serves young
adults as they transition out of foster care into safe, productive, and
independent lives. Partnering with the local Department of Family and Children
Services and area nonprofits, Gilliard & Company helps provide youths with
everything from rent assistance and scholarship guidance to hygiene products
and suitcases.
"The goal is not just to help young
adults survive their past," says Whitney Gilliard, CEO and founder of
Gilliard & Company. "It's to help them step into their future with
hope, resilience, and the confidence that they are capable of something
more."
The Independent Living Program (ILP)
continues to be a promising model offering furnished apartments in Pooler, GA,
and hands-on life skills training. The program requires participants to work
part-time or enroll in school full-time, keeping the focus on long-term
self-sufficiency.
Twenty-seven young adults have now
graduated — each one stepping into independence with confidence instead of
fear. Graduates have gone on to become top salespeople, nurses, and parents
raising families of their own.
One of the most meaningful new chapters
at Gilliard & Company is the launch and growth of the Permanency Mentor
Program. It's become one of the organization's most powerful offerings.
The program pairs foster youth with dedicated volunteers who commit as mentors to be a consistent, caring presence across every part of a young person's life — celebrating milestones, offering life wisdom, sharing in holidays and birthdays, and providing practical support when it matters most.
HavINN™, one of the original programs developed in partnership with DFCS, is a safe space where children can meet with family members or speak with a social worker during some of the scariest moments of their young lives.
With support from partners like Comfort Cases, every teen who passes
through HavINN™ leaves with their own personal hygiene items and clothing. It's
a small gesture that carries enormous meaning — a signal that someone sees them
and cares.
Whitney's outlook hasn't changed since
Day One, and that consistency is its own kind of testament.
"We want to see the day when all the
needs of those in foster care are met." she says. "That's why we are
working with local organizations to better track a child's full story from the
time they entered foster care and provide the right tools for their
success."
To donate, volunteer or become a
mentor, visit gilliardandcompany.org.
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About Cingo: The name Cingo means to surround and secure, conveying the company's commitment to home protection. The company has been protecting families in the Southeast since 1974. It provides home protection services throughout Georgia and South Carolina, including Atlanta, Augusta, Charleston, Douglas, Dublin, Milledgeville, Savannah, Vidalia, Waycross and all points in between. Cingo was named a Best Place to Work in Georgia by Georgia Trend Magazine and listed as a National Best & Brightest Company to Work For. Learn more at www.cingohome.com.