Burke Center for Youth « Around Dripping Springs

Week of Online Giving:
April 20-25, 2014

The 2014 Givin’ Where I’m Livin’ (GWIL) campaign provides support and publicity for local non-profit charitable organizations competing for GWIL matching funds during the campaign’s Week of Online Giving, April 20-25th.

Around Dripping Springs is pleased to feature this series of GWIL non-profit profiles to help publicize their unique missions to the community. We invite you to get to know these wonderful organizers and learn more about the important work they are each doing to enrich our community. Please share their stories, and be sure to donate to your favorite during the Week of Online Giving! Learn more at: http://www.GivinWhereImLivin.org

NOW MEET THE BURKE CENTER FOR YOUTH, WITH FOUNDER CHARLES CAMPISE:

WHEN, HOW, AND WHY WAS YOUR ORGANIZATION FOUNDED?

The Burke Foundation, Inc./Burke Center for Youth has been operational in Driftwood, since 1973. The agency was founded under an old aok tree on FM 150 by an ad hoc committee of interested people, who included Rosemary Burke Bullard, John and Jeanne Burke, Carmen Lee, Brent and Millie Bolin and Charles Campise. The agency was incorporate by three of these people to serve children from Texas who are emotionally disturbed, learning disabled, abused or neglected, dependent and homeless.

WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY MISSION AND WHAT NEEDS DO YOU SERVE?

The primary mission of the Burke Center is to provide residential care to children who are not able to live in their own Texas communities or with their birth families. The agency serves infants and children who are in the custody of the state or on probation for offenses. A child from any Texas county may be served here. Residents in care receive daily assistance by well-trained staff and/or foster parents who provide a nurturing environment in which they may resolve issues and problems of living. Clients with with psychological, psychaitric, familial, educational and/or behavioral shortcomings.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE THINGS THAT’S HAPPENED THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION’S EFFORTS?

The most memorable event occurred in the life of David, who came to live here in the 1970’s. He lived at the ranch for five years. David was placed by Child Protective Services (CPS), after being in the Austin state hospital psychiatric ward for three weeks. David was removed from his mother by CPS because she told them that David had started a fire in the attic of the family home.

CPS took immediate custody of David, along with his twin brother and his little sister. David was totally silent in the hospital for the the first week. Then he began to speak daily with the morning charge nurse. He eventually told her that his mother lied about him. David described the home to the nurse, who in turn gave the story to David’s psychiatrist the next day. The doctor listened in disbelief. He called a friend who was an Austin police officer. That evening, the police went to David’s former residence and immediately saw there was no second story or attic. The police informed CPS, and David was placed at the Burke Center within the next five days.

David became our first Eagle Scout. He attended Dripping Springs High School, where he played on varsity basketball. David made many friends in the community before graduating high school, and is still friends with a few people who have lived her for years. He went into the Army after graduation, where he earned a degree in computer science. From there, David found employment with the US Department of Defense, where he worked at the highest security level for years, at the Hague in the Netherlands. In 2013, Davide reported that he is still employed with the DOD, and now lives in Koblenz, Germany, with a wife and two sons.

WHAT ARE YOUR ORGANIZATION’S PRIMARY GOALS IN 2014?

One primary goal is to do a facelift to the front of the ranch property, to make it look even more attractive. Another primary goal is to remodel the barn and corral area and increase the frequency of the therapeutic horse riding program. Another goal is to secure funds for the construction of a new dormitory to house additional boys. Construction of the new dormitory will begin in early 2015, once full funding is secured.

HOW CAN FOLKS CONTACT YOUR ORGANIZATION TO DONATE OR VOLUNTEER?