Youth Villages today announced it received a $25,000 grant from the Nantahala Health Foundation. This support will help young adults leveraging support as they step into independent adulthood.

Grant funds from the foundation will be used to sustain and support the LifeSet program and Youth Villages Scholars initiative in western North Carolina. LifeSet is one of the nation’s first and largest evidence-informed programs designed to help young people transition successfully into adulthood. Specialists work one-on-one with participants to secure safe housing, build healthy relationships, and achieve education and employment goals.

The Scholars initiative provides monthly stipends, technology, school supplies and other essential resources for young adults enrolled in LifeSet. The funds will also support specialists and mentors, who work directly with each Scholar.

“The young people in our LifeSet program are resilient and capable, but most struggle in the transition to adulthood, especially when working to overcome childhood adversity,” said Erica Ellis, director of development for Youth Villages. “With partners like the Nantahala Health Foundation, we walk alongside these young people, helping them rewrite the script for what's possible and helping them chase their dreams.”

LifeSet and our Scholars initiative provide young adults with one-on-one support. The need is urgent: only 13% of youth who age out of foster care nationwide graduate with a two- or four-year degree, compared to 48% of Youth Villages Scholars. This partnership also activates a powerful 4:1 state match, meaning every private dollar raised brings in four public dollars to sustain and grow LifeSet across North Carolina.

To learn more about LifeSet and Scholars, visit youthvillages.org.

The Nantahala Health Foundation has worked since 2019 as a regional catalyst for innovation and collaboration, Nantahala Health Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, and the Qualla Boundary to improve health and wellness outcomes for all.

Additionally, the Foundation has invested more than $254,000 to build the capacity of more than 150 regional leaders, equipping them to collaborate effectively with others and grow the people they serve, resulting in a richer, more inclusive, connected, and thriving community.