2011 SCORE Award - Outstanding Non-Profit Organization
Since 2001 YouthBuild Louisville (YBL) has been providing a lifeline for at-risk youth. YBL works primarily with high school dropouts, ages 16-24, many of whom are part of the juvenile justice process and possess little education beyond 6th grade math and reading levels. Caring for their Louisville community and refusing to simply stand-by as young lives were in limbo, Lynn Rippy and her co-founders mobilized into action.
YouthBuild Louisville provides meaningful purpose to students who split their time between construction sites, building affordable housing for homeless and low-income families, and a classroom, where over 85% earn their GED or high school diploma. YBL’s impact over the last three years has changed the face of the Louisville community. During this time, 12 new houses have been built, 79 homes were rehabilitated, a historic church renovated, 3 miles of trails in local forests and 3 environmental education shelters were redeveloped, and they have planted and maintained hundreds of trees throughout the community.
YouthBuild Louisville’s impact is recognized through opportunity, training, resources, vision, and evidenced by former students who are now aspiring business owners being mentored by SCORE.
YouthBuild Louisville pursued mentoring from SCORE when they began expanding their business plan for the many new community programs they were implementing. Mentors Don Keller and Michelle Redmon helped YBL's Board of Directors reorganize their thoughts from a financial perspective so that they were able to achieve their program additions and goals for program development.
