Binding Ties

Binding Ties, Inc. is a non-profit entity committed to creating a positive environment for our youth. We focus on teaching our youth to understand the value of becoming successful and to maintain personal accountability for their actions. Here, at Binding Ties, Inc., we have established several new outlets which embrace community, school, and family. Through these outlets, we have established better parent and community participation.

Binding Ties has helped to increase the success rate of youth by over 30% due to the inclusion of incentives, mentors, shadows and programs designed to promote life-skills and hands-on training for today's job market.

Testimonials

A young man was on the verge of dropping out as a senior. His father had left him and his mom to make it on their own. He became defiant towards teachers and saw joining a gang as his way out. He was arrested on marijuana charges and felt that there was no way he would finish school. Binding Ties decided that he deserved a chance and offered him the incentive of joining students on a trip to Atlanta, GA to partake in visiting The World of Coca-Cola, The CNN Building, and attending an Atlanta Braves Game. His mother was also invited. Surprisingly, he was so amazed to be a part of this incentive trip and so excited to finally leave Columbia that he made a complete 360 and became student of month, a better student at home, quit the gang, graduated, and excelled to a technical college. He said, "thank you Binding Ties for believing in me. If it had not been for that incentive trip, I would not have finished school and I would have dropped out! It really motivated me to do well in order to go on other trips! I couldn't disappoint you after all you did for me! Thank you!"

A young lady became pregnant as a student and was living on hard times. When her baby was born, she had no money to purchase food nor did she have the time needed to do the extra studying needed to pass her classes. She suggested that she drop out in order to find a job to support her and her baby. Binding Ties stepped in, providing her with a large amount of baby food (thanks to Walmart). She was also paired with a mentor to assist her with her classwork. Binding Ties contacted employment for her and provided the training needed to accomplish that job. She ended up getting the job, graduating with scholarships, and is doing well. She stated, "Binding Ties showed me that I could succeed and that one rock in the road doesn't have to cause a car wreck. You believed in me and provided me the tools to believe in myself. Thank you for being there when no one else was!"

A brother and sister were involved heavily in gang activity. Each had been to DJJ and was on the path towards destruction. Unfortunately, many of their family members were involved in gangs also, and this made it difficult to succeed at school. Binding Ties partnered with a local church and took the two youth out to work in the community. The two were touched at being able to see the smiling faces of those we helped. They were able to see many that were less fortunate than they, but still had determination to move forward. They both turned their lives around and became leaders within their communities. They are now dedicated to helping others. The two of them said, "It was being able to see others in need, and we being able to help them, that changed our lives. We never knew what a difference we could make, if only we put forth the effort. Binding Ties showed us that it didn't matter who you are or where you come from, you can always make a difference in someone's life"