P.E.A.C.E. and H.O.P.E. Center for Youth

At the P.E.A.C.E. and H.O.P.E. Center for Youth, we believe that every child holds the seed of greatness inside them. Too often, those seeds go un-watered because of the challenges our young people face; poverty, broken homes, violence, or a lack of positive role models. Our mission is to change that story.

Every day, from the time our doors open in the morning until the last student leaves in the evening, we are building a safe, supportive environment where kids can learn, grow, and thrive. We provide academic support, life skills training, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities that many of our children would otherwise never experience. Whether it’s tutoring to strengthen their education, leadership programs that teach accountability and responsibility, or civic engagement projects where they meet local leaders and learn how their voices matter—we are planting seeds of hope, resilience, and responsibility. 

The benefit to our community is profound. When you invest in a child, you are not only changing their life—you are shaping the future of Columbia. Children who feel seen, supported, and equipped with tools for success are far less likely to end up in the juvenile justice system. Instead, they are more likely to graduate, pursue higher education, find meaningful employment, and return to the community as leaders, parents, and mentors themselves.

Your support through Como Gives ensures that we can continue to meet these needs head-on. With your investment, we are able to:

• Keep our doors open every day to youth who need a safe place to belong.

• Provide structured programs that teach responsibility, accountability, and personal growth.

• Expose children to positive role models and real-life experiences that broaden their vision of what’s possible.

• Build a stronger community by breaking cycles of poverty, hopelessness, and incarceration.

At the P.E.A.C.E. and H.O.P.E. Center for Youth, we aren’t just running programs—we are shaping destinies. We are showing children that their past does not define their future, and that with the right support, their potential is limitless.

Your gift is more than a donation—it is an investment in a child’s future and in the future of our community. Together, we can embrace another choice effectively, and give our youth the hope they deserve.