09-05-2025
Coalition For Kids celebrates 25 years empowering children
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Johnson City non-profit dedicated to caring for and teaching children is marking a quarter century of operation.
Coalition For Kids (C4K) began 25 years ago because an apartment complex had no access to after-school care.
'So a pastor friend, Mitch Cox, who is our founder, got the idea of helping those kids in that apartment complex,' C4K Executive Director Randy Hensley said. 'That's the only reason we began.'
Mother's Day, live music, car show and more | Weekend events in the Tri-Cities
In the last 25 years, C4K has grown to serve more and more children by providing a nurturing and faith-based environment.
'We've had over 11,000 kids come through our doors in these 25 years, and so what we know is, we even have the data we can prove it, we know we're making a difference in the world, especially with families and children because they don't pay anything,' Hensley said. 'Especially this day and time, when the world we're living in economically is not easy to live in.'
The students who attend C4K after school have access to numerous resources.
'They're getting a snack, they are getting supper, they are getting help with homework, they are getting extracurricular work. You name it, they are getting it, getting their hearts touched, they are getting loved on, everything every child needs and isn't getting enough of.'
C4K has grown to work with 19 local schools and hopes to be in six more soon. The non-profit is raising money to be able to expand into more schools and help more children.
'We've got 19 schools that we're in in Johnson City, Washington County and Bristol, and six more schools puts us in 25 schools, so we're raising money this year specifically in the 25th year to be in 25 schools,' Hensley said.
Hensley said C4K hopes to raise $400,000 to expand into those schools.
The non-profit always accepts donations through its website. C4K will also host a raffle soon and will host fundraising golf tournaments in the fall.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
