When Present Pillars first started back in July of 2021, their mission was to spotlight and support fathers and highlight the importance of ‘fatherhood involvement’ in children’s lives. Today they are continuing that mission and announcing the opening of the inaugural Pillar Center with a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, March 22nd at 11:30 a.m.
Since their inception, the organization has primarily supported the community of Benton Harbor through a fatherhood program and barrier navigation. The addition of the Pillar Center will allow their team to centralize services and engage men and fathers of all stages and circumstances.
“Statistically speaking, the impact on a child’s life by having a father figure present is huge, the odds of living in poverty drop by 50%, teen pregnancy by 75%, and incarceration by 80%,” says founding Pillar and Executive Director, James Gunter. “Continuing to engage these current and future fathers and provide them with a safe space to navigate and gain mentor guidance ultimately creates a fellowship that fosters the type of community change that’s needed.”
Arthur Havlicek, President & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber commented,
“Southwest Michigan as a whole, specifically Benton Harbor, has already and will continue to benefit from the programming and outreach that Present Pillars offers. As a new father myself, I understand the mind shift that some of these men have experienced and am thankful for the forward thinking and the ultimate creation of The Pillar Center.”
Once inside The Pillar Center at 240 W. Main Street, Benton Harbor you’ll discover an area that assists with helping men navigate barriers, and promotes overall wellness. Future plans include the addition of ‘Legends’, a barbershop that has barbers with specialized training and the Workforce Development Institute, an organization that helps get individuals into the trades.
“Our vision is ‘Healthy Fathers. Healthy Families. Healthy Communities.’ We’ve already experienced success in fostering it to a point, the Pillar Center is the key next step in engaging and creating more family pillars,” adds Gunter.
After the ribbon cutting on March 22nd, The Pillar Center will officially open on Monday, March 25th with hours of operation 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To learn more including how you can get involved with Present Pillars visit presentpillars.org or call 269-363-4000.
