By Jesse Wood
May 17, 2013. Grandfather Home for Children hosts its opening celebration of its Centennial Celebration on Saturday, May 18, at the Hayes Campus in Banner Elk from noon to 4 p.m.
The event is free to attend and includes kid crafts, petting zoo, food vendors, live music and free strawberry sundaes.
Founded in 1914, Grandfather Home for Children began when Rev. Edgar Tufts, a Presbyterian minister, converted a farmhouse belonging to what is now Lees-McRae College into an orphanage, according to history on the organization’s website.
Since its founding, Grandfather Home for Children has adapted to the changing needs of populations of children. Initially, children were admitted if they were biological orphans.
Starting in the 70s, most of the children brought to the home were abused and neglected, and near the millennium, Grandfather Home for Children’s residential treatment ministry focused on children experiencing multiple placement failures and sexual abuse. It also began facilitating foster care and adoptions, according to its website.
A Christian nonprofit ministry, Grandfather Home for Children serves more than 500 children per year and recently celebrated its 200th adoption. For more information about Grandfather Home for Children, click here.
Following are other centennial events taking place this year:
Centennial Tee-off at Hound Ears Club, June 10
Advanced registration is required, and lunch is included. Contact Adam Hicks at 828-898-5465, ext. 521 or a.hicks@grandfatherhome.org for registration.
Down Home Dinner & Festival, July 27
From 2 to 8 p.m. on July 27, Grandfather Home for Children presents a Down Home Dinner and Festival at the Hayes Campus in Banner Elk. The event is free to attend and features free BBQ, music variety show with advanced registration.
Theatre Festival on Sept. 14
From 3 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 14, Grandfather Home for Children presents a Theatre Festival at the Hayes Campus in Banner Elk. The event is free to attend and features performance art, historic cottage tours and a reprise of the “Edgar Tufts and the Grandfather Home Story.”
Alumni Homecoming Luncheon, July 28
Grandfather Home Museum Reception, Sept. 15
From 3 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 15, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum hosts a Grandfather Home Museum Reception with historical artifacts on display. Those artifacts will be on display from Sept. 14 to Jan. 11.
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