Children's Well-Being League

Cwl program service accomplishment 2023 the Children's Well-Being League (formerly known as the childrenfs welfar League) has been in existence for 100 years. Since its formation to the present, the goal of the organization has been to improve and enrich the lives of the children in asheville city and buncombe county. For over the past 20 years cwbl's focus has been on high school students. Over the past 10 years, the organization has donated over 1 million to high school students in need through their various programs. Stipend program the Children's Well-Being League works in partnership with social workers and guidance counselors from all 10 buncombe county and asheville city high schools. School social workers and guidance counselors recommend students to cwbl's stipend program based on financial need and scholastic achievement. Cwbl currently serves 305 students through this program. Each student receives a monthly stipend of 50 for nine months with an additional 75 for the holidays. High school graduates receive an additional 75, with each school also receiving a graduation gift of 250 for a special graduate typically, stipend students use the money to supplement basic necessities like rent, groceries and personal supplies. They also use it for school fees, field trips and, sometimes, to just be able to join their friends in typical teen activities like a night at the movies. There are waiting lists at every school for this program. Sos - support our students both stipend students and non-stipend students have the right to a "normal" high school experience. Cwbl is in a unique position to help them. Through our sos (support our students) fund, the organization is able to assist at the requests of school social workers and guidance counselors. Requests from the high schools include items such as college housing deposits, sports equipment, band trip fees, and uniforms for culinary and cna programs. In times of extreme need, cwbl has also helped with short term housing solutions for homeless students. During the 2022- 2023 school year the organization provided over 23,000 in requests for individual students. Other programs while the stipend program and sos are the main funding programs that cwbl offers to the local high schools, the organization also purchases backpacks and mattresses for homeless students, snacks for all social workers and guidance counselors to have on hand, and gas cards for the schools to give out at their discretion.