BACKGROUND
A Decade of Impact in Grove Park
In 2015, LaTonya Gates Johnston launched PAWKids in a former trap house to provide a safe, loving after-school environment for Grove Park kids. For the past decade, the 1940s-era PAWKids House has been the heart of this mission—a refuge for children, their parents, and struggling neighbors seeking safety and community. Each school year, from September to May, the house welcomes 45 children three afternoons a week, offering homework help, arts activities, reading support, counseling, wellness programming, and family dinners.
Homework help
Arts & entrepeneurship activities
Individual counseling and wellness programming
Reading support
Family dinners
PAWKids is more than just a place—it’s a lifeline for our community, creating opportunities and building brighter futures for the next generation.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
The House is Falling Apart
The PAWKids House has been the heart of our ministry for ten years, but time has taken its toll. This 1940s-era home is no longer safe or functional for the programs we provide.
Here’s what we’re facing:
Structural and Plumbing Problems: Years of flooding have caused sagging ceilings, rotting drywall, and pest infestations.
Outdated Kitchen: Appliances are too old for cooking meals for our kids and families.
Health Hazards: Mold from flooding presents serious risks to the children we serve.
Inadequate Space: The current floor plan no longer supports our growing programs.
Despite countless efforts to repair the damage, the house needs a complete renovation to continue being a refuge for our community.
CAMPAIGN DETAILS
Help us Raise $1M by April 2025
Every contribution brings us closer to transforming the PAWKids House into a safe, welcoming space for Grove Park’s children and families. To renovate the PAWKids House by the next school year, we must raise $1M by April 2025.
The funding will allow us to:
Start construction in April 2025 and complete renovations by Fall 2025
Shore up structural problems and replace rotting building materials
Add a family kitchen, renovated full bathrooms, and additional classrooms.
Create screened porches for safe, outdoor learning spaces.
Hire an operations director to strengthen fundraising and administrative support, ensuring the long-term sustainability of PAWKids programs.
THE TEAM
The Professionals Making It Possible
The PAWKids House renovation will be led by a committed team of professionals who are gifting their professional fees and committed to sourcing materials at cost.
