A fresh coat of paint might seem like a simple change, but it can transform a house into a home.

In the summer of 2011, YouthCare was contemplating just such a transformation for our Adolescent Shelter when Dwayne Bishop, the Co-Founder and CFO of StudentPainters.net, walked through our doors to attend a Volunteer Information Session. StudentPainters.net provides quality house painting services throughout Washington, Oregon and northern Idaho. During the following eight months, Dwayne played an integral role in two major makeovers at YouthCare programs.

When planning a painting project, choosing the colors is just one of many important tasks. First there’s sanding and priming, then planning the color implementation, actually painting, and touching up. Dwayne generously dedicated hours of his time training volunteers, getting in there with a paint brush himself, and offering his professional knowledge. Under his leadership, more than 100 volunteers contributed to the success of the painting makeovers of the Adolescent Emergency Shelter and ISIS House, a transitional living program.  Hundreds of young people will feel more at home and welcomed in our programs, thanks to Dwayne’s help and the help of StudentPainters.net. And Dwayne doesn’t stop there – he also tutors at YouthCare’s GED Program once a week. A BIG thank you to Dwayne and his StudentPainters.net team for supporting YouthCare in so many ways.