Kars4Kids Grants Awards EDGE Teen Center: A Place Where Teens Feel Safe, Valued, Accepted, and Empowered
EDGE Teen Center is more than a community center for teens. It’s a place where teens find the warmth and unconditional love that all teens need, but all too often lack. Feeling valued and accepted is, in fact, what puts teens on track to become successful adults. With its caring, well-crafted after school program, as well as its community service program, EDGE does a great job of fulfilling its mission of empowering teens and making them feel safe, valued, and most of all, accepted, no matter what.
Teens experience a whirlwind of emotions, in particular a feeling of insecurity. Community service can go a long way toward making teens feel worthwhile; as can the consistency of an after school where they are understood and encouraged five out of seven days a week. EDGE nails it. There’s just something special that makes EDGE stand out from the crowd.
We put some questions to Sara Gabbard, executive director of our latest small grant recipient, EDGE Teen Center, to learn more about this work:
Kars4Kids: Can you tell us something about your community and the kids you serve? What’s your demographic? How old are the kids?
Sara Gabbard: EDGE Teen Center is located in the northern Cincinnati suburbs of West Chester and Liberty Township. We operate two after school programs and a community service/volunteerism program. EDGE exclusively services high school age youth. This school year has just begun but currently 64% of our teens are minorities and 65% are living at or below the poverty line.
Kars4Kids: How does your after school program work? Do the schools refer students? What do the kids do at EDGE, and what would you say distinguishes your center from other teen centers—what makes it special?
Sara Gabbard: We operate two after school programs. Both centers are open every day when the local school district is in session. The EDGE@East and EDGE@West Teen Centers are located within walking distance to the location of high schools and serve approximately 110 teenagers each day. EDGE is unique from other after school programs because we exclusively serve high school students. This allows us to offer programming specifically targeting “big kids.” While teens are with us, they can work on homework, play video games or play board games but each day we offer a special program or experience for them to opt into to prepare themselves for their future. These include free mental health counseling, meetings with post-secondary providers, financial literacy, or art therapy. What makes EDGE special are our staff and adult volunteers. They care deeply about our teens and are invested in their success.
Kars4Kids: It sounds like you have really caring people working with the teens. What do you look for in your after school staff? How do you know they’re right for EDGE?
Sara Gabbard: We have a small staff of six that operate our two after school centers and our community service program. We wouldn’t be able to service the amount of teens we see each day without our amazing volunteers. Most of our volunteers are college students and retired individuals. When we interview staff or screen volunteers we always want to leave the meeting thinking, “Gosh. I can’t wait for our teens to meet them.” We are always excited to find people who are curious, encouraging, warm, and understand that while the task may be working at the check-in desk, the goal is mentorship.
Kars4Kids: You have a community service program. Do the kids themselves volunteer on their own to help the community?
Sara Gabbard: Our community service program, EDGE@Work is designed to remove barriers to volunteerism for teens. We provide transportation to and from the volunteer site as well as a grownup to serve alongside teens. It can be scary going out to work at a non-profit for the first time. We try to remove some of those feelings by facilitating opportunities for teens to serve with friends when they go the first time. Many of our teens continue to volunteer on their own after their first experience. Our EDGE@East location has a cafe in00side of the teen center. This also allows teens to volunteer while gaining some practical work experience like running a register, providing customer service and basic food-handling skills.
Kars4Kids: What types of community service are available to choose from?
Sara Gabbard: We operate a Cafe at our EDGE@East Teen Center location that teens can choose to participate work in. In addition to this in-house opportunity, EDGE serves at a variety of local non-profits. A few of those are listed below.
- Hope House Mission: Teens prepare and serve a meal to the men experiencing homelessness that are housed at the shelter.
- Animal Adoption Foundation: Teens clean and organize supplies and then help to socialize the cats and kittens that are waiting for their forever homes.
- Hope’s Closet: Teens sort donations and help to merchandise clothing and accessories on the shopping floor for children in foster care to pick out items for themselves.
- Hamilton Urban Gardens (HUGS): Teens do basic gardening tasks that vary by season for this community garden space.
- MetroParks of Butler County: Teens pick up litter, help remove invasive plants and work on improvement projects at the local parks and nature spaces.
Kars4Kids: Your website speaks of empowerment. Can you talk about some of the ways you empower EDGE participants through your programs?
Sara Gabbard: Teens have a lot of say over what happens in our after school programs. The best example of this is our Sources of Strength Program. Sources of Strength is a suicide prevention program. It is completely peer-led with adult advisors. Peer leaders are selected by adults so that each friend group has an identified leader. It was wonderful being able to give a leadership opportunity to teens who sometimes aren’t picked for programs like this. Unlike other suicide prevention programs, Sources of Strength focuses on going upstream to help young people identify their strengths and assets so that they are less likely to be vulnerable to suicide. It has been amazing watching our teens lead games, self-discovery lessons and art opportunities in our teen center to help their peers see the good stuff and people in their lives.
Kars4Kids: Do you hold any special events during the year? We’d love to hear about them.
Sara Gabbard: We hold two fundraising events during the year that support our mission. Give Teens the EDGE is an annual celebration that takes place in October. The theme is different each year but it is a casual, gala-style event with live music, awards and fun. We also host the Shamrock Shuffle 5k and Block Party around St. Patrick’s Day each year. This year’s race is on March 15th.
Kars4Kids: The EDGE mission statement is that “EDGE is a safe place just for teens after school where all teens are valued and accepted.” How does EDGE make kids feel and be safe? What are some of the factors that would make a teen feel less than valued and accepted?
Sara Gabbard: EDGE’s mission statement is to empower teens to impact the world. The EDGE Teen Centers provide a space just for teens where all teens are valued and accepted. The world is hard right now for all of us. The teen years have always been challenging but are even more challenging with social media. What EDGE does is meet teens right where they are and care for them there. Many families are now spread out across the country. Many of our teens have found surrogate grandparents, aunts and uncles on our staff that serve as an extension of their family support system.
Kars4Kids: How long has EDGE been around? Do you have any participants who have come back to volunteer with you? Do you have a success story you can share with our readers?
Sara Gabbard: EDGE has been serving teens for the last 14 years. There is no better feeling than when our EDGE alumni come back to visit us. One of our teens from several years ago came back to work with us through the Americorps program. Lauren had found a safe space at EDGE as a teenager and while they were trying to figure out what their next career steps were, they reached out regarding our Americorps opening. After serving a year through Americorps, Lauren was hired on full time as the EDGE@East Site Manager. They have been on staff for the last 3 years. Now Lauren provides that safe space to teens that need it.
Kars4Kids: What’s next for EDGE Teen Center?
Sara Gabbard: EDGE is always looking for ways to serve work teens. We feel like we have a great model for positively impacting teens and hope to bring this model to more communities.
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EDGE Teen Center: A Place Where Teens Feel Safe, Valued, Accepted, and Empowered
EDGE Teen Center is more than a community center for teens. It’s a place where teens find the warmth and unconditional love that all teens need, but all too often lack. Feeling valued and accepted is, in fact, what puts teens on track to become successful adults. With its caring, well-crafted after school program, as well as its community service program, EDGE does a great job of fulfilling its mission of empowering teens and making them feel safe, valued, and most of all, accepted, no matter what.
Teens experience a whirlwind of emotions, in particular a feeling of insecurity. Community service can go a long way toward making teens feel worthwhile; as can the consistency of an after school where they are understood and encouraged five out of seven days a week. EDGE nails it. There’s just something special that makes EDGE stand out from the crowd.
We put some questions to Sara Gabbard, executive director of our latest small grant recipient, EDGE Teen Center, to learn more about this work:
Kars4Kids: Can you tell us something about your community and the kids you serve? What’s your demographic? How old are the kids?
Sara Gabbard: EDGE Teen Center is located in the northern Cincinnati suburbs of West Chester and Liberty Township. We operate two after school programs and a community service/volunteerism program. EDGE exclusively services high school age youth. This school year has just begun but currently 64% of our teens are minorities and 65% are living at or below the poverty line.
Kars4Kids: How does your after school program work? Do the schools refer students? What do the kids do at EDGE, and what would you say distinguishes your center from other teen centers—what makes it special?
Sara Gabbard: We operate two after school programs. Both centers are open every day when the local school district is in session. The EDGE@East and EDGE@West Teen Centers are located within walking distance to the location of high schools and serve approximately 110 teenagers each day. EDGE is unique from other after school programs because we exclusively serve high school students. This allows us to offer programming specifically targeting “big kids.” While teens are with us, they can work on homework, play video games or play board games but each day we offer a special program or experience for them to opt into to prepare themselves for their future. These include free mental health counseling, meetings with post-secondary providers, financial literacy, or art therapy. What makes EDGE special are our staff and adult volunteers. They care deeply about our teens and are invested in their success.
Kars4Kids: It sounds like you have really caring people working with the teens. What do you look for in your after school staff? How do you know they’re right for EDGE?
Sara Gabbard: We have a small staff of six that operate our two after school centers and our community service program. We wouldn’t be able to service the amount of teens we see each day without our amazing volunteers. Most of our volunteers are college students and retired individuals. When we interview staff or screen volunteers we always want to leave the meeting thinking, “Gosh. I can’t wait for our teens to meet them.” We are always excited to find people who are curious, encouraging, warm, and understand that while the task may be working at the check-in desk, the goal is mentorship.
Kars4Kids: You have a community service program. Do the kids themselves volunteer on their own to help the community?
Sara Gabbard: Our community service program, EDGE@Work is designed to remove barriers to volunteerism for teens. We provide transportation to and from the volunteer site as well as a grownup to serve alongside teens. It can be scary going out to work at a non-profit for the first time. We try to remove some of those feelings by facilitating opportunities for teens to serve with friends when they go the first time. Many of our teens continue to volunteer on their own after their first experience. Our EDGE@East location has a cafe in00side of the teen center. This also allows teens to volunteer while gaining some practical work experience like running a register, providing customer service and basic food-handling skills.
Kars4Kids: What types of community service are available to choose from?
Sara Gabbard: We operate a Cafe at our EDGE@East Teen Center location that teens can choose to participate work in. In addition to this in-house opportunity, EDGE serves at a variety of local non-profits. A few of those are listed below.
- Hope House Mission: Teens prepare and serve a meal to the men experiencing homelessness that are housed at the shelter.
- Animal Adoption Foundation: Teens clean and organize supplies and then help to socialize the cats and kittens that are waiting for their forever homes.
- Hope’s Closet: Teens sort donations and help to merchandise clothing and accessories on the shopping floor for children in foster care to pick out items for themselves.
- Hamilton Urban Gardens (HUGS): Teens do basic gardening tasks that vary by season for this community garden space.
- MetroParks of Butler County: Teens pick up litter, help remove invasive plants and work on improvement projects at the local parks and nature spaces.
Kars4Kids: Your website speaks of empowerment. Can you talk about some of the ways you empower EDGE participants through your programs?
Sara Gabbard: Teens have a lot of say over what happens in our after school programs. The best example of this is our Sources of Strength Program. Sources of Strength is a suicide prevention program. It is completely peer-led with adult advisors. Peer leaders are selected by adults so that each friend group has an identified leader. It was wonderful being able to give a leadership opportunity to teens who sometimes aren’t picked for programs like this. Unlike other suicide prevention programs, Sources of Strength focuses on going upstream to help young people identify their strengths and assets so that they are less likely to be vulnerable to suicide. It has been amazing watching our teens lead games, self-discovery lessons and art opportunities in our teen center to help their peers see the good stuff and people in their lives.
Kars4Kids: Do you hold any special events during the year? We’d love to hear about them.
Sara Gabbard: We hold two fundraising events during the year that support our mission. Give Teens the EDGE is an annual celebration that takes place in October. The theme is different each year but it is a casual, gala-style event with live music, awards and fun. We also host the Shamrock Shuffle 5k and Block Party around St. Patrick’s Day each year. This year’s race is on March 15th.
Kars4Kids: The EDGE mission statement is that “EDGE is a safe place just for teens after school where all teens are valued and accepted.” How does EDGE make kids feel and be safe? What are some of the factors that would make a teen feel less than valued and accepted?
Sara Gabbard: EDGE’s mission statement is to empower teens to impact the world. The EDGE Teen Centers provide a space just for teens where all teens are valued and accepted. The world is hard right now for all of us. The teen years have always been challenging but are even more challenging with social media. What EDGE does is meet teens right where they are and care for them there. Many families are now spread out across the country. Many of our teens have found surrogate grandparents, aunts and uncles on our staff that serve as an extension of their family support system.
Kars4Kids: How long has EDGE been around? Do you have any participants who have come back to volunteer with you? Do you have a success story you can share with our readers?
Sara Gabbard: EDGE has been serving teens for the last 14 years. There is no better feeling than when our EDGE alumni come back to visit us. One of our teens from several years ago came back to work with us through the Americorps program. Lauren had found a safe space at EDGE as a teenager and while they were trying to figure out what their next career steps were, they reached out regarding our Americorps opening. After serving a year through Americorps, Lauren was hired on full time as the EDGE@East Site Manager. They have been on staff for the last 3 years. Now Lauren provides that safe space to teens that need it.
Kars4Kids: What’s next for EDGE Teen Center?
Sara Gabbard: EDGE is always looking for ways to serve work teens. We feel like we have a great model for positively impacting teens and hope to bring this model to more communities.
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EDGE Teen Center: A Place Where Teens Feel Safe, Valued, Accepted, and Empowered
May 30, 2025
EDGE Teen Center is pleased to announce it has received a generous grant from the Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation in support of its Healthy Living Program, which promotes nutrition, fitness, mental wellness, and overall healthy habits among local teens.
The Healthy Living Program is a vital part of EDGE’s after school offerings, helping teens develop lifelong skills that contribute to physical and emotional well-being. With the Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation’s support, EDGE Teen Center will expand access to workshops, guest speakers, fitness challenges, and healthy cooking classes designed to engage students in fun, relevant, and educational ways.
To learn more about the Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation, visit https://www.
CTI Restaurants Inc and Taco Bell Foundation Donate $167,000 to Local Youth Organizations
CTI Restaurants Inc. and Taco Bell Foundation Donate $167,000 to Local Youth Organizations
CTI Restaurants Inc., representing the Taco Bell Foundation’s Round-Up program, generously donated $167,000 in July to five community organizations empowering local youth.
The Taco Bell Foundation’s Round Up Program supports youth nationwide by rounding up customer purchases to the nearest dollar. Donations from this program got to benefit several organizations, including the Girls & Boys Club of Greater Cincinnati, EDGE Teen Center, Focus on Youth, the Girls & Boys Club of West Chester and Liberty Township, and 1 N 5.
“The support from CTI Restaurants and the Taco Bell Foundation allow EDGE to meet the needs of the 1,200 teens we serve each year,” said Sara Gabbard, Executive Director of EDGE Teen Center. “The funding allows staff, community partners and volunteers to prepare students to apply for their first job, pursue post-secondary education and make informed plans for their bright futures.”
Over 450 youth-serving organizations nationwide will receive a portion of the nearly $23 million in Community Grants presented by the Taco Bell Foundation this year. The grants represent the Taco Bell Foundation’s mission to break down barriers to education and fuel young people’s boldest ambitions.
“We are incredibly thankful for the continual hard work and effort our teams put into this amazing program,” said Rebecca Wilber, President of CTI Restaurants Inc. “A special thank-you to our guests that ‘round-up’ when they visit our restaurants each and every day.”
About CTI Restaurants Inc.
CTI Restaurants Inc, founded in 1998 by Rebecca and Todd Wilber, is a franchisee of Taco Bell located in Northern Cincinnati. Operating 12 Taco Bell locations, CTI Restaurants Inc. makes it its mission to run great restaurants while putting people before profits, and make a difference in people’s lives.
About the Taco Bell Foundation
Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps America’s young people pursue their educational goals and career aspirations. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people across the country and has awarded over $188 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit tacobellfoundation.org.
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Lakota Schools | District Communication: Casual for a Cause
Dater Foundation Awards Eight Grants in July
Cincinnati, Ohio, August 12, 2024 – The Charles H. Dater Foundation awarded eight grants in July totaling $225,000, including a $35,000 grant to Edge Teen Center for its after school programs.
The Shamrock Shuffle gets a new home at EDGE Teen Center
West Chester, OH- (December 16, 2022) After fifteen years, a local tradition is getting a new home. The Shamrock Shuffle, a charitable event featuring a 5k/10k Race and Community Block Party, will transition from the Northern Cincinnati Foundation to EDGE Teen Center over the next year, with the inaugural EDGE Shamrock Shuffle event to be held in March 2024.
“We are thrilled to pass The Shamrock Shuffle on to EDGE,” said Erin Clemons, Northern Cincinnati Foundation president & CEO. “The event has a long history in this area, and we are confident Sara and her team at EDGE will carry it forward with great success.”
The Shamrock Shuffle hosts 3000-5000 participants annually at The Square @ Union Centre in West Chester, raising upwards of $65,000 each year.
Since its inception, proceeds from The Shamrock Shuffle have helped fund the Foundation’s operations as well as grants to local nonprofits and participating Charity Teams. Recent growth and a shift in focus has allowed the Northern Cincinnati Foundation to become self-sustaining and carry out their mission without the need for annual fundraising efforts, according to Clemons.
After a scaled-back Shuffle in September 2021, following a two-year pandemic hiatus, the Foundation made the decision to seek an alternative home for the event with a local non-profit organization.
“The Shamrock Shuffle has been a great event for us and the whole community, and we knew it could continue to make a positive impact going forward,” said Clemons. “We were seeking an organization with whom we’ve had a longstanding relationship, who was focused on sustainability, and who we knew would use the event to make tangible difference in the community. EDGE Teen Center was the perfect fit.”
While The Shamrock Shuffle won’t be back in 2023, planning efforts at EDGE are already underway for a bigger and better event in 2024. Participants can expect the event to run much the same way it has in recent years, including the popular Shuffle Gives Back Charity Team program that allows participants to create teams and raise funds for their own causes with a portion of each team member registration.
“Creating a spirit of volunteerism and community service is at the core of what we teach teens at EDGE,” said Sara Gabbard, EDGE Executive Director. “We are excited to support so many of our non-profit partners through charity teams. With an event like the Shamrock Shuffle, the whole community wins.”
In addition to supporting the local nonprofit community with Shuffle Gives Back, proceeds from the event going forward will support EDGE Teen Center’s mission to empower local teens to impact the world, and will help fund existing programs as well as future growth.
More information about The Shamrock Shuffle 2024 will be available in the coming months, for both participants and those interested in sponsoring the event.
“We are so thankful for the opportunity to continue the tradition of The Shamrock Shuffle,” said Gabbard. “We are excitedly planning for 2024!”
To learn more about EDGE Teen Center, visit https://edgeteencenter.com/.
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EDGE Teen Center and MidPointe Library System Partner to Support Local Youth
West Chester, OH – (April 18, 2022) – EDGE Teen Center and MidPointe Library System are collaborating to provide after-school programming for Lakota West teens five days a week for the 2022/23 school year.
“EDGE@West,” as it has come to be known, has been providing teens with safe and productive programming at the Library on Centre Pointe Drive since the fall of 2021. In a response to the popularity of the program, it grew from one to two days in the winter. Students participate in activities in the Library community room.
For the upcoming school year, EDGE plans to provide: tutoring, group mental health counseling with Focus on Youth, post graduation education planning, yoga, prevention education, employment skills, community service opportunities and more.
“It has always been our goal to provide the entire district with meaningful after school programming specifically designed for high schoolers. We are thrilled to be collaborating with MidPointe to meet the needs of local teenagers,” says Sara Gabbard, Executive Director of EDGE.
“Our partnership is a win/win for both organizations and the community as well,” said Travis Bautz, MidPointe Library System Executive Director. “Providing space and resources for the exceptional services EDGE provides is directly aligned with MidPointe’s mission and vision.”
About EDGE Teen Center: The EDGE Teen Center serves approximately 800 unique teens each year across all programs. These programs include providing safe after school environments and mobile programming designed to build skills in the areas of healthy living, academic success, life skills and community service. EDGE Teen Center’s mission is to empower teens to impact the world. For more information, please visit www.edgeteencenter.com or contact Sara Gabbard at (513)755-2400
About MidPointe Library System: The MidPointe Library System serves a population of almost 200,000 people in the cities of Middletown, Trenton, and Monroe and the townships of West Chester, Liberty, Lemon, Madison, and Wayne with a collection of nearly half a million materials. The Library offers locations in downtown Middletown, Liberty Township, Monroe, Trenton and West Chester, as well as a bookmobile. For more information, please visit www.midpointelibrary.org or contact Cari Hillman at (513)705-8511.
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EDGE Teen Center Announces New Leader
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OH – EDGE Teen Center is pleased to announce that Sara Gabbard has been appointed its new executive director. She is only the second executive director in the 12-year-old organization’s history, taking over for Brenda Yablonsky who stepped down recently but will remain an active supporter and board member.
“We took our time to find just the right person,” said Sgt. Brent Lovell with the West Chester Police Dept and current chair of EDGE’s board of directors. “Sara brings a great mix of experience in non-profit organizations and youth and family advocacy.” Sara, who is from the local area, had worked with a youth organization in Indiana and prior to that held leadership positions with Hope’s Closet in Hamilton.
“There is a lot of excitement and energy around our recently approved three-year strategic plan,” said Lovell, “and Sara will guide those efforts to support the local community’s teen population in new and high-impact ways.”
The local nonprofit that serves 700 local teens annually also shared that Melissa Rosser, who was manager of the Community Service Program, has been promoted to operations director. She will oversee the staff and programming for EDGE’s various programs focused on Community Service, Academic Success, Life Skills and Healthy Living.
The uniqueness of the EDGE model is that it is 100% tailored to the unique needs of teens – an often under-served segment of the community. The diverse teen center is dedicated to helping teens become confident in who they are and equipped to be successful in high school and beyond.