29 Apr 2024 Soaring Wings honors Charlie Weaver with new Learning and Counseling Center

Soaring Wings, a non-profit ministry for children in crisis, is excited to announce the naming of a new Learning and Counseling Center for long-time board member and supporter Charlie Weaver. His wife, Linda, surprised him with this gift in his honor.

The Charlie Weaver Learning and Counseling Center will be part of Soaring Wings’ new Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center (WLCC). The WLCC will be an 11,000-square-foot facility under one roof that is comprised of five areas: Welcome Center, Learning Center, Counseling Center, Administrative Offices and Pavilion.

“Soaring Wings is a Christ-centered ministry that serves children who are in crisis through no fault of their own,” said Founder and Executive Director Andrew Watson. “Soaring Wings provides a loving and stable home where children can grow up spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and socially.

The Weavers have been involved with the ministry of Soaring Wings since the early days of its development. “The first time we met, I stopped by Mr. Weaver’s office, unannounced, to talk with him about gravel for the roads that were to be built on the newly acquired 195-acre campus,” Watson said. “That day, Charlie committed to provide all the gravel needed from his mining company. That meeting is where our friendship started. Over the years, Charlie and Linda have been strong supporters of Soaring Wings, and he now serves on the Board of Directors. It seems only fitting that the Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center will bear Charlie’s name. He loves the mission and has been a great ambassador. He and Linda have also been known to ‘spoil’ the children and staff.”

The Learning Center will house after-school learning programs with one-on-one tutoring and access to technology, study aids and educational materials. Additional services provided in the new space are occupational, physical and speech therapy and career planning. An on-site preschool will provide a daily curriculum for the youngest children (birth to five years) to target developmental milestones and kindergarten readiness skills, according to Watson. 

The Counseling Center will offer a comfortable and therapeutic environment for the ministry’s specialized clinical counseling program. “This setting will give our licensed counselors the necessary resources for various types of therapies that our kids require, such as individual, family, group, play, and art therapy,” Watson said. The Counseling Center will also be used for comprehensive case planning and for meetings with families and other agencies.

It was previously announced that the Welcome Center will be named the Earl Noble Welcome Center after a gift from Mr. Noble’s estate from his sister, Norma Roady.

Soaring Wings has been completely debt-free since its inception and is not dependent upon government funds to function. “Thanks to faithful donors and God working on behalf of Soaring Wings, we are pleased to announce that a total of $1,075,000 has been raised for the Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center,” Watson said. 

“This is more than two-thirds of the projected $1.5 million needed to complete the project. Because this is more than enough to get the building in the “dry”, construction has begun. In the near future, supporters will be invited to gather for a time of prayer and writing scripture on the stud walls of the building, asking for God’s continued blessing on the construction project and the future growth of Soaring Wings. God is faithful; His people are generous.”

Soaring Wings is located in Vilonia (Faulkner County.) If you would like to support the fundraising goal for the Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center, contact Andrew Watson at 501.849.2253 or at [email protected].