 Verna Wright,
Founder of the Dasie Bridgewater Hope Center
Verna Wright, founder of the Dasie Hope Center was born and raised in
Wabasso, FL. She is the second eldest of three children born to the
late Dasie Bridgewater.
After the passing of her mother in the Fall of 2000, Mrs. Wright had
the inspiration to open an after-school youth program for low-income
children within the Wabasso community in her mother’s memory. Mrs.
Wright choose her hometown community of Wabasso because she saw there
was nothing positive for children to interact with except street
corners and other non-productive behaviors. She did not want the
children in the to be disadvantaged and without opportunity.
Wright opened the Dasie Bridgewater Hope Center on September 5, 2001
and has not looked back; the Center and the children are experiencing
tremendous growth each year.
Since the opening the Center's participants are attending school on a
more consistent basis as well as showing major improvements in their
grades. In addition, for three consecutive years, all of the enrolled
3rd graders reportedly passed the FCAT. “It hasn’t always been easy
starting and operating on a budget of $500 with $400 of that going to
repairing the roof of a dilapidated building,” says Wright. The Dasie
Hope Center started its first three years in a small building with
extensive structural damage. With Verna’s vision, local support, and
community partnerships, the Dasie Hope Center was able to relocate into
a more spacious building as well as build a new playground for the
children.
Verna concludes, “There’s so much more to be done, but I knew I had to
try my best to make a way because deep in my heart I felt the kids in
Wabasso deserved an outlet and a chance at succeeding in life--just as
my own mother once paved a way for me."
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