Everyday in Dallas County, 100,000 children are left alone to care for themselves between the hours of 3-6 p.m. Far too often, kids left alone fall prey to negative behaviors with large societal consequences and become another negative statistic. 85% of juvenile defenders are illiterate, and the number of Dallas high school dropouts exacerbates this local challenge – over 5,000 students in Dallas County drop out each year. Furthermore, studies show that an overwhelming 1 in 3 Dallas County fourth graders do not read at a level on track for college readiness. Consequently, these struggling readers are four times more likely to drop out of high school than are proficient readers. Finally, by the year 2030, it is estimated that the number of functionally illiterate adults in Dallas County will reach 1 million, with this number outpacing population growth. It is obvious that illiteracy is increasingly becoming a challenge that requires a highly relational, long-term course of action.
New Horizons of North Texas is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping at-risk children and teens growing up in environments of poverty, academic struggle, and hopelessness. As a result, we have set out to tell kids a different story – one of possibility and potential!
We create highly relational environments and provide opportunities to live a different story.
As an affiliate of New Horizons Programs, Inc., New Horizons of North Texas serves the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex through no-cost programs, including afterschool and summer programs.
We hope you will get to know more about us as you browse through our website. Be sure to contact us for further information, volunteering, or the many others ways you too can be a part of changing a life forever!
A NEW STORY.
MISSION
Our mission is to empower at-risk youth to reach their full potential through tutoring, mentoring, and faith-building.
VISION
We envision all at-risk youth completing high school with a plan for the future to become contributing members of society.
VALUES
Faith – we are more than our current story
Family – we are an extended family of belonging
Focus – we are people of grit, resilience, and determination
Finish – we will learn to take personal responsibility
HISTORY
In 2002, Bob and Ellen Nichols saw a need to reach children with the message of Jesus Christ in a small neighborhood in Bonita Springs, FL. Ellen was local elementary school teacher, and Bob was a professional boat captain. They began their ministry by going door to door inviting kids to come to the “Super Kids Church,” which would meet every Sunday morning at Manna Christian RV Park. This kids-only church became a huge success!
The Nichols’ began praying for God’s direction on how to reach more children. Seeing the problems in the neighborhoods and recognizing the tremendous need to help the children from non-English speaking homes with their school work, Bob and Ellen were led to find a place to provide free after school tutoring.
In January 2003, they opened the first Super Kids Club in Rosemary Park and also founded New Horizons of Southwest Florida, a non-profit organization. From its first day with 20 children meeting on Wednesday afternoons, New Horizons Super Kids Club has expanded to four locations open Monday through Thursday. The Super Teens Club opened in 2006 in order to continue meeting the needs of students through high school graduation.
As the impact in Southwest Florida expanded, New Horizons Programs, Inc. was created in 2015 to launch the first affiliate location – New Horizons of North Texas. The visionary efforts of Tom and Nancy Cooper were instrumental in bringing the affiliate organization to their home town of Dallas to create faith-based after-school programs throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
By God’s amazing grace, New Horizons now includes eight different programs that operate throughout the year providing more than 60,000 hours annually of tutoring, mentoring, and faith to over 500 at-risk youth in Southwest Florida and North Texas.
