Overview

Peaches and Cream Foundation, Inc. was established as a 501 (c) (3) organization in 2007 to address the need of the founder, Ella Butcher for a mentoring program for underserved and at-risk girls in disadvantaged, overlooked, and rural communities. The name of the organization stems from Ms. Butcher’s Georgian roots, with “cream” referencing a Biblical verse referring to God’s blessings (Job 29). The organization originated in a Philadelphia Housing Development Community Center with five dedicated young ladies as students. Since 2007, Peaches and Cream have developed into an innovative and impactful mentoring program, drawing on the experiences of Ms. Butcher’s youth and the forging of strong community partnerships to bring positive encouragement as well as team-building a self-esteem-building activity to youth. To give participants opportunities for self-expression, loving guidance, and academic success, Peaches and Cream Foundation run a mentoring, out-of-school time, and dance program. The out-of-school time program has extended its focus to address the youths’ demonstrated need to develop skills needed for career development. The organization’s new curriculum teaches entrepreneurship, digital and computer skills, financial and reading literacy, public speaking, and personal development. Ms. Butcher’s newly designed group activities are dedicated to mobile learning and “youth discovering their purpose.” Since 2012, Peaches and Cream Foundation also serves as a Community Service Clerical Site for young women, enrolled at the Pennsylvania programs for welfare-to-work. The program teaches the participants to become self-sufficient through Ella’s three E’s: Empowerment, Encouragement, and Education!