Now Accepting Applications for the 2026 Amanda Ireland Ward Scholarship

Applications are now open for the 2026 Amanda Ireland Ward Scholarship, a one-time $2,000 award that honors the legacy of a remarkable advocate, mentor, and friend.

Mandy Ward was a child and family advocate with the Kellin Foundation who touched thousands of lives through her work and her deep commitment to leadership, service, and laughter. The scholarship that bears her name continues this legacy by supporting graduating high school seniors in Guilford County who share those same values.

This scholarship is designed for students who:

• Are graduating seniors and current residents of Guilford County

• Have a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA

• Plan to attend a four-year accredited college in North Carolina

• Demonstrate leadership, service, and a desire to connect with others

• Participate in extracurricular activities or volunteer work

Students from first responder families and girls' leadership academies are especially encouraged to apply—two communities that were close to Mandy’s heart.

To apply, students must submit:

• A completed application form

• A brief written statement (minimum 100 words)

• An official high school transcript

• Two letters of recommendation (at least one from a teacher)

• Optional: FAFSA Student Aid Report and standardized test scores

All application materials must be postmarked by March 1, 2026.

Completed applications should be mailed to:
Kellin Foundation
ATTN: Amanda Ireland Ward Scholarship
4010 Walker Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27403

The Amanda Ireland Ward Scholarship recognizes students who lead with heart, serve with intention, and bring others along with them. We’re honored to support the next generation of leaders who reflect Mandy’s values and vision.

Recovery Can Happen: Building a Stronger Workforce for Mental Health

A new chapter is unfolding at the Kellin Foundation as we take an important step forward in both workforce development opportunities and recovery support. Through our Recovery Can Happen program, we’re now an approved curriculum provider for the North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist (NCCPSS) training! 

Peer Support Specialists play a vital role in the mental health field. They are individuals who draw from their own lived experience with recovery to walk alongside others navigating mental health and substance use challenges. Their insight brings understanding and hope—something no textbook can fully teach.

The Recovery Can Happen curriculum was written by the late Terri Spears, former Peer Support Specialist Supervisor at the Kellin Foundation. Terri poured her experience, compassion, and deep understanding of recovery into this work. Her dedication continues to guide and inspire the next generation of Peer Support Specialists who will carry that same spirit of connection and care into the community.

Because of her connection to the Kellin Foundation and commitment to peer support, Terri ensured that the Recovery Can Happen curriculum continues to be offered at Kellin. The Recovery Can Happen program blends discussion, group learning, and real-world application to prepare participants for certification. Over five days, trainees explore the principles of recovery, ethics, communication, and self-care, gaining the tools to support others while also building sustainable career paths in behavioral health.

Offering this training at the Kellin Foundation’s Hope Hub makes it easier for community members to pursue a meaningful profession that strengthens our local behavioral health network. It also reflects Kellin’s broader mission—building resilience, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that recovery is not only possible but within reach.

Two sessions are currently scheduled: November 17–21 and December 15–19, both hosted at the Hope Hub.

To learn more about Recovery Can Happen or register for an upcoming session, visit wellsurgent.com.

At the Hope Hub, every program helps plant the seeds of recovery, connection, and growth—right where they’re needed most.

Staff Spotlight — Melanie Garner

Melanie Garner

If you’ve ever met Melanie Garner, you know she’s the kind of person who makes things happen and makes people feel cared for in the process. As Wraparound Services Supervisor at the Kellin Foundation, Melanie is often the first in line to help families find the support they need through our Community Response Initiative (CRI).

Whether it’s food assistance, housing resources, or help navigating community systems, Melanie works to connect families with services beyond mental health care, the kinds of support that help make stability and healing possible. She also leads the organizational charge of wraparound services alongside our School-Based Mental Health clinicians serving students and families in Guilford County schools.

Outside of work, Melanie brings her trademark enthusiasm and creativity to every corner of her life. She enjoys volunteering with the Community Theatre of Greensboro, reading, and spending time with her two beloved fur babies, Louis Vuitton and Coco Chanel. Her favorite snack? Trader Joe’s Jalapeño Cheddar with crackers. Her favorite treat? Frozen dates filled with peanut butter.

When she needs to unwind, you might find her watching Love Island or listening to “Good Times Go By Way Too Fast” by Dylan Scott, a fitting theme for someone who finds joy in life’s fleeting moments.

Asked what she hopes to be remembered for, Melanie says simply:

“That I loved life and found joy in the small things.”

It’s a sentiment that fits her perfectly. In her work and in her life, Melanie reminds us that small moments of kindness and connection can make the biggest difference.

Shea’s Chase 2025: A Look Back

The 10th Annual Shea’s Chase may have started under overcast skies, but the spirit of the day shined through. Runners, walkers, volunteers, and friends came together to honor Shea’s legacy and to support mental health for all.

The morning began with the Smiles for Miles Fun Run, held in memory of Amanda Ireland Ward, whose joyful spirit continues to inspire those who take part each year. From the first steps of the fun run to the final strides of the 5K, it was a morning of movement and community.

We made some quick weather calls—including canceling the band out of precaution—but the energy never wavered. Smiles, laughter, and connection filled Revolution Mill as participants crossed the finish line and celebrated another year of coming together for a cause that matters deeply to our community.

A special thank you to photographer Shauna Ireland of Just Kidding Productions, who captured the heart of the day beautifully. View the full Shea’s Chase 2025 photo gallery here.

Because of everyone who registered, volunteered, sponsored, and donated, more people will be able to access the free mental health services provided by the Kellin Foundation.

Events like Shea’s Chase help sustain the Hope Hub’s vision of a community where support and care are always within reach.

We’re already looking ahead to next year’s race on September 26, 2026—and hoping for blue skies.

Harvesting Hope for Mental Health: A Call to Action

What does it take to build a community where integrated mental health services are accessible, connected, and a shared priority?

That was the focus of Harvesting Hope: A Call to Action for Community Mental Health, a gathering at the Kellin Foundation’s Hope Hub that brought together community leaders, partners, and supporters to explore what lasting change requires.

The morning included guided tours of the newly renovated space and a panel discussion that invited reflection, practical ideas, and a sense of shared responsibility. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Terri Shelton of Spartan Strategies and featured panelists Walker Sanders (Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro), Niketa Greene (Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation), and Dr. Derrick Hoover (UnitedHealthcare).

Panelists spoke candidly about the urgent mental health challenges facing our community, especially among children, adolescents, and older adults. They discussed the need to treat mental health as part of a community’s core infrastructure—not as a siloed issue, but as something woven into the fabric of education, housing, healthcare, workforce development, and economic opportunity. They emphasized the importance of collaboration across systems and sectors, especially between schools, healthcare providers, funders, and grassroots organizations.

At one point, Dr. Hoover shared a visual that stayed with many in the room: a team of 25 people pulling an airplane by rope. On their own, no one could move it. But when they pulled together, the plane began to shift. What had seemed immovable became possible when people worked together.

That metaphor speaks directly to the mission of the Hope Hub.

The Kellin Foundation Hope Hub brings services and support together under one roof—mental health care, peer support, food and housing coordination, tutoring, senior services, resource navigation, workforce development, afterschool programs and camps, nutrition and exercise, wellness programs, and more—making it easier for families to get help without navigating a maze of referrals and waitlists. It’s a model built not only for access, but for connection. It exists to reduce isolation, remove barriers, and make sure no one is left figuring things out alone.

The conversation closed with a question that brought the focus back to what each of us can do—right now—to make mental health care more available, more connected, and easier to access for everyone in our community.

It’s a question we carry forward. And for those ready to be part of the answer, the door is open.

If you're interested in scheduling a visit to the Hope Hub, learning more about our services, or exploring how you or your organization might get involved, reach out to our team. We’d love to connect with you.

Tutoring Back in Session at the Hope Hub

Math and GED tutoring is back at the Kellin Foundation, available every Tuesday and Thursday from 4–6 PM for students in grades 6–12 and anyone preparing for the GED. Tutoring is offered both in person at the Hope Hub and online, just call to schedule an appointment.

Sessions are led by Abby Karp, a seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience teaching middle and high school math in Guilford County. Abby also supports students preparing for standardized tests, including the ACT and SAT.

Tutoring is free for Kellin Foundation clients, Hope Hub clients, and members of the community. Donations are welcome and help us keep this resource available to all. For more information, call 336-429-5600 or email info@kellinfoundation.org.