Celebrating 35 Years of HARK!
35 years of helping kids.
35 years later, we’re still here.
2022
Changing our name to HARK opened the door for us to reach more children and respond to needs beyond the foster care system. In 2022, we expanded our mission to include students experiencing homelessness or housing instability, known as McKinney-Vento (MV) students. This expansion allowed us to support even more children in our community, helping fill gaps in basic needs, education, and enrichment opportunities so more kids have the chance to thrive.
As HARK celebrates 35 years this November, we’re looking back at where we started, sharing who we are today and celebrating the impact we’ve made together.
2021
2023
2026
HARK’s story began in 1991, when a group of local Buncombe County Guardian ad Litem volunteers saw a need and decided to do something about it.
They established the Guardian ad Litem Association of Buncombe County (GALABC), when they recognized that children involved with DSS needed more than advocacy. They needed opportunities to learn, grow, have fun, and just be kids. They also saw the financial strain that could come with a kinship or foster placement, often with little notice, and stepped in to help families cover those unexpected costs.
More than 35 years later, that same heart for helping children continues to guide us. Our name and programs have grown and changed, but our purpose remains the same: to fill the gaps, ease burdens on caregivers, and make sure children have the support and opportunities they deserve.
As our work grew, so did our vision. We changed our name to Helping At Risk Kids (HARK) in 2021 to better reflect our mission and the children we serve. While our roots will always be connected to the Guardian ad Litem community, we wanted a name that allowed us to reach more children, respond to a wider range of needs, and grow beyond our original beginnings. HARK gave us room to grow while staying true to what started it all: seeing a need and finding a way to help. We do this with the Children’s Assistance Fund (CAF).
In 2023, HARK took an important step forward by hiring our first paid staff member, creating dedicated support to help manage our growing programs and reach more children. This new capacity allowed us to strengthen our outreach, launch our first quarterly newsletter, and create our first impact report to share the stories and difference behind our work. As HARK continued to grow, the part-time position eventually became full-time in early 2026, reflecting how far we have come and our commitment to building the capacity needed to help even more children and families in our community.
2026 has been a year of growth, new ideas, and exciting momentum for HARK. We launched our first Play for the Kids pickleball fundraiser, brought our community together for new fundraising and outreach opportunities, strengthened our programs and internal systems, and expanded our presence through an updated website, mission video, social media, and continued storytelling about our impact. With our first full-time staff position, a growing network of supporters, and new ways to connect with our community, we are building a stronger foundation for the future. As we look ahead, we are optimistic about what’s possible and excited to continue finding new ways to fill the gaps and help more children thrive.
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Discovery
We conduct rigorous evaluations that illuminate inefficiencies and establish a definitive baseline for improvement.
Implementation
Proactive identification and mitigation safeguard assets and uphold regulatory compliance.
Optimization
We cultivate expertise through structured training and mentorship that empower teams to drive sustained progress.