A Taste of Milk & Honey
No charge. Some of the friends of The Craddock Center have advised that funds for our programs, always in need of funds, could be raised by charging admission to events we offer the public. It is thoughtful and reasonable advice, and you can be sure it has laid a claim on my mind more than once. When persons with large incomes, large homes, and long vacations show up, I say to myself, “They are able to pay, they are accustomed to paying, they probably expect to pay, so why not charge?” In fact, I continue the conversation with myself, “Some of these more prosperous friends may be embarrassed to enter without paying. Why embarrass them? Take their money.”
Let me address first the obvious. There is no desire to embarrass anyone, neither those who can pay nor those who cannot. I am also aware that in our culture that which is offered free is by many assumed to be of inferior quality. If it is free, it must not be worth charging for. Nothing could be further from the truth. The lectures, the music, the seminars we offer the community are first rate. And the music, the stories, the books we give to the pre-K and Head Start children are the best available. No worn-out, second-hand, hand-me-down gifts that would only say to the children, “You are not worth the best.”
Having said that, let me remind you, the vision of The Craddock Center is the eventual creation of a community that is one community. We are not naive: there are haves and have-nots, advantaged and disadvantaged, and the differences show in our residences, lifestyles, and, regrettably, also in our churches. But is it not great now and then to gather for music or seminar or lecture where those differences are not honored? No one enters by the “pay” gate and no enters by the “poor” gate; all enter the “free” gate. And when we sit together, we have a brief but very important experience of the kingdom of God. I hope it is not irreverent to say that this arrangement reminds one of grace. Grace comes to all without distinction.
Of course, some send gifts that pay the bills for all of us, and we are endlessly grateful. But if for a day or for an evening, those who give and those who receive share an event for which there is no charge, perhaps someone with courage and imagination will think of other and more lasting ways to remove distinctions among us. Would you like that?
In the meantime, Come on in and make yourself at home: there is no charge.
– From Dr. Fred Craddock, Milk & Honey, January 2006
From the Executive Director
Celebrating 25 Years—And Looking Ahead to the Next 25
As we close the chapter on our year-long 25th anniversary celebration, we do so with grateful hearts, incredible memories, and renewed excitement for the future.
Over the past year, we have reflected on where we began, celebrated the people who made this journey possible, and honored the milestones that shaped us along the way. Twenty-five years ago, what started as a vision of Fred and Nettie Craddock and a leap of faith has grown into something far greater than we could have imagined. Through challenges, victories, growth, and change, one thing has remained constant — the people who have supported, encouraged, and believed in us.
This anniversary year reminded us that our story is not only about the past. It is about the relationships built, the lives touched, and the foundation laid for what comes next.
As we look ahead to the next 25 years, we do so with optimism and purpose.
The world around us continues to evolve, and so will we. We are committed to embracing new opportunities, expanding our impact, and continuing to serve with the same passion and dedication that brought us this far. While methods and technologies may change, our mission and values will remain firmly rooted in who we are.
The next chapter will be about growth, innovation, and community. It will be about investing in the next generation, strengthening the connections that matter most, and continuing to build something meaningful that lasts far beyond ourselves.
Most importantly, the future will continue to be shaped by the people who walk alongside us — our supporters, partners, customers, friends, and families. You are part of this story, and we are deeply thankful for every role you have played over the last quarter century.
Anniversaries are more than celebrations of time passed. They are reminders of what is possible when people come together with vision, perseverance, and heart.
As we turn the page from this milestone year, we do so filled with gratitude for the journey behind us and anticipation for the road ahead.
The first 25 years built the foundation.
The next 25 begin now.
Dedication of the Dr. Fred Craddock and Mrs. Nettie Craddock Conference Center
On April 30, 2026, the birthday of Dr. Fred Craddock, we gathered to dedicate the Dr. Fred Craddock and Mrs. Nettie Craddock Conference Center.
The Craddock Center is a living embodiment of Fred and Nettie Craddock’s principles: faithful small acts, attentive listening, honoring real-life stories, and trusting ordinary people to create extraordinary change. Just as Dr. Craddock transformed hearts through storytelling and grace, the Center transforms communities through education, support, and love.
The following is the dedication verbiage:
“Today, we gather with gratitude and joy to dedicate this space, a space that will foster learning, fellowship, and service for years to come. This space stands as a testament to the vision, commitment, and generosity of Dr. Fred Craddock and Mrs. Nettie Craddock and all who made it possible.
We dedicate this space in honor of Dr. Fred Craddock and Mrs. Nettie Craddock, whose lives and work continue to inspire us to teach, serve, and lead with humility and compassion. May all who enter here find encouragement, guidance, and the spirit of community.
With hearts full of hope and gratitude, we declare this center officially open for its purpose: to educate, to nurture, and to serve. May it always be a place where knowledge, and service meet, and where every effort benefits our community.”
Dedications are more than ceremonies. They are moments when we pause to recognize the journey that brought us here, the journey started by Fred and Nettie, the many hands and hearts that made this possible, and the purpose that will guide what happens within these walls in the years to come.
Gilmer County Family Literacy Night
On May 1, 2026, The Craddock Center once again participated in the Gilmer County Family Literacy Night. During the event, The Craddock Center gave away over 200 books to children of all ages. We also had a spinning game for the children to play and win prizes.
The event, hosted by the Gilmer County School System, drew over 800 children and parents. 43 local organizations and businesses participated in the event to promote literacy and provide a fun evening of games and activities for the local children.
Special thanks to Sheila Clayton, one of our Arts Specialists, for volunteering at the event. Her wonderful costume brought joy to the children!
Start Your Engines…It Really Happened This Year!!
The Craddock Center was excited to join the ranks of many other non-profits and businesses in the Blue Ridge area for the 2026 Blue Ridge Soap Box Derby on May 2nd.
Our beautiful car was built by Brian Higgins and the Dr. Seuss graphics for the car were designed by Michael Kilpatrick.
Jacob Carwell was our 7 – 12 driver and Miles Slemons our 13+ driver. Miles placed fourth in his division.
The Blue Ridge Soap Box Derby held its inaugural race in April 2019. It was created to give our local community, especially our youth, an exciting activity that can be done as a family. The Derby teaches the next generation all of the aspects of the “STEAM” program: science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Please Consider a Commemorative Donation
As The Craddock Center brings it year-long 25th Anniversary Celebration to a close, we give thanks for all that has been accomplished through the generosity, dedication, and support of our community, our Board, our staff, and volunteers. While we celebrate the past 25 years, we also look forward with hope and excitement to the future. We invite you to mark this milestone with a commemorative gift in honor of our anniversary. Your donation will help ensure that our mission continues to grow and serve future generations for years to come. Together, we can build on the legacy of the past and invest in the promise of the next 25 years.
A Night 25 Years in the Making
This past year marked an extraordinary milestone for The Craddock Center – our 25th Anniversary! For a quarter of a century, we have been dedicated to enriching the lives of children and families in southern Appalachia. We were excited to celebrate this journey with our community during our 25th Anniversary Gala. On June 13, 2026 at The Craddock Center, 75 friends, supporters, and community leaders gathered to commemorate our achievements and help ensure our continued impact for years to come.
The evening included live music by Denise Moore; an assortment of chef-crafted elevated hors d’oeuvres, complimented by an exquisite collection of petite desserts prepared by two-starred Michelin chef, Justin White, and a hugely successful silent auction that offered something for everyone. As a final indulgence of the evening, each guest received a thoughtfully curated gala gift bag as a small token of our gratitude designed to extend the evening’s celebration.
The 25th Anniversary Gala served as a fitting and memorable culmination of a remarkable year-long celebration. Throughout the past year, we have reflected on our history, celebrated our accomplishments, honored the individuals and organizations that have supported our mission, and expressed gratitude for the community that has made our success possible. The Gala brought those themes together in a special evening of fellowship, reflection, and celebration.
While the anniversary year may be coming to a close, the spirit of celebration continues as we carry forward the lessons, relationships, and momentum gained throughout this milestone year. The Gala was more than the conclusion of a year-long celebration—it was the beginning of our next chapter. With gratitude for the past and confidence in the future, we look forward to continuing our mission and building on the foundation established over the last quarter century.
Summer Send Off 2026
On May 13th, The Craddock Center celebrated ’Summer Send Off 2026’. Each of our 1,178 children received a bag of goodies as their pre-K and Head Start programs ended for the Summer. Each child received two brand-new books, including a ‘Golden Classic’ book, a book reading log to record the books they read during the Summer, stickers, a bookmark to color, and arts & crafts supplies needed to make a couple of hand puppets.
The goal of this program to provide our children an opportunity to continue learning even as their formal learning programs suspend for the Summer. Pre-k literacy gains can be easily lost over the summer, especially by emerging readers who are still building foundational literacy skills. The Summer reading achievement gap between pre-K and kindergarten can be closed by a child reading 4-5 books during the Summer.
Thanks to the many donors who responded to our ‘Amazon wish list’ and provided the books and supplies needed for the goodie bags! Thanks to the volunteers: Meredith Yacavone, Lynn Higginbotham, Elder Huffman, Elder Maughn, and Elder Augustine for packing the bags!
Also, thanks to the following volunteers for delivering the bags to the children: Beth Roberts, Carolyn Lakes, and Joe Cantwell!
Smart Babies
The Smart Babies program conducted 39 workshops at a total of six locations during this last school year. All of us involved with the program would like to say a big thank you to the following agencies/school systems that have hosted our workshops. The directors/designated personnel work with us on getting the program approved, providing an appropriate space at their location, and technical help. They also are greatly involved in publicizing the program to their constituents and community, recruitment of parents to take the workshops, and reminding parents to come to workshops. It is no small commitment on their part! We appreciate their cooperation and hard work in helping to provide these workshops. Thank you!
Fannin County Schools
Her Hope Pregnancy Center
Georgia Mountains Health
Gilmer County Schools
Safe Choices Pregnancy Center
Union County Schools
Our workshop facilitators (teachers) also deserve a big thank you. They spend approximately two hours studying for each workshop. They also must pick up and return the appropriate materials for each workshop from the Craddock Center. And, of course, they teach the workshops! All of our facilitators are volunteers.
A lead facilitator is assigned to each school/agency. It is the responsibility of the lead facilitator to work with personnel on location, scheduling and technology. They also attend events at the school such as “Back to School” nights where they set up a table to provide information and register parents for the Smart Babies program. They assign facilitators to levels and organize the workshops. At the schools, more than one level is offered at the same time so that requires a lot of materials, organization and communication! All of the lead facilitators have worked so hard this year and have done a tremendous job. Thank you!
Cathy Cavagnaro*
Bev Cook*
Sally Dowling*
Maureen Hicks*
Chris Martinez*
Patti O’Dell*
Maria Greenwall
Kathleen Holt
Susan Klevansky
Debbie Peterson
*Lead Facilitators
We also want to thank Kirk Cameron, the Executive Director of The Craddock Center. His support has been unwavering and he does so much behind the scene! We also can’t leave out Heidi Kennedy, the Office Manager, who has always met our secretarial needs with a smile. Thank you also, Michael Kilpatrick, for all of the fabulous graphics you have done for Smart Babies.
Bev Cook,
Smart Babies Coordinator
Another Huge Thank You!
There is something that cannot be denied. Smart Babies would not be a reality if not for Bev Cook!
When I began as Executive Director of The Craddock Center in November of 2020, I knew we needed to do something to help parents learn how to teach their children. But after doing some research, I realized we needed more help to make it a reality.
Then, like a miracle, Bev Cook was “sent” to The Craddock Center. We soon discovered that we shared a passion for helping parents learn how to become their child’s best first teacher. Bev and I have often chuckled about the many times of being at events with our friends and then finding ourselves alone while “brainstorming” how we could make something like Smart Babies happen.
Bev started as a volunteer, then became a Board Member, and eventually became the Coordinator of Smart Babies. The Smart Babies program we have today would not be in place if not for Bev’s passion, perseverance, and tenacity. All of those wonderful thank yous shared by Bev would not be possible without her!
Bev, thank you for being a Godsend to The Craddock Center! Thank you for building a program that is making a huge difference for so many parents in our community! And thank you for the futures you are impacting for the children that are now being taught by their parents!
Kirk Cameron
Executive Director
Recruiting Board Members
Are you looking for a rewarding experience?
A new opportunity to give back to your community?
Do you have a passion for children and literacy?
The Craddock Center is looking for motivated individuals to serve on its Board of Directors.
Most of us reach a point in our lives where we need a new challenge. What better way to introduce a new challenge than to inspire change by serving on a nonprofit Board such as with The Craddock Center. As a Board Member, you will witness first-hand the impact of our programs for the children and families in our community while offering advice, oversight, and support.
Nonprofits such as The Craddock Center lead by fulfilling our mission and working to make an impact on the children and families of southern Appalachia. We are looking for members of our community who want to lead with us and bring your skills and expertise to make a difference in our community!
If you have an interest in serving on the Board of The Craddock Center, please contact Kirk Cameron at kirk.craddock@gmail.com.