GIFFORD, Fla. – Wednesday, September 9, 2026 – The Gifford Youth Achievement Center (GYAC) is proud to announce a transformational gift of $1,000,000 from Joan N. Woodhouse to establish the Angelia Perry and Freddie L. Woolfork Endowment, a new fund created in honor of GYAC’s Executive Director, Angelia Perry, and the late Freddie L. Woolfork, former Director of Public Relations and Facilities Operations, for their lasting impact and unwavering commitment to empowering youth.
The newly established fund will provide long-term support for the GYAC’s Youth Employability Program (YEP), its career development and work-based learning initiative designed to help youth build meaningful futures through paid work experience, mentorship, professional development, and career exploration opportunities.
Since its launch in the 2021-2022 school year with the help of a $100,000 grant from Indian River Impact 100, the YEP has grown from serving 23 youth to supporting more than 60 students annually. To date, the program has served over 106 young people throughout the community, helping students gain the skills, confidence, and experience needed to thrive personally and professionally.
Participants in the program gain access to:
- Paid internship and workforce opportunities
- Career readiness and leadership training
- Mentorship from industry professionals
- Financial literacy and workplace skills development
- Networking and career exploration experiences
- Exposure to careers in industries such as healthcare, hospitality, accounting, engineering, culinary, and golf course maintenance
The program also continues to demonstrate economic impact across the community, providing more than $250,000 in earned wages to youth participants since inception, partnering with 51 employers and community organizations, and supporting a strong 95% rate of program completion or post-program placement in education, employment, or training pathways.
These outcomes are reflected not only in the numbers, but in the lived experiences of the students the program serves. YEP student, Tyjah W., entered the program’s first cohort in the 8th grade and recently graduated from Vero Beach High School. Through hands-on internships, mentorship, and skill-building workshops, she gained both confidence and clarity about pursuing a career path in journalism, a trajectory that reflects the program’s broader mission of transforming potential into opportunity. “The Youth Employability Program has helped me step closer to my goals. It helped me figure out what I want to pursue in the future before going to college. I believe it has shaped me into who I am today,” Tyjah confidently expressed.
Students in the YEP have gained hands-on experience through partnerships with organizations and employers such as Quail Valley and Sorenson Real Estate, where they contribute meaningfully while building real-world skills that prepare them for long-term success. The establishment of the Angelia Perry and Freddie L. Woolfork Endowment Fund ensures the YEP can continue expanding its reach and impact for years to come, opening doors for youth who may otherwise lack access to career-building opportunities. Beyond its programmatic impact, the fund also honors the enduring leadership legacy of Angelia Perry and Freddie L. Woolfork. Through a combined number of 47 years of service, both individuals have helped shape the GYAC into what it is today.
“This transformational gift will create life-changing opportunities for GYAC students by expanding our Youth Employability Program,” said Angelia Perry, Executive Director of the GYAC. “This generous investment will provide meaningful summer internship experiences that help students build workplace skills, gain confidence, and prepare for successful futures. We are deeply grateful for Joan’s extraordinary commitment to empowering the next generation.”
“Since helping raise funds for GYAC and what is now the Gifford Aquatic Center twenty-eight years ago, I have had the privilege of watching GYAC grow and thrive under the leadership of Angelia Perry and Freddie Woolfork. I am delighted to support GYAC’s latest initiative, the Youth Employability Program (YEP), by establishing the Angelia Perry and Freddie L. Woolfork YEP Endowment,” said Joan N. Woodhouse. “YEP is designed to prepare Gifford’s youth for the workforce and give them a meaningful advantage in navigating and building successful career paths – helping to ensure their future economic independence.”
As the YEP continues to grow, the new fund will provide an important foundation for expanding the program’s reach, strengthening its offerings, and creating more opportunities for youth to gain meaningful work experience.
“Joan’s generous support is a profound investment in the future of the YEP. For our interns and their families, this program is a vital bridge to confidence, financial stability, and generational opportunity,” said Jay Lundy, Sr., Director of Youth Employability at the GYAC. “True, lasting impact cannot be achieved overnight, which is why the value of Joan’s longtime commitment to the YEP cannot be overstated. It allows us to transform financial support into a legacy of empowerment that proves change is a journey we walk together.”
The Angelia Perry and Freddie L. Woolfork Endowment Fund reflects the GYAC’s continued commitment to workforce development and creating equitable opportunities for underserved youth throughout Indian River County.
To learn more about the Gifford Youth Achievement Center and its programs, visit www.mygyac.org.
About GYAC
Gifford Youth Achievement Center, a 501(c)(3), opened its doors in 1998 on a mission to enhance the academic experience of underserved youth in Indian River County. Twenty-eight years later, GYAC continues to offer year-round educational programs for students in grades K – 12. In addition, GYAC provides activities for adults and seniors. The Center also hosts job fairs, health clinics, community gatherings, and serves as an information hub for those in need of services.
Photos provided
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- Alexa D., a student in the inaugural 2022 cohort, poses with Jose M. Faria, Executive Chef, during their summer internship experience together at Quail Valley in July 2022.
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- A rising 9th grade YEP student, Nathaniel T., participates in an interview with the GYAC’s staff and board members to prepare for his upcoming summer internship in June 2026.
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- Tyra S., a rising 10th grade YEP student, poses with the Healthy Start team at their facility, where she gained hands-on professional experience during the summer of 2026.
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- YEP students from the 2022 cohort pose with presenters, Chris Bodnar and Diana Baladi, from Computer Repair Vero Beach following a presentation about social media etiquette on July 14, 2023.
