Isaiah 117 House Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for New National Training Center

ELIZABETHTON, TN – Isaiah 117 House, a nonprofit dedicated to changing the way foster care begins, officially celebrated the grand opening of its new Eastman Credit Union Training Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 23. The 2,000-square-foot facility, located at the organization’s resource center in Elizabethton, marks a major milestone in Isaiah 117 House’s continued expansion and mission to equip and support locations across the country.

The new training center was made possible through a generous $300,000 donation from Eastman Credit Union, a committed partner in the organization’s mission and impact. Representatives from both Isaiah 117 House and Eastman Credit Union, along with local community members, gathered to commemorate the event.

“This training center has been a dream for years,” said Ronda Paulson, Founder and Executive Director of Isaiah 117 House. “Thanks to Eastman Credit Union, that dream is now a reality. This space will allow us to train and support our growing team nationwide and serve our local community through volunteer and foster care training events.”

Since opening its first home in Carter County in 2018, Isaiah 117 House has grown to 59 locations in 13 states. The organization provides physical and emotional support to children entering foster care, offering a comforting space during a traumatic time.

“Eastman Credit Union is honored to support the life-changing work of Isaiah 117 House by sponsoring this beautiful facility,” said ECU President and CEO Kelly Price. “We’re very proud to have an organization like Isaiah 117 House that was founded here and is changing lives locally and across the nation.”

The new facility, constructed by Preston Construction, is the first phase of a larger three-phase expansion project that will continue to enhance the organization’s headquarters and capacity to serve.

About Isaiah 117 House

Isaiah 117 House is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting foster care placement. Currently, when a child is removed in a county without an Isaiah 117 House, the child must wait in the child welfare services office. The child is often dirty, hungry, tired, scared, and unable to bring any personal possessions. Isaiah 117 House allows for that same child to never go to an office, but rather a home with loving volunteers to care for them.

Isaiah 117 House provides for that child’s needs, whatever they may be, in these critical moments between removal and placement. Isaiah 117 House has locations in Tennessee, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa, and Virginia. To learn more about Isaiah 117 House, visit www.isaiah117house.com.

About Eastman Credit Union

Eastman Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee. Serving areas of Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and East Texas, ECU is one of the nation's top 40 largest credit unions with over 341,000 members and employs approximately 1,100. For more information about ECU, visit ecu.org. Funds are federally insured by NCUA. Member Equal Housing Lender. Equal Opportunity Employer.