The mission of the Rye Foundation is to make a life-changing impact on North Carolina children
by providing grants in the areas of Religion, Youth, and Education.

News from the Rye

Fall 2026 Update

Letter from the Board

Dear Friend,

With grateful hearts, we “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1

For 25 years, the Rye Foundation has had the privilege of helping strengthen ministries that serve children and youth across North Carolina. Through camps, mentoring programs, music, sports, faith-based outreach, and countless other efforts, young lives have been encouraged, supported, and introduced to the love of Christ.

None of it Would Have Been Possible Without You

Your generosity has turned compassion into action and helped remarkable organizations reach children at some of the most important moments in their lives. As we celebrate this 25th anniversary, we thank God for His faithfulness and for every donor, ministry partner, volunteer, and friend who has shared in this work.

Remembering the Heart Behind Rye

Over the years, Warren Steen was often asked, “Who is Mr. Rye?”. Warren would quickly insist there was no Mr. Rye. Since his passing in 2024, however, those who knew the Foundation best have come to realize just how much of its heart carried Warren’s fingerprints. For Warren, philanthropy was deeply personal. He wanted donors to see the lives their generosity touched. He arranged visits to ministries, invited friends to graduations and concerts, and brought people together for Champions for Children gatherings where stories of need, faith, perseverance, and hope often moved a room to tears.

But Warren’s care extended well beyond the Foundation’s work. He remembered birthdays. He called when someone was hurting. He celebrated good news. He showed up. We have missed that presence and leadership greatly.

Concluding Activities at the End of 2026

After much prayer and reflection, the Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to conclude the Foundation’s activities at the end of 2026. As we enter this final chapter, we do so with grateful hearts for what God has accomplished through Rye and with a desire to finish this work in a way that honors Warren and the mission he loved. Thank you for believing in this mission. Thank you for believing in children. And thank you for helping carry Warren’s legacy forward.

With gratitude and blessings,
The Board of Directors
Rye Foundation

A Lasting Legacy

 

To commemorate 25 years of ministry and honor Warren Steen's memory, the Rye Foundation is pleased to help create a new pavilion at Camp Caraway.

It is fitting that this special project will be a place where children can gather, build friendships, grow in faith, experience the outdoors, and make memories for years to come.

In the Fall 2026 Newsletter, you can learn more about the pavilion, see a rendering of the project, and discover how you can be part of bringing this lasting tribute to life.

To support the Camp Caraway Rye Foundation Pavilion Project in honor of Warren, please send your donation by December 31, 2026 to:

Rye Foundation
PO Box 25333
Winston-Salem, NC 27114

As we celebrate 25 years and prepare to bring this chapter of the Rye Foundation to a close, we do so with gratitude.

Grant Recipients 2025

All-State Youth Choir, Winston-Salem

Caraway Conference Center, Asheboro

House of Hope of North Carolina, Clayton

Mount Sinai-McCreary Community Center, Catawba

Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Davidson County

The Vineyard, Westfield

All gifts to the Rye Foundation must be received by December 31, 2026

Fall 2026 Newsletter is Available

The latest Rye Foundation newsletter is now available.  In it you will find information about how the foundation and its supporters have been Champions for Children from the mountains to the coast,  a recap of projects where the Rye has made an impact, a list of recent grant recipients, and information about the Rye Foundation Pavilion at Camp Caraway.   Click HERE to view the newsletter.

Notable News from 2025

The board of the Rye Foundation continues to seek to honor the legacy of our founder, J. Warren Steen. Warren would be pleased to know of the gifts that have been provided for children and youth across North Carolina.  The following stories offer insight into the ministries which received grants this year from the Rye Foundation. Your donations allow us to continue Warren's legacy of touching the lives of children and families throughout North Caroline

House of Hope - $25,000

House of Hope of North Carolina, located in Clayton, received a $25,000 Ray Bryan Award from the Rye Foundation to support its ministry with teenage girls and their families. Since 1998, this Christian therapeutic home, school, and counseling center for girls ages 12-17 has served more than 300 families, emphasizing healing through family participation.

House of Hope provides both residential and outpatient care, offering on-site schooling, counseling, and life skills training to help girls build healthy, productive futures. A defining feature of the program is its requirement for family involvement — because when a teenage girl is hurting, the entire family is affected, and the entire family needs healing.

Mt. Sinai-McCreary Community Center - $10,000

Led by Pastor Dr. Donald Gray, Mt. Sinai-McCreary Community Center in Catawba offers year-round mentoring, tutoring, and educational trips for 65-75 children and youth. Over 16 years, more than 150 students have graduated from college. The program begins as early as age four or five to prevent gang involvement and supports parents in helping their children become productive citizens.

SPARK - $5,000

In 2025 SPARK leaders continued designing and managing cause-driven service opportunities! Each of the 10 summer sessions brought new people with their skills, passions and energy as they worked and served together in Forsyth County, NC and Puerto Rico. Leaders are grateful for partners such as the Rye Foundation who provided meals, supplies and life-changing experiences for youth.

Camp Caraway - $2,000

Camp Caraway is a nonprofit ministry located about eight miles west of Asheboro in the Uwharrie Mountains. Groups of 10 to 250 use Caraway Conference Center, Camp Caraway, and Camp Mundo Vista for retreats, conferences, trainings, camps, and year-round programs. “This year, we were able to purchase a new AED — thank you for making that possible. It’s been a wonderful year of ministry, and we're so grateful for your continued prayers and support.”

All-State Baptist Youth Choir Scholarship - $1,000

The All-State Youth Choir of North Carolina unites high school students (grades 9-12) from across the state for a week of worship, musical growth, and fellowship. The 2025 choir, directed for the first time by alum Steven Thomason, embraced the theme “Always” from Matthew 28:10. Concerts were held at Gardner-Webb University, Lincolnton, Marion, Forest City, Albemarle, and concluded at Ardmore Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.  A video of their performance in Marion can be viewed here.  Facebook page here.

All-State Choir Celebrates 25 Years

Rye continues scholarship help to students

2024 All-State Youth Choir

The 2024 All-State Youth Choir of North Carolina toured the eastern half of the state during the week of July 14th this past summer. Under the direction of Dr. Aaron Rice, the students once again found a way to prepare beautiful music in only 3.5 days to share in ministry and concert during the latter half of the week. Ministries included historic churches, a children’s home, a senior living center, and countless new relationships made during this unique experience for high schoolers.

From the Board of Directors

John “Warren” Steen III, the Director of the RYE Foundation, unexpectedly left us for his heavenly home on February 26, 2024. Warren continued to serve as a legendary “champion of children” until the end of his earthly life. Warren’s family, friends, and our Board of Directors grieve the loss of his presence, yet we are comforted in knowing he is with our Lord, along with family and friends who have preceded him.

We invite you to read Warren’s obituary, which can be viewed HERE. We can clearly see that Warren approached all of life with what we experienced with the RYE… a passionate focus on family, friendship and faith, laying the groundwork for service and ministry to children and families in great need across our state. Warren’s attention to detail, follow-through, love for people and personal prayer life were hallmarks of his call to serve.

Each September since 2001 Warren has led our Board of Directors in our Champions for Children meeting. Representatives from agencies and groups serving needy children across our state met with us, sharing about their work, along with their needs. We would prayerfully consider all in our following discussion, beginning the process of matching resources with needs. At our December meeting, we would finalize our plan of giving for the year.

We appreciate that each meeting opened and closed with prayer, and this practice prayer continues. We take seriously our responsibility to guide generous donations to those in North Carolina who are working diligently and wisely to help children and youth, guided by the love of God. Following each meeting with passionate leaders from our state seeking support, our board members agree that we have met true “champions for children.” Afterwards our hearts are always filled with a sense of God’s presence and power, as our hearts are deeply touched by those serving on the front line to help children and youth during such vulnerable years of life.

Our board is continuing to meet and follow through with receiving and placing donations at this time. Join us as we pray for God’s guidance for the future. Thank you for sharing our passion for children and youth in our state who need help and support.

Let us all continue to give thanks for Warren and join our hearts in prayer for his wife, Kathy, and their children and grandchildren.

With gratitude,
The Board of Directors of the Rye Foundation