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.

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

Helping Children – Leaders of the Rye Foundation and New South River Baptist Association met in Winston-Salem at the statewide “Champions for Children” event. Shown are (from left) Warren Steen, Ingram Hedgpeth, Christa Warise, Randy White and Robert Ivey.

FAYETTEVILLE – The New South River Baptist Association has been named as the recipient of thisyear’s Bryan Award by the Rye Foundation in Winston-Salem.

The recognition includes a $25,000 charitable grant, which the Association will utilize to expand its ministries to children in military families.

Dr. Randy White, who has served as Director of Missions since 2002, said the funds will ultimately help children, families, teachers and provide Bibles in Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

Warren Steen, the President of the faith-based Rye Foundation, said the Bryan Award honors the “life and legacy” of Ray Bryan, a Goldsboro businessman and philanthropist who died in 2016 at the age of 84.

“Mr. Bryan believed that God has a plan for every child, “stated Steen, “and that every boy and girl needed positive role models in the home and in the community.”

A total of 109 churches make-up the Association and they are located in Cumberland, Hoke and Sampson counties.

MOUNT AIRY – This year, Surry Medical Ministries is celebrating Christmas a few days early.

Earlier this week, leaders of the clinic learned that the Rye Foundation in Winston-Salem is making a charitable investment of $10,000 to help SMM expand its services to children.

“This is a wonderful gift to receive right at Christmas,” said Nancy Dixon, executive director of the ministry since 2012.

Warren Steen, the president of the Rye Foundation, recalled his very first conversation with Dixon. “Nancy told me, ‘We have strong support from our faith community, strong support from the medical community, and strong support from our business community.’ We decided that we wanted to be involved in a partnership like that.”

Indeed, since SMM moved to its new facility in 2022, total medical appointments here increased by 49 percent.

According to Dixon, the Rye charitable gift will allow SMM to accommodate up to 200 more children, and, in addition, provide funds to purchase Bibles in Spanish and English.

Within the past few weeks, leaders of the two organizations met at SMM to review priority funding needs. While meeting in a conference room, they heard “happy noises” in the lobby waiting area.

Then they met Tadeo, a 2-year-old waiting for his follow-up appointment, riding a scooter!

Rye board member, Ingram Hedgpeth, summarized the importance of that chance encounter. “At that moment,” he stated, “we realized that Surry Medical Ministries is about patient efficiency and budgeting. It is about children like Tadeo who need quality medical services.”

For that reason, Christmas has come early at 951 Rockford Street.