Burke Center celebrates 50 years

DRIFTWOOD — For the last 50 years, the Burke Center for Youth has been providing a safe place for teenage boys who don’t have one.

The Burke Center, located in Driftwood, began as a treatment center for teenage boys in 1973 and since then, it has grown and gained more access to tools to help boys in need of treatment. The center’s focus is helping foster boys, as it considers them to be the most lost children in society.

Executive Director Steve Fournier assumed his position seven years ago after his time as a volunteer, when he began working to renovate the buildings onsite.

After two years of volunteering, the center was looking for a new executive director. When initially approached about the job, Fournier turned it down, but the Burke Center did not take "no" for an answer, because he was the right person for the job.

“I tend to go where I am needed and this is where I am needed,” Fournier said. “I told them I would only do the job for six months and here I am, seven and a half years later.”

The Burke Center provides 24/7 care for boys that live there. There is an onsite school, charter school with the University of Texas, dormitory, gym, greenhouse, auto shop, wood shop, pools, equine-assisted therapy, a child psychiatrist and any other amenities the boys might need. There is also a transitioning home with an adjustment period for boys around 18-21 who are attending college or learning a trade.

“We provide everything for their emotional needs and their physical needs,” Fournier said. “Since they have all been traumatized, abused and neglected, they need a lot of attention and care.”

The boys at the treatment center require structure and assistance to focus on themselves.

“If you think about it, where they are from and the situations that they are coming from are hectic and dangerous. All they want to do is survive the day and coming here, they don’t have to worry if they are going to get food, shelter or if they are going to get beat up, or even what is going to happen to them next,” Fournier said.

One of the most important attributes of the Burke Center is that every boy gets his own room, which is vital to their healing process and allows them to feel safe.

“The great thing about each boy being able to have their own bedroom is that these boys are not going to be able to work on the high-level fixing until they realize that they have food, shelter and a structure that they can work with. That is what we focus on to start with,” Fournier said. “Safety allows them to focus on higher level things, like how do I help myself get over this anger that I have or this fear I have and if anyone needs their own room, it’s these boys.”

Another component of the boys’ healing process is equine-assisted therapy with horses.

“Horses are one of the most powerful creatures and one of the most emotionally connected animals to humans, so it’s a great thing,” Fournier said. “It’s a beautiful way to help these boys and get their walls broken down between them and the world.”

Since Fournier stepped foot into the center, he has made it his mission to make the Burke Center a better place for the residents who live there.

“They had quite a few buildings when I first started volunteering, but they all were in disrepair and when I got here, I renovated all the buildings that were here. That was the first thing we did,” Fournier said. “It takes less money to renovate and it just takes people who are caring that want to come out and help out.”

The community of volunteers has been vital to helping with the growth of the center. Volunteers have reached out with their help, money, talent and skill to make sure the Burke Center is well-kept.

“Fifty years is a huge thing for a place like this. When they first started, they were on a shoestring budget and barely survived the first 40 years just trying to make sure that these boys were taken care of, and now we are thriving out here,” Fournier said. “This is hopefully the first 50th anniversary of many to come.”

The Burke Center and its residents had a reason to celebrate this month. The Burke Center’s 50th anniversary is a milestone that has gained recognition from the city of Driftwood, the county and the state. This includes a proclamation adopted by the Hays County Commissioners Court on April 11, recognizing Rosemary Burke Campise as the founder of The Burke Foundation on its anniversary.

On Saturday, April 15, the Burke Center held an open house to celebrate its 50th anniversary. In addition to hayrides, a boy from every decade shared a memory from their time at the center. The founders, both of whom are still alive, joined for the festivities.

Fournier wants to encourage others to let every foster parent know how amazing it is for them to open their homes and hearts to kids.

“We need more of those around the state of Texas because that is what gives hope to these kids. There are not enough foster parents out there,” Fournier said.

With the help of the community and volunteers, it is the Burke’s Center’s goal to be celebrating many more anniversaries to come.