FLORENCE — For many Florence residents, the name Ralph Porter is a familiar one. Porter served as Florence’s police chief from 1983 to 2000, helping thousands of residents while in the line of duty.
But it was a decision he made upon his retirement that showed the depth of his compassion for those in need of help.
Porter said he witnessed several teens in trouble with the law who had no opportunities for growth and no direction in their lives. He said he knew he wanted to do something to help them, but didn’t quite know what that something was.
After a lot of pondering and a lot of praying, Porter decided to open an alternative school called CHOiCES. He formed a planning committee, a governing board and went around the community to ask for financial support.
Porter said he had no idea how he would accomplish his goals, but had faith that the school would one day become a reality.
Porter’s church, Central United Methodist in Florence, leased Porter the land for the school for a nominal fee. He received funding from other members of the community and applied for grants, and soon CHOiCES opened its doors.
The school is public, and its focus is to provide a learning environment for teens who couldn’t advance in a normal public school system. CHOiCES uses military-style discipline in the form of teachers with military backgrounds, and takes the learning outside of the classroom into the acres of woods that surround the property.
Small class sizes allow teachers to provide individual help for children. And since its inception six years ago, 85 percent of the students enrolled in the program successfully completed it. Some of the students even went on to college.
Porter’s friend, Harvey Senseney, said Porter has made a tangible impact on the lives of teens who attended the school.
“Through CHOiCES, Ralph has proven that genuine concern, reasonable guidance and opportunity to make the right choice will keep many troubled teens in classroom seats and out of prison cells,” he said.
Porter believes he doesn’t deserve the title of hero. Instead, he said he simply has a soft spot in his heart for children.
He said he will continue to change the lives of his students for as long as he can, and even talks about the possibility of expanding the CHOiCES program.
For friends like Senseney, Porter embodies a true Pee Dee Hero — someone admired for courage and nobility, and someone who is making a difference in the Pee Dee on a daily basis.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement