Spend just a few minutes with Sammi Simmons, and you'll notice something: Her enthusiasm is contagious.

Simmons is bringing that passion and purpose to Cornerstone Youth Center, where she came on board as development coordinator in September.

"Sammi has an infectious personality. She's very outgoing, very energetic, very relatable," said Jim Bush, Cornerstone's executive director. "I believe that she is going to be someone who communicates our message and our mission to potential donors well."

The development coordinator is a new position at Cornerstone, which provides after-school activities for youths in grades six through 12, all with a Christian focus.

"With the way our ministry is going, one of the areas we felt we needed to grow in most was raising funds, because we are dependent on contributions from individuals, businesses and churches," Bush shared. "We wanted to bring someone in who can help us continue to reach those groups, but also spread the message of what Cornerstone is and why it's so important to the community."

Prior to joining the staff at Cornerstone, Simmons worked in retirement communities for most of her career. "I just came from a hospice group," she shared. "I've been working with geriatrics, with the elderly, for many, many years, always in the activity department realm."

The new job is a big switch in terms of the population she'll serve, Simmons said, but she has lots of experience working with youths through her church.

The 2007 Donegal High School graduate was also familiar with Cornerstone and its mission before taking the job.

"A close friend of ours, their kids come here," she remarked. "We've seen the impact Cornerstone has had on their lives, but we've also heard the other stories they share of students that have come here."

As she settles into her new role, Simmons is focusing on expanding the circle of supporters for Cornerstone, reaching out to contacts in the Mount Joy and Elizabethtown areas as well as in Manheim, where she lives with her husband, Kevin, and their 4-year-old son.

"Something that is near and dear to my heart is being able to share the stories that the kids who come here have," she said. "I want to be able to network with different communities that have the same mission we have that would love to see our next generation grow into good, sound youth and adults who will thrive in the world."

Although she's only been with Cornerstone a short time, she has already witnessed the organization's impact on the students who attend programming.

"A constant message I've heard is that this has been a safe space," she said. "Without Cornerstone, maybe these kids would have just been sitting at home doing nothing, or they would have been getting into trouble somehow. This is a place where they've made friends, they've built memories, and I think that's so important. This is creating a foundation for them to build healthier and happier lives as they grow up."

Along with providing after-school activities such as games, music, art, homework help and fellowship, Cornerstone holds special events such as its upcoming Lock-In/Bail Out fundraiser. While students enjoy a lock-in on Friday, Nov. 8, to Saturday, Nov. 9, board members, staff and volunteers will work the phones to raise funds to be bailed out of "jail" at the center, located at 95 S. Wilson Ave., Elizabethtown.

"Last year was our first event like this, and we raised $35,000 in one night," Bush said. "It was a big success. We're hoping to do even better this year."

For more information on Cornerstone Youth Center, visit https://cornerstoneetown.org. To reach Simmons or to make a donation, call 717-367-0000, ext. 4, or email SSimmons@CornerstoneEtown.org.