Eliada was founded in 1903 by Rev. Lucius Compton as a home for unwed mothers. Often these women would implore him to keep their children and raise them. By 1906, he realized that to make a real difference in the cycle of poverty, he had to start with the children.   

Dr. Compton founded Eliada to serve the children he called “the least, last, and lost.” For many years, Eliada was a self-sufficient farm, growing food and raising cows for the Biltmore Dairy operation. As the times changed, so did Eliada. While no longer an orphanage, today Eliada cares for more than 600 of WNC's most vulnerable children and youth.

Eliada by the Numbers
•	114 years
•	50 children living on campus
•	60 children living in foster homes
•	315 children in early education and afterschool
•	320 acre campus
•	240 staff
•	$10 million budget
•	11 horses, 1 llama, 2 goats, 3 pigs, various barn cats

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT
Children live at Eliada while healing from trauma.

FAMILY FOSTER CARE & THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE
Children are cared for by an Eliada Foster Family while awaiting adoption or reunification with biological family.

DAY TREATMENT
Children attend school at Eliada instead of public school to better meet their special learning needs.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 
Older teens who’ve spent their lives in foster care gain work skills while learning to be self-sufficient adults.

EARLY LEARNING
Children in the community learn and grow in our five-star Child Development Center, 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool program, and NC Pre-K program.

Charity

Education

Humanitarian

Residential

Eliada Homes

Cindy Davis-Bryant

Whitley Peppers

Stephanie Nateras

Kaylyn McCarraher

Kayla Lewis

Donna Davis

Colleen Gillooley

Ashley Minot

Eileen Pritchard

Virginia Aughe

Hannah Baker

Dillon Rubalcava

Ariel Oxendine

Alicia Rubio Gomez

Cecilia Neill

The Educational and Child Services Team at Eliada Homes is dedicated to supporting the educational and developmental needs of children and youth. They provide tailored educational instruction and care, including teaching both academic subjects and essential life skills. The team works across various programs, such as early learning, day treatment, and afterschool care, ensuring that each child receives comprehensive support to overcome challenges and thrive in a nurturing environment.

Educational and Child Services Team

Administrative and Support Team

Residential Services Team

Educational and Child Services Team

About

Team members

Other teams at Eliada Homes

Administrative and Support Team

Residential Services Team