ST AUGUSTINE, Fla.-- The crack of a pool table ball is the by-product of a big dream. Mark Hiers wanted to do something for area kids -- so he took a big risk.
"Left my job about a year ago and started a non-profit. Give a place to have fun and also interact with each other on a positive environment," he said.
Shortly after that, "Rhino's" was born. It opened in June, but has already seen plenty of traffic. Kids come from far and wide to school to get tutoring after school, use the Internet, and play games.
"My mom's working and my dad's in Jacksonville so this gives me a lot of fun stuff to do," 11-year-old Carolina Garcia said.
On the weekend, there's even live music, and a chance to use creative talent.
"On Friday nights I like to hang with my friends and do karaoke...and I like to play the dance game Kinect," 11-year-old Ana Hiers said.
The name Rhino's has an interesting story behind it. Hiers got it from the book "Barbarian Way." ThAnd are massive and charge full speed ahead in front of them. He wants the youth to be the same way. Fearless and approaching the future with confidence.
Confidence in God is what keeps Mark and his wife going. The last year has been rough...both financially and logistically.
"Our goal is to raise our start-up capital, which we're still lacking about $15,000, which includes a bus for after-school programs and putting things inside our facilities," he explained.
As a former youth pastor, Mark knows the perils young people face nowadays. That knowledge, that insight is why he'll press on, no mater what.
"We have to change what we're doing in order to change the results," he said.
If you'd like to donate or help Rhino's, visit
http://rhinosfl.com
