More than ten years ago, Skill Centers of America began with one thrift store, 400 square feet of office space and six telephones. Today, that grassroots beginning has grown to include a vocational college campus, two thrift stores, a commercial print shop, a preschool, and corporate offices, all within over 80,000 square feet of building space. Many ask how this was accomplished without government funding. According to founder and CEO Keith Davis, it goes back to the simple mission of this organization, "helping people help themselves." A community that bands together to help one another, can and will succeed at anything. The San Diego community has helped to build this organization. Through the citizens who have come to SCOA in search of a better quality of life, and through those in the community who have donated items to the thrift stores, made monetary donations, and corporate sponsorships, this organization has grown, and continues to build and expand as we prepare to meet the challenges of the next century.

     SCOA serves as a link between the people who need help and those in a position to help them. Every shopper in one of the thrift stores and every person who donates clothing or furniture, is helping another citizen through education and training. Every donation and corporate sponsorship becomes part of a network used throughout the organization, in the college, the stores, and the new Children's Center.

      The Annual Charlie Joiner Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament serves as SCOA's largest fund raiser of the year, and directly provides scholarships for the retail training program, the vocational college programs, and now the Children's Center, as SCOA's services expand to include underprivileged children. SCOA's contributions program is open to any individual, business or corporate entity. For information on establishing a scholarship in your name, or making a donation to this cause, please call (800) 61-SKILL.