Founders

Paul Winter and Jo-El Wadsworth founded Scottie’s Place in 1999 on a pristine mountaintop in West Virginia. In a two-bedroom cabin with no running water and four children of their own, the groundbreaking, fund-raising first year offered a glimpse of the work yet to come. In 2000, Scottie’s Place opened its doors to 18 children experiencing homelessness from Raleigh, Philadelphia and Roanoke for a full summer of residential camp programs and since then over 500 homeless and at-risk children have experienced the wonder of Scottie’s Place. Joined by thousands of volunteers and donors and a truly inspired army of staff, Scottie’s Place has grown into an enduring resource for needy children from around the country.

Paul Winter is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in social work. He has over two decades of experience with children and adults having a wide range of special needs.

Jo-El Wadsworth is a graduate of Wells College with a degree in theology and psychology. Her wilderness retreat programs for women and children were the inspiration and model for the therapeutic programs at Scottie’s Place.