Boy’s Home in Covington understands life’s ups and downs

COVINGTON - The game of Monopoly is a journey of highs and lows.

For many of the residents at Boy’s Home in Covington, the ups and downs aren’t a game, but reality.

Donnie Costigan, a Boy’s Home employee, understands what many of these kids are going through.  He was placed in Boy’s Home when he was nine, after living with his father didn’t work out.

“Basically, social services took me out of the home.  Like I said, I was placed in 2 other homes before I got here.  It took me about a year to a year and a half to buy into the program, because I had the ‘I don’t care’ attitude,“ said Costigan.

The move paid off for Costigan, and completely turned his life around.

“I was in a lot of trouble and I was going down that road when I was in Richmond.  I don’t think I would have finished high school, and I don’t think I would have went to college.  Now I’m in the process of looking for schools to start my masters degree,“ Costigan said.

Costigan is now a house parent, and walking success story for the young men, including Miguel.

“Some staff are like big brothers.  Some staff are like, I’ve never had a dad, so I get to do a lot of things with the staff that I would like to do with my dad,“ Miguel said.

Each boy has a different story, but the same goal.  To leave a better person.

Boy’s home is privately funded, and services are offered at minimal to no cost to the families.