The CEO Who Sees Himself in Indiana's Most At-Risk Kids | Matthew Purkey, Josiah White's

On today's show I sat down with Matthew Purkey, President and CEO of Josiah White's in Wabash, Indiana, a 175-year-old nonprofit founded on 800 acres to provide opportunities for every child.

Purkey explains their Christ-centered mission and statewide services, including residential programs (PATH for behavioral issues, MAP for unhealthy sexual choices, and TREK for long-term substance abuse), serving youth ages 13–17 referred by DCS and juvenile probation, plus family preservation, foster care licensing, and fatherhood engagement.

He shares key statistics about students' family instability and trauma, describes the holistic campus approach (therapy, on-site school, work stipends, and certifications), and recounts his own journey from legal trouble to the Marine Corps and nonprofit leadership.

Our conversation highlights the need for transitional housing after age 18, the impact of hope, and why Purkey chose Indiana and Wabash as home.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about:

- The Origins of Josiah White's and Its Mission

- Josiah White's Residential Programs

- Family Instability and Traumas for Students

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