Troy Collier, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Challenge of Hampton Roads, Inc. has invested over 3 decades of his life in service to helping hurting men and women. He approaches them with great empathy because he was once an alcoholic himself. God's miraculous intervention in his life in the 60's allowed him to see that there was hope, even for the hopeless. Troy (better know to the students and staff as "Papa Troy") was a pioneer of Teen Challenge in Arkansas, where he founded 3 homes and ranches for troubled youth. He began his work in the Hampton Roads area in 1969 and transported over 300 young people to his Little Rock Arkansas programs. A local board was organized and the first men's home was founded in 1979. Troy has been the recipient of numerous civic club 'Service to Mankind Awards' including 'Man of the Year' award in his hometown of North Little Rock, Arkansas. He received the 'Service to Mankind Award' from the Hampton Roads Sertoma Club. Troy was recognized by the Newport News Human Rights Commission with Youth Challenge for Outstanding Humanitarian Service. In 1996, Troy was recognized by the Virginia Legislature in House Joint Resolution 347 as 'an expression of the general assemblies gratitude for his singularly effective activities on behalf of the youth of the Commonwealth'.