14th Annual Economic Self-Sufficiency

Achievement Awards and Graduation

Bucks County Opportunity Council

September 29, 2010

Spring Mill Manor

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Graduation Program

Welcome Patrick Counihan, President

Major Sponsor Remarks Bruce Iacobucci, Graduation

Planning Committee Co-Chair

Dinner

Community Service Award Roger Collins, Executive Director,

and Carol Wisser, Supervisor of

Self-Sufficiency Services

Reflections on Success Elaine Keckeissen „06, Graduation

Planning Committee Co-Chair

and Member of the Board of

Directors, and Andre Turner „02

Economic Self-Sufficiency Natacha, Erlinda, Beth, Saul,

Program Graduates Diahann, James, Roxanne,

Naomi, Patricia, Kelli, and Tamara

Reach for the Stars Award Presented to Terry

Community Action Presented to Lischa

Association of Pennsylvania

Self-Sufficiency Award

Mark Worthington Presented to Tammie

Achievement Award

Closing Remarks Roger Collins

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Economic Self-Sufficiency Program

In the mid 1990s, the Board of Directors initiated a comprehensive

study of the long-term, measurable impact of our programs. The

study results showed that many of the individuals and families we

assisted temporarily improved their circumstances but did not per-

manently leave poverty. They frequently came back for help as

soon as they were eligible.

In response to the findings, we developed the Economic Self-

Sufficiency Program in 1997. Our approach addresses the root

causes that keep low-income people in poverty. We help partic-

ipants acquire the education, skills and resources to permanent-

ly leave poverty as opposed to merely cope in it. The program

transforms lives and often ends a cycle of poverty that existed

for generations.

Participants must achieve the following in order to graduate

from the Economic Self-Sufficiency Program:

Secure employment that pays a family-sustaining wage

Access to safe reliable transportation

Affordable housing that is safe and comfortable

A balanced household budget

Health plan for the entire family

Freedom from all cash welfare subsidies including cash assis-

tance, food stamps, and subsidized housing

The Economic Self-Sufficiency Program is not an entitlement pro-

gram. A combination of public funding and private contributions

from results-minded donors drive its success. We ultimately save

$4 in cash welfare subsidies for every $1 invested in a successful

graduate. 220 families have graduated from the program and 56

graduates are homeowners.

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Profile of the 2010 Graduates

Total Graduates 22 grads / 56 people / 23 Children

220 graduates since 1997

Average starting $10,628 - Four were in welfare programs,

earned income: four were receiving unemployment and

twelve were unemployed

Average income $37,354 - Increase of $26,726

at graduation:

Employment

Improved employment: 10

Found new employment: 13 (one two worker household)

Average time in 20 months

the program: Average before this year was 38 months

Professions:

2 Administrative Assistant

Assistant Principle –

Elementary School

Certified Nurse Assistant

Chef

Customer Service Assistant

Corrections Counselor

Diesel Mechanic

Housekeeper

Landscaper

5 Licensed Practical Nurse

Maintenance Specialist

Pharmacy Technician

Registered Medical Assistant

2 Registered Nurse

Resident Advisor

Therapeutic Professional &

Assistant Football Coach

Trucker

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Award Descriptions

Mark Worthington Achievement Award

The Mark Worthington Achievement Award, inaugurated in 1998,

annually recognizes an individual who embodies the motivation,

hard work and achievement necessary for all graduates to over-

come the barriers on their journey to economic self-sufficiency.

Mark served three administrations - Nixon, Ford and Carter - as

the senior policy analyst on the welfare reform staff of the U.S.

Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He also represent-

ed the Office of the Secretary on the HEW-HUD housing allow-

ance study group. He previously served on the Bucks County Op-

portunity Council Board of Directors for more than eleven years.

He was a visionary leader in the development and implementation

of the Economic Self-Sufficiency Program. He is currently Chair-

man of the Board of First Federal of Bucks County and President

and CEO of Worthington Associates, Inc. of Tullytown, PA.

Community Action Association of Pennsylvania

Self-Sufficiency Award

The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania Self-Sufficiency

Award, inaugurated in 1997, annually recognizes individuals in each

county across Pennsylvania who embody the extraordinary deter-

mination required to overcome adversity and barriers to self-

sufficiency.

Reach for the Stars Award

The Reach for the Stars Award, inaugurated in 2005, recognizes

individuals who demonstrate extraordinary determination, perse-

verance, motivation and hard-work while in the Economic Self-

Sufficiency Program.

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Event Planning Committee

Kim Arnold

Kathleen Beveridge

Robert Badman, Esq.

Peter Berger

Maureen Carlton, Esq.

Robert Delp

Michael Erwin, Ph.D.

Kathy Finnigan

Frank Gabriele

Madeleine Henderson

Hank Kmiecek

Jim and Diana Resek, CPA

Richard Rex

Kelly Welchoff, CPA

Michael Woods

Michael Zoglio

Bruce Iacobucci, Planning Committee Co-Chair

Elaine Keckeissen, Planning Committee Co-Chair

Kim Arnold, Sponsorship Subcommittee Chair

Peter Berger, Ambassador Subcommittee

Maureen Carlton, Esq., Ticket Sales Subcommittee

Kelly Welchoff, CPA, Member-at-Large

Roger Collins, Executive Director*

Joanne Burgess, Outreach Program Specialist*

David Ford, Outreach Director*

Erica Helzner, Self-Sufficiency Coach*

Stacy Kaiser, Supervisor of Self-Sufficiency Services*

Erin Lukoss, Director of Self-Sufficiency Services*

Tammy Schoonover, Director of Training*

Carol Wisser, Supervisor of Self-Sufficiency Services*

Nicole Yerkes, Emergency Services Supervisor*

* Indicates Bucks County Opportunity Council staff

Volunteer Table Ambassadors

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Board of Directors

Patrick Counihan, President

Madeleine Henderson, Vice President

Robert Delp, Secretary

Kelly Welchoff, CPA, Treasurer

Peter Berger, Past President

Laura Andrews

Kim Arnold

Natasha Brockington

Maureen Carlton, Esq.

Vivian Crossman, RN

Brandi Dringus

Frank Gabriele

The Honorable Mitchell Goldberg

Madeleine Henderson

Elaine Keckeissen

Richard Rex

Michael Woods

Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency

Bucks County Commissioners

Charles H. Martin, Chairman; James F. Cawley, Esq., Vice Chairman;

and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW

Bucks County Department of Health and Human Services

PA Department of Community and Economic Development

Bucks County Workforce Investment Board

United Way of Bucks County

United States and PA Departments of Agriculture

Many individuals, organizations and businesses in Bucks County

Special Thanks

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Event Sponsors

Major Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

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Bronze Sponsors

Bohmora, Inc.

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Event Supporters

Jay and Barbara Belding

Scott and Carolyn Belveal

Kathleen Welsh Beveridge, Spark Nonprofit Consulting LLC

Lynn Bush

Stephen and Dorothy Campana

William Casey

RADM and Mrs. S. K. Chadwick

Patrick and Carol Counihan

Curtin & Heefner LLP

Bob and Sherry Delp

Robert and Lore Eichfeld

Kathy Finnigan

Tom and Lisa Ford

Connie and John Furman, The First National Bank & Trust Co.

Frank and Becky Gabriele

The Honorable Mitchell Goldberg

Madeleine Henderson

Keith Newman Painting Contractors

John E. Lyons

David W. and Linda Sue Price

Richard and Margaret Rex

Frederick E. Schea, First Savings Bank

Adam and Donna Schechter

Rev. E. Kyle and Tam St. Claire

Betty Tatham

Robert and Patricia Traverse

Nancy J. Turner

United Way of Bucks County

Univest National Bank and Trust Co.

Linda Vataha

Andy Warren

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Graduate Profiles

Natacha Natacha is a single mom with two children aged seven and nine.

One child has special needs requiring extra attention and care.

She lost her job and relied only on child support and Social Securi-

ty while searching for new employment. When her child support

payments became seriously delinquent, she steadily fell behind, par-

ticularly with rent and utility bills.

Frustrated, desperate, and finally facing homelessness, Natacha

reached out to the Opportunity Council. Her fortune began to

turn when she found a full-time job shortly before her first meet-

ing with her Self-Sufficiency Coach. They worked together and de-

veloped a solvent budget and a goal plan to address some remain-

ing challenges - reliable transportation and affordable childcare. She

received a self-sufficiency scholarship to help with her basic needs

and she made appropriate co-payments.

Natacha is now doing very well; she is thriving at her job and has

already received a merit increase. Best of all, she has regained her

self-sufficiency without relying on child support. Her income in-

creased by more than $29,000 since she enrolled in the program.

Her long-term goals are to earn a promotion and increase her sav-

ings.

Erlinda Erlinda worked full-time as a Pharmacy Technician until a labor

stoppage prevented her from working. She spent savings, utilized

food banks, and reached out to family for help to address her cri-

sis; but she still fell behind and began drifting into poverty.

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She reached out to the Opportunity Council for help to overcome

the setback. She met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach and together

they developed a recovery plan. With her Coach, Erlinda pared

her already frugal budget to reduce expenses. Her self-sufficiency

scholarship helped with her basic needs.

Fortunately, the labor stoppage was resolved and she returned to

work. Erlinda earns a family-sustaining wage and is self-sufficient

once again thanks to a helping hand up from the Opportunity

Council. Her long-term goal is to become a Registered Nurse and

she attends Bucks County Community College. She faithfully fol-

lows a savings plan to prepare for unexpected future setbacks.

James and Beth James and Beth were working to achieve the “American Dream.”

They have three children, owned a small business, and lived in a

comfortable home. They invested all of their time and savings to

make the business successful; when the economy got tough, their

business decreased dramatically and then failed.

With their lives turned-upside-down, they were ineligible for un-

employment benefits because they were business owners. They

both immediately found other employment but their combined

earnings could not stop a heartbreaking spiral into financial ruin.

They eventually lost their home to foreclosure.

They fell further behind on their bills and again faced homelessness

when they reached out to the Opportunity Council. They met

with a Self-Sufficiency Coach and together made a plan to regain

self-sufficiency. They never missed an appointment and were re-

lentless in the pursuit of their goal to regain self-sufficiency.

Their hard work and perseverance slowly but surely paid off. Beth

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continued to work at the same job and James found one with high-

er pay. They found an affordable place to live, caught up on their

bills and closed the gap in their budget.

James and Beth overcame significant obstacles to get back on their

feet. They are most proud of the fact that they can again support

their children without the need for help from others. James looks

forward to earning a promotion at work so he and Beth can build

up a savings account to overcome potential future emergencies.

Saul Saul is a single father with two young children. He continues to

work for his current employer of seven years. They lived doubled-

up and when the other family faced eviction Saul proceeded to find

new housing for his family.

He met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach to plan for his family‟s transi-

tion to an affordable home, catch up on his bills, and balance his

household budget. He searched for and found an affordable apart-

ment. The Opportunity Council granted him financial assistance to

help with move-in costs and he met regularly with his Coach to

review his budget and develop improved financial literacy skills.

It was a struggle at times, but he steadily caught up on his bills and

lowered his expenses to bring his budget into balance. He must

maintain a frugal household budget to make-ends-meet, but he is

proud that he can provide for his children without reliance on oth-

ers for financial help. His goal is to set aside a savings each

paycheck so his children will be able to attend college.

Diahann Diahann lost her manufacturing job in August of 2009. She began

searching for a new job and tried to balance her expenses to her

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unemployment benefits. She did the best anyone could do to

make-ends-meet but fell behind on her bills and soon was unable

to pay her property taxes.

Diahann was desperate, frustrated and found her hope dismal. She

was on the verge of losing her home and could not afford life-

sustaining medication she needed for a chronic illness. She turned

to the Opportunity Council for help to find a path back to self-

sufficiency.

Together with her Self-Sufficiency Coach, she built a plan to suc-

ceed. A significant financial burden was lifted when her application

to the pharmaceutical company was approved for her to receive

her life-sustaining medication at no cost.

Diahann‟s plan and perseverance finally paid off when she secured

full-time employment in August. Her salary is lower than before,

but she is self-sufficient and skillfully maintains a frugal household

budget. She temporarily is working part-time as a House Cleaning

Professional to replenish her savings and reduce her debt and is on

-track for a raise in October that will increase her income signifi-

cantly and lift her up even further.

James James had worked for the same company for thirteen years. He

enjoyed a well-earned reputation as a hard worker and earned a

good salary.

His life took an unexpected turn for the worse when he sustained

an injury on the job that required extended medical leave. He re-

ceived a fraction of his salary while on medical leave and his recov-

ery was slow and difficult. He struggled to make-ends-meet, spent

his savings to cover the gap in his budget and eventually fell behind

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on his rent and utility bills.

He came to the Opportunity Council for rental assistance to pre-

vent homelessness. He met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach to figure

out a way to stop the downward spiral he was experiencing. They

worked together to develop a budget and goal plan to overcome

the injury and resulting financial turmoil. James received financial

assistance to help with basic needs. He never missed an appoint-

ment, followed through on his commitments, stuck to his budget,

and made co-payments.

He eventually recovered from his injury, returned to work full-

time, and re-gained his self-sufficiency. James related to his Self-

Sufficiency Coach that he never imagined an agency like the Op-

portunity Council existed. His long-term goal is to save enough

money to overcome future emergencies without having to turn to

others for help.

Roxanne Roxanne is a single mom with three children. She enjoyed her job

as a bus driver but the wage and part-time hours could not ade-

quately support her family. She grew weary of living paycheck-to-

paycheck and decided she needed to make a change so her chil-

dren could have a brighter future.

A family member referred her to the Opportunity Council in fall

2007. Roxanne met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach and during their

planning; she explained that she had always dreamed of one day

becoming a nurse. Together they created her dream-fulfilling plan

that also would lift her family permanently out of poverty.

Roxanne received a self-sufficiency scholarship to help meet basic

needs while she pursued her ambitious life-changing goal.

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After passing the entrance exam, she enrolled in the Practical

Nursing Program at Bucks County Community College. The Cen-

tral Bucks Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee

also noted her potential and drive-to-succeed and awarded her a

$7,000 scholarship.

Roxanne mastered her curriculum, graduated from the nursing

program in July 2009, and passed her license exam on the first try.

Roxanne loves her new profession of working with people to re-

store their health. She is thankful that the Opportunity Council

helped her get the education that lifted her family out of poverty.

Naomi Naomi is a single mother who worked full-time for a low wage and

struggled to support her son. She lived paycheck-to-paycheck and

was one crisis away from financial ruin despite hard work and fru-

gal budget management.

Knowing education was the key to getting self-sufficient and sup-

porting her family, she began taking the prerequisites for the Prac-

tical Nursing Program at the Bucks County Community College. It

began well, but the demands of full-time work, parenting for her

son and keeping up with her studies began to overwhelm her.

A friend recommended she talk with the Opportunity Council

about her self-sufficiency goal. Realistically assessing her limited

resources, she knew she needed a special opportunity to succeed.

She reached out for a helping hand in December 2007.

She met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach and together they discussed

her vision and the seemingly overwhelming barriers she faced.

Naomi‟s life-experiences made it difficult for her to trust people.

Slowly but steadily she built a vibrant relationship with her Coach.

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They worked together to forge a successful plan to manage work,

school and family. She cut her work schedule to part-time so she

could continue to go to school full-time. Her self-sufficiency schol-

arship helped her with basic needs and she contributed co-

payments.

Naomi overcame several serious setbacks and losses on the way

to graduating the nursing program including the death of a cousin

and her mother. She was thankful for her Coach‟s never wavering

support, comfort, and advice during those difficult times. Naomi

adopted a motto: “work towards your dream; never lose focus.”

She graduated from the Practical Nursing Program in July 2009 and

passed the certification exam on the first try. She now earns

$16,600 more annually than she did when she enrolled in the pro-

gram.

Naomi is proud she is self-sufficient and of her hard work to cre-

ate a brighter future for her son. She plans to return to school in

spring 2011 to earn her Registered Nurse license and is saving to

purchase a home for her family.

Patti Patti suddenly had to support two young children on her own.

Unable to find employment that adequately supported her family,

she moved in with relatives.

After reading an article in the newspaper that featured a nurse in

the Economic Self-Sufficiency Program, she contacted the Oppor-

tunity Council. Although she had no experience as a nurse, she

had a life-long desire to become one motivated by her childhood

experience when she helped care for a grandparent who suffered

from cancer. She knew that a career in nursing would provide her

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19

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with the income needed to achieve and maintain permanent self-

sufficiency.

She worked with a Self-Sufficiency Coach to assess her situation

and develop her plan. Being action-oriented, she signed up to take

the Practical Nursing Program entrance exam, enrolled in prereq-

uisite courses at Bucks County Community College (BCCC) and

began working part-time in her first month in the ES program.

Patti passed the entrance exam on her first try and enrolled in the

Practical Nursing Program at BCCC in spring 2008. Patti complet-

ed the Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World curriculum and be-

came one of the first “Circle Leaders” in the Circles of Opportuni-

ty pilot – an initiative that intentionally creates a network of sup-

port and resources for people in poverty. Committed, caring vol-

unteers provided encouragement and motivation while Patti pro-

gressed through the nursing program. She maintained excellent

grades and graduated with personal recommendations from sever-

al teachers.

Patti works for the Bucks County Intermediate Unit as a Licensed

Practical Nurse in the Special Needs Classroom. Her income in-

creased by more than $22,000 since she enrolled in the program

and she no longer needs welfare subsidies. She loves her job and

enjoys the challenge and diversity each day brings. She plans to

return to school part-time to pursue her Registered Nurse certifi-

cation.

Kelli Kelli and her son were homeless and relied on welfare, infrequent

child support and unemployment benefits to survive. They were

temporarily staying with family when Kelli decided that it was time

to make a change and create a brighter future for her son.

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She knew education was the key to obtaining a family-sustaining

job so she enrolled in a job-training program to become a medical

assistant and phlebotomist. She heard about the Opportunity

Council and reached out for a helping hand in 2008. A Self-

Sufficiency Coach helped her enroll in a transitional housing pro-

gram that provided temporary rental assistance while she complet-

ed job training.

She finished the job-training program in October 2009 and found a

full-time job a couple of months later. She still needed food

stamps to make-ends-meet but it was a step in the right direction.

She soon suffered a setback when she lost her job as her employer

downsized. Relying on her new skills, she persevered and found a

new job with better pay and a great training program with incen-

tives. She has health benefits and already earned a raise.

Her income has increased by more than $18,000 since she en-

rolled in the program. She is thriving and no longer relies on wel-

fare subsidies to provide for her son. Kelli continues to seek ad-

vancement opportunities at work and has already begun saving to

purchase a home.

Tamara Tamara and Dave steadily fell further behind on their bills despite

the fact that Dave worked full-time. They lacked a family-sustaining

wage and survived paycheck-to-paycheck by relying on food

stamps and help from friends and family.

They were not satisfied merely surviving and were determined to

make a better life for their family. Dave continued his work while

Tamara reached out to human service agencies and job training

programs. She quickly grew frustrated by what seemed a total lack

22

of opportunity to permanently leave poverty rather than cope in it

and rely on food stamps for sustenance.

A friend and former member of the Opportunity Council‟s Board

of Directors referred Tamara to us in 2005. She met with a Self-

Sufficiency Coach to work on her way up and out of poverty.

Tamara soon noted the respect and support her Coach provided

and so she expressed her high interest to work in the health care

sector. Together they built a plan for her to earn a nursing de-

gree. Tamara knew from the beginning it would be a challenge;

but her Coach gave her new confidence to pursue her dream of

becoming a Registered Nurse.

She enrolled at Bucks County Community College, completed the

prerequisite courses, and her instructors formally recognized her

as the “Most Valuable Tutor.” She transferred to Abington Memo-

rial Hospital Dixon School of Nursing to complete the clinical re-

quirements of the program. She met regularly with a Coach to

review her budget and measure progress on her goals. It was de-

manding and Tamara endured some major setbacks along the way,

but she persevered and graduated with an exceptional grade point

average.

Tamara and Dave both work full-time now and have increased

their household income by $44,784 from their time of enrollment.

They recently had a second child and continue to follow their

household budget very closely as they save to buy a home. They

are self-sufficient and unspeakably proud they no longer rely on

cash welfare subsidies to survive.

Terry

2010 Reach for the Stars Award Recipient

Terry is an accountable hard-working single mother who could not

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support her family on the low-wage she earned as a Certified

Nursing Assistant. Her dream was to become a Registered Nurse

because she knew that would make her permanently self-sufficient.

The goal meant even more to her since she was strongly motivat-

ed to make a difference in patient‟s lives.

She enrolled in school and completed a few prerequisite courses

for the registered nurse program but then realized she lacked the

financial means to continue. She desperately did not want to relin-

quish her goals, having her family live self-sufficient meant every-

thing to her.

She deeply believed she could succeed if the right opportunity

came her way. When she heard about the Opportunity Council in

late 2005, she reached out to see if she could find a way to finish

what she started. She met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach who ad-

mired her work ethic and unusual determination to succeed. To-

gether they worked on a plan that enabled her to restart her jour-

ney to self-sufficiency.

Terry began prerequisite courses at Bucks County Community

College and made the Dean‟s List despite the rigors of single

parenthood, a part-time job as a medical assistant and a full course

load. Her diligence paid off and she began the Registered Nursing

Program at the Abington Memorial Hospital Dixon School of

Nursing.

Her skill as a nurse caught the attention of the Student Evaluation

and Achievement Committee. The Committee recognized her for

“exceptional‟ performance while assisting a fellow nurse during a

crisis. Terry earned several scholarships including a $4,000 award

from the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Women in Busi-

ness Committee.

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Terry graduated in September 2009 and passed the nursing licen-

sure exam on her first try. She is a nurse at the Abington Hospital

and works part-time at St. Joseph‟s Villa. These two jobs will ena-

ble her to pay off debt more quickly and save money. Her income

has increased by more than $37,600 since she enrolled in the pro-

gram.

Terry is self-sufficient and is proud of the fact that she makes a

difference in the lives of her patients and their families. She will

receive the 2010 Reach for the Stars recognition for her extraor-

dinary determination, perseverance, motivation, and hard work

that led her to achieve her dreams.

Lischa

2010 Community Action Association of Pennsylvania

Self-Sufficiency Award Recipient

Lischa and her children coped in a chaotic, unsafe home for several

years. She considered taking her two children and leaving her

spouse many times but believed she lacked the resources to make

it on her own. Eventually it became too dangerous to stay so she

mustered all her courage and embarked on a daunting journey that

she knew she must take.

A Woman‟s Place helped her move to a safe place with her chil-

dren and referred her to the Opportunity Council in July 2007.

She desperately wanted to avoid a steady downward spiral into

poverty. With her Self-Sufficiency Coach she built an action plan

that would lead her to permanent self-sufficiency and her vision of

a brighter future. The Opportunity Council granted her a self-

sufficiency scholarship to help balance her budget while she

worked to realize her goals. She consistently contributed co-

payments and used food banks and other community resources to

make-ends-meet.

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She knew the first step forward was to find a career that would

provide family-sustaining income. She had previously worked as a

Certified Nursing Assistant and enjoyed her sense of fulfillment

from caring for patients. Lischa decided to pursue a career in nurs-

ing so she enrolled in prerequisite courses for the Practical Nurs-

ing Program at Bucks County Community College. She diligently

applied herself, earned good grades, passed the entrance exam and

was accepted into the program. It felt good to be making measur-

able progress towards her goals.

Then her spouse contacted her in an attempt to reconcile. Very

cautiously she agreed to meet with him a couple of times. He was

unstable and the result was a series of events that ended tragically.

Lischa and her children suffered a major setback and the circum-

stances left her in a state of emotional and financial ruin. Slowly

they all recovered from the tragedy with help and support from

Family Focus, Network of Victim Assistance and the Opportunity

Council. They moved back into their home and Lischa continued

working towards her nursing certification. Although she was al-

ready in foreclosure proceedings, she was determined to hang on

because of what her children had already endured. She worked

closely with her Coach and a counselor from Consumer Credit

Counseling of Delaware Valley to restructure her mortgage and

save her home.

Caring for her children while meeting the rigorous demands of her

nursing studies, Lischa was challenged each step of her journey.

But supported by frequent meetings with her self-sufficiency Coach

to problem-solve, plan, budget and receive encouragement; she

always managed to find the inner strength to persevere.

She victoriously and joyously graduated from the Practical Nursing

26

Program in July 2009. With her children, Coach and father, who

drove hundreds of miles to attend; proudly watching, she crossed

the stage to receive her diploma.

She passed the nursing certification exam on the first try and in

December started her new career. She earns a good salary, her

family enjoys benefits and she loves her job. Because she works

special shifts, her income has increased by more than $60,600

since she enrolled in the program.

Lischa‟s success is a story of how the human spirit can overcome

some of the most unimaginable events. She is proud of the life she

has created for her children. “It‟s no secret, it‟s been a tough road,

a real struggle,” she says, “but we‟re doing better now. My Coach

and the Opportunity Council has been a family support system for

me.” Lischa is the 2010 Community Action Association of Pennsyl-

vania Self-Sufficiency Award winner because she embodies the ex-

traordinary determination required to overcome adversity and

barriers to self-sufficiency.

Lischa plans to give back by working with other victims of domes-

tic violence to show them there is a way out, a way to eventually

live a peaceful life and because setting goals and achieving them is

now her way of life, she will be returning to school to earn her

Registered Nurse certification.

Tammie

2010 Mark Worthington Achievement Award Recipient

Tammie was a single parent struggling to provide for four children.

She worked full-time for less than sustaining wages and relied on

housing and food welfare subsidies each month to make-ends-

meet.

27

Tammie attended her sister Donna‟s 2005 graduation from the

Economic Self-sufficiency program and received inspiration from

the families she met and talked with that night. At graduation,

Donna received the Mark Worthington Achievement Award for

outstanding achievement. Donna was a former welfare recipient

who worked to earn a nursing degree and achieve permanent self-

sufficiency.

Tammie often thought about that night and her sister‟s remarkable

transformation while in the Economic Self-Sufficiency Program. She

wondered if she could have the same success. Tammie desperate-

ly wanted a better life for her children so in 2007 she also reached

out to the Opportunity Council.

Tammie met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach to assess her situation

and develop a plan. She decided to follow her sister‟s example and

pursue a career in nursing because the salary would enable her to

support her family without any need for cash welfare subsidies.

She continued to work full-time and care for her children while

she took prerequisite courses at Bucks County Community Col-

lege in preparation for the practical nurse entrance exam. When

she was accepted, she knew her real work was just beginning and

there was a long way to go; but she gained confidence with every

positive step forward.

Tammie worked full-time as a Certified Nursing Assistant at night,

then went straight to school for eight hours and then home to

spend time with her children. Tammie found the curriculum chal-

lenging and at times felt pushed to her breaking point but her

Coach helped her through the hard times with encouragement,

support, and faith in her.

28

She graduated from the Practical Nursing Program and proudly

called her Coach when she passed the nursing license exam on her

first try. Tammie is now a nurse and earns enough to support her

family. Her income increased by more than $27,400 since she en-

rolled in the program and she has proudly relinquished her lifetime

subsidized housing voucher.

Tammie continues to thrive; she stuck to her budget and saved

enough to purchase a house earlier this year. She is currently sav-

ing for improvements and decorations to make it feel like the

home she always dreamed of sharing with her children. She is ea-

ger to return to school to pursue her Registered Nursing certifica-

tion. Tammie knows first-hand the importance of education and is

determined that her children get good grades, graduate from high

school and go to college.

Tammie joins all our graduates this evening that have demonstrat-

ed what is possible when we offer someone an opportunity to

leave poverty, not just cope in it. In acknowledgement of her te-

nacity and determination to lead her family to a better life; because

of her “never give up” attitude that propelled her to permanent

self-sufficiency; we present Tammie with the 2010 Mark Worthing-

ton Achievement Award.

• The following graduates were unable to attend tonight’s event •

Mohammad Mohammad was unemployed and struggling due to a job loss. Like

many people effected by the economic downturn, Mohammad vig-

orously searched for a new job but was unsuccessful. With his

unemployment benefits on the verge of expiring and falling behind

on his bills, he reached out to the Opportunity Council for help in

June 2010 to prevent his full descent into poverty.

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Mohammad met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach to assess and stabi-

lize his situation and most importantly secure a sustaining income.

Budget counseling helped him minimize his expenses and he re-

ceived a self-sufficiency scholarship to prevent homelessness and

maintain transportation while he continued his employment

search. His hard work and perseverance paid off when he secured

a full-time job for a self-sustaining wage. His income increased by

$31,200 from the time he entered the program. Mohammad is

thankful for a hand-up from the Opportunity Council and proud of

the fact he is self-sufficient again.

Katherine Katherine earned enough as a self-employed Home Cleaning Pro-

fessional to provide for her family until the economic downturn

led to a significant decline in business. Despite her glowing perfor-

mance credentials and testimonials, she saw her customer-base

steadily decline by more than 70%.

While struggling to survive the down-cycle she kept falling further

behind in her bills. Her utility company referred her to the Op-

portunity Council and Katherine began to work with us to prevent

further decline into poverty.

Katherine worked with her self-sufficiency Coach, stabilized her

situation, and developed a plan to re-establish self-sufficiency. She

secured a part-time job and almost immediately her employer no-

ticed her outstanding work ethic by offering her promotion to full-

time. Her income increased by more than 20% since she enrolled

in the program. She now earns enough to support her family and

takes pride in providing for them without any need for cash wel-

fare subsidies.

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Evelyn Evelyn long managed to make ends meet through hard work and

applying frugal household budget skills. She suffered a setback

when serious illness made it necessary to take an unpaid leave of

absence from work. Her savings initially covered the resulting gap

in her budget, but her reserve quickly ran out.

She recovered from illness but was on the brink of homelessness

and slipping further behind on her bills when she turned to the

Opportunity Council for help.

She met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach to fully assess her situation

and develop a plan that would enable her to regain her self-

reliance. She returned to work and received a self-sufficiency

scholarship to prevent eviction and help her catch up on her utility

bills. She contributed co-payments.

Evelyn‟s income now enables her to achieve a balanced household

budget and she is rebuilding her savings. Her income increased by

more than 45% since she enrolled in the program. She is self-

sufficient and thankful the Opportunity Council was there when

she needed a helping hand up.

Chris and Tara Christopher and Tara‟s struggles began when Christopher lost his

job in January 2009 as the economy turned downward. Christo-

pher searched for new employment, but Tara‟s income combined

with his unemployment benefits could not prevent their steady

financial decline.

When on the brink of homelessness they turned to the Oppor-

tunity Council for help. With their Self-sufficiency Coach, they

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developed a plan to halt their further decline and begin to dig out.

Christopher‟s perseverance along with guidance from his Coach

and the staff at CareerLink paid off. He returned to work in Au-

gust 2010 and Tara found a second part-time job. Their combined

income increased by more than $27,700 while in the program and

they have regained their self-sufficiency. They are now working to

pay off obligations incurred while Christopher was unemployed.

Karen Karen, a single mother with a young child, lost her position as an

elementary school principal in 2008 due to cutbacks in her school

district. Unemployment benefits and savings kept her afloat for a

short time but she steadily fell further behind when her rigorous

job search did not find success. On the brink of financial ruin and

desperate she gave up her apartment and relocated to Bucks

County to live with friends while she continued to search for a job.

Devastated and now finding her confidence ebbing away, Karen

realized she and her daughter could no longer “couch surf” with

friends – sleep on their couch as she pursued employment. Virtu-

ally hopeless and now only a small step away from homelessness

she was referred to the Opportunity Council by another human

service organization.

She met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach to stabilize her situation,

build a plan, and receive the motivational support she needed to

sustain her journey back to gainful employment. She received a

self-sufficiency scholarship to find safe, affordable housing and con-

tinued to work with her Coach to improve her interviewing skills.

Her hard work and perseverance finally paid off. After two years

of turmoil, struggle, and nightmare, she accepted an assistant prin-

cipal job in August 2010. Her income has increased by more than

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$49,000 since she enrolled in the program. Karen is paying off her

debt so she can restore her credit and find an even better place to

live. She is self-sufficient and most proud of the fact that she can

provide for her daughter without relying on others for support.

Dale Dale lost his job in April 2009 due to the economy. He relied on

unemployment benefits while he searched for a new job but stead-

ily fell behind on his bills until eventually he was on the brink of

eviction.

He felt he had run out of options so he contacted the Opportunity

Council. Dale quickly realized his Opportunity Council Coach

could help him build a plan to regain his self-sufficiency. He re-

ceived a self-sufficiency scholarship to prevent eviction and help

with basic needs while he continued his job search.

Dale fine-tuned his resume with help from his Coach, participated

in employment workshops at the CareerLink and regularly

checked in with his Coach to evaluate his plan and budget. He lost

count of the interviews, resumes, and applications he completed as

he pursued any job opening he could find.

His effort and hard work finally paid off when he secured a posi-

tion as a Therapeutic Staff Support Professional. His income in-

creased by $20,800 while in the program. He is self-sufficient again

and coaches football to earn extra money to build his savings ac-

count for future emergencies.

Tanya Tanya had ties to Bucks County so she chose to move here for a

fresh start. She is a hard worker and got a part-time job immedi-

ately. She rented an apartment, which she shared with a room-

33

mate, but a few months after they moved in together, she asked

him to leave because he was not working or contributing to the

bills.

She struggled to pay the bills on her own and quickly fell behind.

She knew she had potential and was determined to be self-

sufficient despite the fact that she was now on welfare and earning

a low wage. She heard about the Opportunity Council from a

friend and reached out for help in early 2010.

Tanya‟s Self-Sufficiency Coach helped her develop a plan to get a

better job that would halt her downward spiral and stabilize her

situation. She continued to work a part-time retail job and provid-

ed childcare for a friend to minimize her need for welfare. Alt-

hough she lacked reliable transportation, she never missed or

showed up late for an appointment with her Coach. She partici-

pated in job training, fine-tuned her resume, and expanded her job

search to include the community where she previously lived. Tan-

ya suffered several major setbacks but overcame them and contin-

ued to make progress.

Her perseverance and determination paid off when she secured a

position as a Certified Nursing Assistant in northern Pennsylvania.

With her new job and a lower cost of living, she enjoys stable af-

fordable housing, earns a family-sustaining wage, and has benefits.

She is off welfare subsidies and has plans to advance her career in

healthcare.

Jason Jason is a skilled diesel mechanic who because of the economy be-

came unemployed and reduced to living in his car. He reached out

to the Opportunity Council for a way to work out of his desperate

situation.

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He met with a Self-Sufficiency Coach to develop his goal plan for

permanent self-sufficiency. He received a self-sufficiency scholar-

ship to secure temporary housing while he searched for perma-

nent housing and continued his job search.

He soon became reemployed and for a few weeks felt his life had

turned the corner. Then the owner of the business where he was

employed unexpectedly closed without notifying any employees. It

was a devastating setback but he was more determined than ever

and he felt that this time he already had a plan in place. He contin-

ued to meet with his Coach to achieve his goal plan.

Jason‟s focused perseverance finally began to pay off. He accepted

a diesel mechanic position in August and his Coach working with a

realtor, secured him safe, affordable housing. His new home is

handicap accessible, which will enable him to take care of his disa-

bled mother after she recovers from surgery and physical therapy

later this month.

Jason enjoys a good salary again, maintains a balanced budget, and

saves for the time when he may encounter another bump in the

road. He is thankful for the Opportunity Council‟s helping hand

when it looked like there was none.

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Community Service Report

July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 - Preliminary

Households Service

3,144 Received direct services

369 Prevented eviction - financial assistance/counseling

63 Moved out of homelessness

417 Prevented utility shutoff

98 Transportation to work

117 Heating oil crisis assistance

19 Education - full or partial scholarship

8 Childcare assistance

412 Energy conservation counseling and home repair

48,267 Food pantry network visits

1,290 Bucks Back income tax returns prepared and filed by

IRS trained and certified volunteers at no cost to filer

$2,261,418 Total value of tax refunds, credits and fee savings

220 Economic Self-Sufficiency Program graduates since

the program was established in 1997

56 Economic Self-Sufficiency Program graduates who

have purchased a home since 1997

52,827 Total volunteer hours contributed by the community

Guest Note: Some guests are wearing colored ribbons to help

identify their unique role in the organization or at tonight‟s event -

Ambassadors - Metallic Blue Print on White; Board Member -

Gold Print on Hunter Green; Event Planning Committee - Gold

Print on Raspberry; Opportunity Council Staff - Gold Print on Pur-

ple; Sponsor - Royal Blue Print on Yellow; Graduate - Navy Blue

Print on Light Blue ; and Speaker - Gold Print on Teal.

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