In Their Corner: Graduations and Celebrations

Greetings!

Everyone deserves to have people in their corner, cheering them on as they reach important, audacious goals.

Well, we have our foam fingers ready for our celebrations this year!

In May, we recognized families who achieved huge milestones in their educational journeys.

One graduate received her Unmanned Aircraft Systems certificate, bringing her dream of being a drone pilot and starting her own company one step closer.
One mother received her GED and is now enrolled her college degree program.
Several adults passed sections of their GED tests and are well on their way to having their diplomas in hand.

Please join us in congratulating them on their hard work!

The work that they have put in will dramatically improve their ability to build a stable, thriving future for their families. Receiving a high school diploma (or equivalent), the Bureau of Labor Statistics says, increases earning capacity by an astonishing $9,516 annually. And just getting some college under their belt will add a further $4,680 to their potential salary. For our families, this is just the beginning.

In any hard task we set out to achieve, the people standing behind us- maybe with cameras out and eyes full of proud tears- give us the motivation to keep going. One alumni told us this community support made all the difference for her.

“You can’t change your life when you’re all alone. At Saranam you’re not alone, so you can change your circumstance. Do it all! Use the support, big or small. You can do your goals and now is the time. You can’t break free of homelessness if you don’t work on yourself. At Saranam you get the opportunity to do that.”

Thank you for being with us in their corner, clapping hands at the ready.

Building Foundations for Life

Help us bring 10 more families home!

530 people. After nearly 20 years, that is how many lives have known hope at Saranam after facing their most desperate moments. With hard work and perseverance, they made whole-life, lasting transformations.

This summer, we want to give 10 more families this same hope.

We invite you to support our Building Foundations for Life campaign to give 10 families a second chance. Our goal is to raise $397,810 by August. With your help, families will receive everything they need to rise out of poverty and homelessness to achieve self-sufficiency.

"I felt dependent on people for my whole life and I wasn’t getting anywhere. I was behind everyone else. Now I have my own apartment, a job, and independence. I can do a lot more on my own." -Saranam alumni

Investing in these families is a gift that will keep changing their lives forever. Not only have 77% of our families left successfully, but 88% of those who do so remain stable after a year. Their children will grow up knowing a different life thanks to you.

Donate today and make more of these transformations possible!

Donate Today

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Summer Learning

Do you remember the first time you cracked open the pages of a new book and were instantly transported to a new world? This summer, we are bringing that same experience to the kids in our program!

Our big kids will be learning about the different elements of their favorite books and using them to write their OWN stories. They will experiment with character development, unfolding a plot and painting a scene with words. We can’t wait to add their masterpieces to our bookshelves.

Our little ones are also joining in the action as well and becoming explorers! They will read about jungles, butterflies, zoo animals and more every week and then put on their adventurer hats for fun activities that will bring the tales to life.

To top it all off, we’re challenging everyone to read as much as they can in our summer reading contest. We’ll have prizes for everyone and a big celebration to wrap up our adventures.

We still need a few books to make our summer literary travels complete.

See the list of books we need here.

Multiplier Effect

Families at Saranam come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing that is true for every family is that the success of children and adults are intricately tied together.

This year, we had our largest ever group of young parents (ages 18-24) with young children. Their start in adulthood has been difficult, but new research from the Aspen Institute suggests that the growth they can achieve through 2gen programs like Saranam has a "multiplier effect" for everyone in their young family.

There are several reasons for this, including:

Their neural pathways are undergoing rapid change, which make them more open to change and growth.
Parenthood can be a powerful motivator to pursue education and employment.
Their children's brains are concurrently growing and experiencing rapid learning.

This means that programs like Saranam, that give young parents tools to form secure connections with their kids while simultaneously giving kids the opportunity to watch their parents grow, can create generational change.

We are thrilled to see research show what we have always known: everyone can succeed. It isn't what families come to our program with that matters, but the determination that they put into their goals.

Check out more of the Aspen Institute’s research.

Applications Open!

Applications are now open for our 2023 cohort!

Are you a service provider wondering how to refer a family? Curious about what makes someone a good candidate? Answers to frequently asked questions, application materials and instructions and more are all available on our website.

Applications are due July 21st. Please email our Case Manager, Jupa Espinoza with any questions.

Application Information

Running for a Cause!

Big thanks to Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School for lacing up their running shoes for Saranam!

The amazing students at Cottonwood hosted a 5k fundraiser in May to raise awareness and support for our mission. We always love it when people put their passions to work for their community!

Calling All Volunteers!

It's summer time and do you know what that means?! Decorating season!!

If you have a great eye, a handy hand or a giving heart, we would love your help preparing apartments for our new families this summer.

We are hosting a Zoom informational session for new decorators on June 14th from 11am-12:30pm OR Thurs. June 15 from 6pm-7:30pm. No commitment is necessary to attend. This is just a chance to get more information.

If you are a seasoned decorator, the all decorator planning meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 11 from 6pm-7pm.

Email Jen Clear, Housing Coordinator, with questions and to RSVP for any of these information sessions.

Summer-time and the Volunteering is Easy

We are heating up alongside the weather for a busy summer season! If you have a little extra time this summer, we would love to have your help with our preparations for new families.

Here is a sneak peek of some upcoming opportunities!

June Campus Cleanup
Saturday, June 10th from 10am-12pm
Furniture Labeling
Tuesday, June 13 from 9:30am-12:30pm
Welcome Baskets
Due July 11. See full list of needs here.

Make sure you are signed up for our volunteer newsletter to be in the know about all the ways you can help.

ICYMI

In case you missed it, here's what happened this month...

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