We can give you the numbers…

…but it’s the stories that count.

When Marissa came to University Settlement as a Kindergartener, she was unable to hold a pencil and recognize letters like the first letter of her name. Marissa worked with our Youth Support Specialists during our SmartY’S Summer Camp, and in 6-weeks, Marissa was able to properly grip a pencil and was able to recognize all of the letters in the alphabet. It’s small victories like this that make sure Marissa won’t fall behind in school and will continue to the next grade.

Ms. Kim has been attending our Adult Wellness Program for over a year. It was only a few months ago when she disclosed that she had been living without running water in her home for over four years. Our Adult Wellness Program was able to collaborate with our Family Programs to find resources to help Ms. Kim get the help she needed. For the first time in over four years, Ms. Kim was able to have running water.

We got to know one of the fathers that attended our annual Father Daughter Dance. He told us his name was John and he had actually utilized the services of University Settlement when he was very young. He was enrolled in our Youth Programs and his family often was able to get food at our Food Pantry. He says that it was the help and support from University Settlement that pushed him to graduate from high school. After, he joined the military and served his time and eventually came back home. Upon returning, John developed a drinking problem. He was able to seek help and eventually gain sobriety. Currently, John is still sober and is taking care of his two young nieces that his sister was no longer able to care for. He took them to the Father Daughter dance to spend some quality time with them and introduce them to University Settlement. We are so thankful that John was able to get the help and support he needed all of those years ago and grew to be a veteran, achieve and maintain sobriety, and raise two wonderful little girls.