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Dear Friends,
People often ask: What you do in Sunday Friends makes so much sense, but how do you know it is really working? How do you know that families are building self-sufficiency and children are being better prepared to succeed in life?
We know Sunday Friends is working because of:
What our families tell us
What we see
What we measure
What our families tell us
Just last program, one of our in-program financial counselors sat down with Claudia, the mom of a long-time Sunday Friends family. Claudia said:
“Today I don’t want to talk about money. I have to tell you how well my son Carlos is doing in high school. He is excelling in math and he is even taking two classes at the community college! I never thought this was possible when I started Sunday Friends but everyone here taught me how to be a good mom and how to help him in school. Now everyone here is proud of him and helps me encourage him. I am so happy!”
And, last program, a dad told me:
“Look at my son with his new Spiderman backpack on his back! He’s so proud that he earned it and now he can’t wait to go back to school”.
A mom recently wrote:
“Sunday Friends has changed my life because I am able to spend quality time with my children. I am able to sit and talk to them about different things that I’ve learned at the Program. I’ve learned to have more patience with my children. I’ve also learned to get ahead in life and to have a better future.”
What we see
I wish you could all see what I see, program to program.
I see: The families who sit and write together for hours during each program - the little ones copying the older ones, the youths helping their parents with English, the parents modeling for their children the value of literacy.
I see: Some parents who, at first, taught their children to steal from us but who now teach them to work, be cooperative, use good manners, earn tickets and make wise spending decisions.
I see: The moms who are starting to apply for jobs – the ones who have never had the confidence before and are now ready.
I see: The kids I’ve known since they were shy grade schoolers who are now heading to – or attending - college.
I see: The enthusiasm of our parents and teens as they participate in classes on money management, English language, health, nutrition and parenting effectiveness. These are the same people who, during our first several years, would not even consider taking time out from their daily struggle to pursue education.
I see: The increase in how much our families contribute during each program. We can hardly provide enough writing paper for their thank you letters! Through cleaning of the grounds, writing to supporters, preparing and serving food, helping each other learn and creating gifts for people with different disadvantages in life than they have, our families give prolifically – and with ever-growing satisfaction – to our community.
What we measure
If you haven’t done so yet, please check out our Program Evaluation page to see highlights of our Year 2009 professional evaluation. You’ll notice that:
89% of parents report that they are more actively involved in helping their children succeed in school, thanks to Sunday Friends.
99% of parents feel more confident they will be able to care for their families in the future because of Sunday Friends.
93% feel more confident that their children will be able to care for themselves when they grow up.
I can’t wait for you to see the rest of the results. I’ll be sure to let you know when the San Jose State University Sociology Department has published their final report.
Focusing again on Basic Necessities
Many thanks to all of you who came through for us with school supplies! Now we need to return our focus to the other basic necessities our families work so hard to earn: toiletries, diapers and household cleaning products.
The start of the school year may be the perfect time for your club, congregation, department at work or other organization to plan a Basic Necessities Drive. There are many ways we can help. Please ask.
May I tell you how proud I am?
I have to tell you the truth. I am SO proud of our families, our volunteers and our donors. I had a dream 13 years ago that diverse communities could come together to uplift each other through a combined community based on equality, respect, giving and learning. Over the years, tens of thousands of amazing people have shown up. There is productivity, there is growth and there is love within the boundaries of Lowell School – our generous host – and we know that it is spreading beyond those boundaries.
Your support has made it possible for us to demonstrate what is possible. We have brought together the families who are most motivated to break the cycle of poverty. We have brought together the volunteers who most want to give meaningfully. We have brought together the donors who want the Sunday Friends model to spread.
Now, in spite of the difficult economic times, we must continue to come through. We can do that but we are counting on your financial support.
Please help us today. You can make an
online donation through this website. Google Checkout will allow 100% of your donation to reach Sunday Friends.
I hope I have successfully communicated how much our families appreciate your support and change their lives for the better because of it. Thank you for all you give through Sunday Friends.
With love,
P.S. Remember Sunday Friends as you plan your holiday events and parties this year. Talk with me if you have ideas to explore.
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