Your gifts, Cheryl’s story: we helped her through a crisis, now she’s paying it forward

Emma, an experienced financial and housing counselor at Families First, a United Way agency, recently celebrated her 11th anniversary at the agency. Out of the blue, she received a telephone call that made her already special day even better.

Cheryl, one of her first clients, called to thank Emma for playing a pivotal role in helping her find a path to self-sufficiency.

Cheryl's husband died and she was worried about losing her home. She turned to Emma at Families First for help sorting out her financial troubles. They met several times to review Cheryl's income and expenses, develop a manageable monthly budget and make a plan to achieve Cheryl's financial goals.

During their talks, Emma learned Cheryl had some college but had never completed the work to earn her degree. They talked about the connection between education and financial stability, and Emma encouraged Cheryl to find a way to finish her schooling.

Now, 11 years later, Cheryl called Emma to let her know she had taken that advice. Cheryl earned a degree in social work and is now working as a family advocate at The Julian Center, also a United Way agency.

Families First financial counselor Emma Sullivan (left) catches up with Cheryl Parham 11 years after having helped her work through financial troubles. Now Cheryl is a family advocate at another United Way agency where she’s helping others overcome their own challenges.

In her work, Cheryl is paying it forward by helping other women overcome difficult challenges and get back on their feet.

It's likely she'll be answering a similar phone call someday too, thanks in part to your contribution to United Way.

Gail Rothrock, Senior Vice President, Families First

Editor's note: Undesignated gifts to United Way's campaign help people like Cheryl get through a crisis and on a path to financial stability. This year, annual campaign contributions are being invested in 45 agencies that help individuals with basics like food, rent and utilities, as well as giving them hope and support to move up the economic ladder. For example, an undesignated gift of $1,000 will help pay the monthly salary of an outreach coordinator to help families in overcoming barriers to stability.

Since 1921, UWCI has invested more than $44.5 million in Families First as it has evolved from providing charity relief to its present day mission which offers family-focused counseling and support to help troubled families and individuals overcome marital or family conflicts, domestic violence and chemical dependency. Services also include parent education, family preservation, home-based services for older and challenged adults, Employee Assistance and financial literacy programs. The agency’s current year allocation is $1,123,656.

United Way’s funding includes more than $1 million in grants for capital, technology and other targeted purposes (funded apart from the annual campaign).