Save Up Program

Verna, who has an entry level government job, enrolled in the Save Up Program in the spring of 2014. She heard about the program from a classmate and former Save Up participant.  They both were enrolled in an Industrial Readiness Training program at a Junior College in hopes of improving their employment opportunities.  Verna was excited when she learned that RISE could help her realize her dream of home ownership.  You see Verna and her daughter Morgan lived in a one bedroom apartment, sharing a bedroom, with no area outside where should could safely play

Being in the Save Up program didn’t come without challenges.  Verna openly shared during the class that “Saving is hard.  As soon as I started saving, something would always happen.  For example, the struts on both sides of my old car went bad and had to be replaced.  It all worked out though and I didn’t have to withdraw money from my Save Up account because RISE taught me to always save for emergencies.”

Verna realized her dream of home ownership before Christmas, with the purchase of a two bedroom, two bath, brick home in a gated community.  The house had all of the amenities that Verna could ever dream of and especially the large fenced-in backyard where her daughter can run and play.  Verna now shares with others, “Having our own home means that my two year old daughter gets to have her own room and I can play with her outside now….in the safe privacy of our own backyard…..thanks to RISE.”

What a Christmas present for Verna and her daughter, all because of donations made by you and others to the Save Up program.  Look at the smiles on both of their faces.  Please continue to support young struggling families like Verna, who want to work hard and improve their situation so their families can be safe and experience the American Dream of Homeownership!