Success Stories
Every year in our community more than 70,000 people are helped by United Way funded programs. Here are a few of the thousands who are grateful for the helped they received thank to United Way investors...like you!
The Smith* family is a blended, Hispanic family with four children. Mom comes from a difficult background, which includes physical abuse, drug abuse and poverty. She and her husband had differing values and parenting techniques. Many of their differences were based on age, upbringing and cultural norms and values of the United States as well as Puerto Rico.
All of the children are challenged with behavioral issues and/or mental health issues. When the parents began working with a United Way funded Nurturing Program, they also lived in an often dangerous and menacing neighborhood. The children had easy access to drugs, violence and gang related activities. Their second youngest son was acting out in school and getting suspended on a regular basis. There were questions whether or not her eldest son was involved with a gang and/or drugs. Their young girl often had temper tantrums and acted out and her youngest child would often get angry and run into the street. In general the children did not feel safe in their own home.
The parents began to attend a Parent Nurturing Group on a weekly basis. They found that many parents were experiencing many of the same challenges and learned ways to support each other, as well as their children, in a manner that was helpful and healthy.
The culmination of this family’s hard work paid off when they attended The Nurturing Camp, held at Camp Monomonac in Rindge, New Hampshire. The family participated in a weekend long experience that brought eight families together in one place to help celebrate their achievements and to hone what they had learned.
The Smith family in particular was able to see how far they had come. They also were able to do it in an environment that was conducive to change. It also provided an atmosphere in which they could celebrate their achievements, as well those achievements of the other families. They did activities together such as painting and drawing a picture of their family. The children were able to participate in activities that helped them express their inner most feelings. They were able to employ techniques such as teamwork and leadership. The parents attended adult group meetings to focus on their strengths and weaknesses.
For the Smith family in particular this was an important weekend. This was the first time the family had been able to get away from the stresses of everyday life and all be in one place, with no worries. “I came in a destroyed mother with no hope to go on. I came out a strong woman, with hope for the future, a loving mother and wife.”
After much perseverance, the family was able to secure a new residence in a quiet, suburban, safe neighborhood. The children finally felt safe. They now had a yard to play in. Their son who was often getting in fights and getting suspended from school has not gotten in trouble during the 2004-2005 school year, nor has he gotten suspended.
The children have clear rules, expectations and consequences. The parents found a support system not just within the Nurturing Program but also within their family. “My family and I will never forget the experience we had at this camp…. I finally have my family back, new and improved, because of your program.”
*Name has been changed.
Luz Sanchez, originally from Dominican Republic, came to this country 1990. She spoke, read and wrote very little English even though she graduated with a BS in business administration from her native country. Luz put her degree to good use, by working for 13 years in her profession.
Her first experience in the English world was trying to find the school that her son was to attend. She got directions to the school. Take a right, then go four blocks, take another right, and take an immediate left. She heard the words and said thank you, but still did not know the way. She understood the words but not the meaning.
After getting her children enrolled in school, she sought job training to get her the skills needed to work in this country. However, the program was cancelled shortly after it began. She enrolled in another program, but that was also cancelled.
Luz did not give up. She heard a radio announcement for Literacy Volunteers. She asked a friend to make the phone call and arrange an interview with one of their tutors.
Luz was introduced to Mrs. Carpenter, her new tutor. As a former teacher, she had the patience and background to provide Luz with the skills she needed to succeed in America. Mrs. Carpenter made it easy to learn by using subjects that were related to her life. Luz was quickly immersed in the English language, learning grammar, and proper sentence structure.
Mrs. Carpenter also shared her life experiences with Luz, from her love for literature, culture, religion, holidays, history, politics, to current social issues. After getting two years of tutoring, Luz went on to get an Associates Degree in Human Services at MWCC in 1999. She completed the first year and received a certificate in human services. While attending school full time she worked full time at Our Father’s House with homeless people. Luz is currently working with Health Alliance, DVNA-Healthy Direction Program as a Family Support Worker.
Luz is also involved in many other community programs. She is a trustee for the Fitchburg Public Library, volunteer for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, and president of the Board of Directors of Twin Cities CDC.
She completed training in the spring of 2001 to be a tutor in English as a second Language with Literacy Volunteers. She now conducts weekly ESOL classes. It is her dream to inspire and teach English like Mrs. Carpenter, her angel, who unfortunately passed away about 2 years ago. Luz knows she is watching over her from above and feels that she is guiding her as she tutors her students, who also have Spanish backgrounds.
Luz is thankful for all the support she received from Mrs. Carpenter, Literacy Volunteers, and United Way of North Central Massachusetts.
Luz has three sons. Juan Ramon is a graduated with a degree in business administration from Fitchburg State College and works at bank in Worcester. Juan Carlos graduated from Clark University with a degree in business and also works in a bank in Worcester. Her youngest, Carlos Alberto, is a sophomore at UMASS, Amherst.
Barbara is a just-turned 30 mother of one young son who came to our shelter after a lifetime of abuse and family alcoholism. In addition to the violence, she was struggling with sobriety. She moved into the Aralia Shelter confused, numb to her pain and fighting her demons every day. Many times she thought of returning to her old neighborhood, to her old life just to avoid facing the feelings she had had all her life.
Despite the overwhelming thoughts and feelings the new information she was learning triggered in her, she stayed for six months. During that time, she attended parenting groups - to learn how to raise a child differently than her own violent and alcoholic past.
Barbara attended trauma and addiction groups to learn how her response to life long trauma was normal. She went to journaling groups to learn how to express, rather than bottle up, her feelings. She went to local A.A. meetings and got support from a sponsor.
She was offered the opportunity to learn the skills of a co-facilitator of addiction groups through a University of Massachusetts training program. Barbara was able to address her debt, begin a repayment plan and stabilize her credit. She applied for all housing opportunities and was successful in receiving a Section 8 voucher. After all she had accomplished, there was one more dream. She wanted to go to college! With the help of shelter staff, she inquired about financial aide and career options at the local college.
Today, Barbara is attending college full-time and living locally in her own apartment. Her young son has learned to use appropriate words and behaviors to express his feelings. Very soon Barbara will begin working in a doctor’s office and giving back to the community who fostered her recovery and achievements.
Ron is a valuable asset to the Crystal House Clubhouse. He is an excellent role model and is truly a success story. Ron is competitively employed at Stop-n-Shop in Gardner, Massachusetts and has just past his one-year anniversary. Ron has been living independently in the community for over two years now. He manages his own finances. Ron’s GPA at Mount Wachusett Community College is at least 3.5. He is an accomplished photographer. Ron is a very compassionate individual. He is respectful of others. Ron is outgoing and has a great sense of humor.
Ron has remained out of the hospital for 3 ½ years now. His journey has not been an easy one. He had a "normal childhood" growing up in Fitchburg. Ron was an above average student. He engaged in two summer youth ministry projects, which included going to Honduras and Equador. Ron was accepted to Trinity Christian Academy in Fitchburg. He worked part time at Market Basket to pay for his tuition there. Ron was awarded the "Who’s Who of American High School Students" in his senior year. Ron then went to Zion Bible Institute in Rhode Island where he maintained a 3.5 GPA and graduated fifth in his class with two degrees - one in Ministerial Studies and the second in Christian Education.
Ron opened up a photography business. He specialized in portraits and weddings. Ron’s first year in business was very successful. His second year of business is when his mental illness began. Ron states that looking back his illness came on gradually. He remembers watching TV believing that the TV was talking to him. Ron acknowledges talking back to the TV. Ron states he would talk to people who were not there and they would talk back. Paranoia crept in … every time Ron saw anyone in authority; he thought there was a conspiracy against him. Ron was walking the train tracks by now to avoid the police. Voices would say, "They’re out to get you, you don’t deserve to have anything." Ron had lost his apartment and was living at the Thunderbird Motel. He had been forced to give up his business and sell his equipment to live. Ron states that he couldn’t focus/concentration on photography because of the voices.
Ron's unusual behavior out in the community caused concern and the police were contacted. Ron went before the courts and was committed to Worcester State Hospital for an evaluation. This was Ron’s first hospitalization. He was there for about three weeks. They attempted to put him on medication and he refused - Ron believed that it would cause him harm. He was discharged back to the community with referrals made to the Department of Mental Health. Ron returned to the Thunderbird Motel for about six months before the police took him to the Lipton Center for evaluation. Ron was sent to McLean for about a month. He was diagnosed with Schizophrenia Paranoid Type and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. At McLean’s, Ron accepted medication and began his path towards recovery. Over the next three years Ron was in and out of hospitals due to trial medication therapies.
During this three-year period Ron went to live in a group home with seven other people who suffered from mental illness. He was there for about two years and then got an apartment with a roommate and was serviced by the NCHS Supported Living Program. Ron received these services for about two years. His last hospitalization occurred during this two-year period and Ron reports, "they finally got my medication right."
Ron was introduced to Crystal House when he was living at the group home. Ron was attending Day Treatment and would come to Crystal House for lunch. At this time Ron was very introverted. He would not engage with anyone during lunch. Ron attended the Crystal House social functions, but would keep to himself.
Once Ron completed Day Treatment, he attended Crystal House regularly. Slowly Ron began to participate in the operations of the club. He helped with the Gardner Christmas lights projects, the renovation projects and anywhere else he was asked to assist. Since the club has relocated and embraced the Fountain House model, Ron has been very involved.
Ron has gone from being a wallflower to being a greeter and tour guide for the club. He is outgoing and will introduce himself to guest - making them feel welcomed. Ron attributes this change in part to medication, but mostly to his experience here at the club. Ron states that he has always been made to feel welcomed. He has developed meaningful relationships here that he has maintained outside of the club. Ron considers a lot of the people here to be like family. Ron credits the club for building his self-confidence. Ron states that by doing the tasks needed to run the club and doing them successfully gave him the confidence to go out and look for a job. Ron felt comfortable with his relationships at the club to ask for help in completing job applications. Ron has used these relationships to role-play interviewing scenarios as well as gain advice when his obsessive-compulsive tendencies begin to rear their head. Ron states that he is grateful for these relationships. Ron states that he is also grateful for his membership at Crystal House. He feels that he belongs and is valued. Ron is willing to take on any task asked of him. He enjoys being more involved in the administrative aspect of the clubhouse. Ron has been a part of the staff interviewing/hiring committee for the past three months. His observation/assessment skills of potential candidates have been an asset to us hiring good staff. Ron is looking forward to becoming more involved in the financial aspects of the club.
We are grateful to have a dedicated member like Ron who leads by example. Ron works on average 20 hours a week at his job and still puts in at least 15 hours a week at the clubhouse. Ron is willing to do anything to help anyone or the club out. He is respectful of everyone and everything. He acknowledges that he has a mental illness and must remain on medication for the rest of his life. Ron is not afraid to ask for help or share with others his struggles throughout his recovery. Ron is willing to meet life on life’s terms and not let his mental illness prevent him from leading a "normal life".
Leave a lasting legacy, remember the United Way of North Central Massachusetts in your will or estate plan.
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