One Family to Present Four Scholar Success Awards at 2010 Mothers of Inspiration Celebration

BOSTON, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- One Family, Inc., a non-profit organization with a mission of ending family homelessness in Massachusetts, announced today that in addition to celebrating their graduating One Family Scholars, for the first time it will present four Scholar Success Awards to high-achieving One Family Scholars or Graduates at its annual Mothers of Inspiration gala on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at the Westin Copley Place Boston.  Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will be in attendance.

"We are proud of our One Family Scholars who are committed to earning their college degree and leaving poverty and homelessness behind for good.  These awards represent the excellence we instill in all of our Scholars: College Success, Career Success, Financial Success and Leadership Success.  Our Scholars are living our mission to end family homelessness, not only for themselves and their children but, by being leaders in their careers and community they are helping us spread the word to others that education will help them build a path out of poverty," says Denise Durham Williams, One Family's Executive Director.  

This year's awards supported by the Mothers of Inspiration Leadership (Title) Sponsor, The Jenzabar Foundation, along with three other sponsors, will be presented to four single mothers who are leaving poverty and homelessness behind:

• The College Success Award, sponsored by Stacy Madison and David & Kiersten Lowe: Ashley Crosby of Marlborough, graduating Framingham State College

On May 16th, Ashley will walk across the stage at Framingham State College to accept her college diploma — a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Earth Sciences, with a minor in Secondary Education. Ashley earned a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.94 while also raising her pre-school age son. She recently passed the Massachusetts Test for Education Licensure (MTEL) and is now certified to become a middle school teacher in Massachusetts.

• The Career Success Award, sponsored by Delta Dental of Massachusetts: Stephanie Christian, of Lynn, a Registered Nurse at Spaulding Hospital Cambridge

Stephanie, a single mother of an 8-year-old daughter with autism, received an eviction notice in the mail the very same day she received her acceptance letter to the One Family Scholars program.  As a One Family Scholar, Stephanie stabilized her housing situation and enrolled full-time at Salem State College. In 2009, Stephanie graduated from Salem State's prestigious nursing program.  Her job search focused on telemetry units, hospital units that provide critical care and heart monitoring to cardiac patients.  Today, Stephanie is a staff nurse at Spaulding Hospital Cambridge in the telemetry unit and also serves as a private nurse for a 3 year-old child with severe medical issues. "One Family gave me unparalleled support—emotional support, financial support, support with parenting and with school," says Stephanie.   Thanks to One Family's focus on career success, Stephanie is now earning a family-sufficiency wage and is proud that she does not have to worry about paying her rent each month.  She and her daughter have a new apartment, "a place of our own at last." 

• The Financial Success Award, sponsored by Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP: Jaime Moriconi of Tewksbury attending UMass Lowell

Once homeless and living in a family shelter, Jaime was accepted into the One Family Scholars program in 2009. With the help of One Family's financial success education, Jaime's credit score increased over 60 points in just six months.  By pursuing a work-study internship in her field of study, Jaime is now building emergency savings for her family. Jaime has enrolled in the FSS Program through Boston Housing Authority and will begin to build her escrow account as soon as her income increases.

Jaime is pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice at University of Massachusetts Lowell after graduating with honors from Middlesex Community College. Her career goal is to become an attorney and, eventually, a judge. She currently interns at the Lowell Superior Court.  She is a single mother with two children, ages 13 and 4.

• The Leadership Success Award, sponsored by The Jenzabar Foundation: Awilda Pimental of Lawrence attending UMass Lowell

In addition to juggling school, raising her young son as a single parent, and working as an intern in the Governor's office, Awilda creates and implements community service projects to benefit those in need. In response to the earthquake in Haiti, Awilda organized a fundraiser called Lawrence for Haiti, which raised more than $6,000 in two hours for the Clinton-Bush Haiti earthquake relief fund.

Awilda Pimental is pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice at University of Massachusetts Lowell after graduating Magna Cum Laude with an Associate's degree from Northern Essex Community College. Awilda has long dreamed of becoming an FBI agent, and she earned a perfect score on the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Exam.

About One Family, Inc.

One Family, a non-profit organization founded by Paul and Phyllis Fireman and family, is committed to ending family homelessness in Massachusetts.  Working with leaders from government, faith communities, business, and academia, One Family is helping to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness and to provide stability for future generations.  

Recognizing education is the pathway out of poverty, One Family offers the One Family Scholars Program. There are 75 One Family Scholars, all low-income single parents, across Massachusetts in the 2009-2010 school year.  The One Family Scholars program offers one-of-a-kind scholarships; in addition to college tuition, scholarships include flexible funds for expenses such as transportation, rent, and childcare to allow the scholars to focus on earning a college degree. Scholars also benefit from leadership training, financial literacy and professional development to help them build a path to economic independence.  At this year's Mothers of Inspiration event, One Family will celebrate the college graduation of 17 of its One Family Scholars.  

About The Jenzabar Foundation

The Jenzabar Foundation has been an ardent supporter of One Family, its One Family Scholars and the Mothers of Inspiration celebration. The mission of The Jenzabar Foundation is to recognize and support the good works and humanitarian efforts of student leaders serving others across the global community. The Foundation seeks to foster a culture of service and to educate and inspire future generations to create a better world. www.thejenzabarfoundation.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: http://onefamilyinc.org/events/moi2010/

SOURCE One Family, Inc.