October News from Family Pathfinders

October 2015 Newsletter

Thank you to everyone who helped make Family Pathfinders' fourth annual Sharing the Journey Luncheon an amazing success! Thanks to all our donors, board members, volunteers, staff, and community partners who support Family Pathfinders as we empower our clients to bridge the gap between poverty and self-sufficiency.

This year at the 2015 Western Interstate Child Support Enforcement Council conference, Family Pathfinders was named their Charity of Choice. We were honored to be a part of such an amazing group that is working on an issue that impacts the families we serve.

We also appreciate all those who participated in North Texas Giving Day, another wonderful success.

We are excited to share the success of one of our Mentoring clients, Mr. Jose Garcia. Mr. Garcia is on the path to self-sufficiency, having recently completed the Masonry Council Brick and Block Masonry Certificate Program, despite the barriers he faced.

Please remember to check out our upcoming events and share some valuable resources with your mentees and coaching clients.

Fourth Annual Sharing the Journey Luncheon

Board of Directors, Advisory Council, Executive Director Kathryn Arnold, Financial Capability Manager Laura Stackhouse, Dr. Eldar Shafir, Toby Jones, Keba Batie & fellow Chase employees , Supporters Frasher Pergande, Amy Ryan, and Anne Carvalho

While enjoying a wonderful lunch at Shady Oaks Country Club, guests at the fourth annual Sharing the Journey Luncheon were moved to hear Beyond the Barriers, an update from Toby Jones who was the keynote speaker at the first annual Sharing the Journey Luncheon, and is now a Family Pathfinders employee. Guest were also fascinated to hear from this years keynote speaker, Dr. Eldar Shafir, who is the co-author of Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much. In the book, he brings into focus the strategies scarcity imposes on choices and how it affects the daily lives of many. Whether it's time, calories, money or friends, Dr. Shafir shows that a dearth of resources can shape decision-making processes and ways of life, and he demonstrates a new way of understanding why the poor stay poor and the busy stay busy. Thank you to everyone that helped make this years luncheon a wonderful success!

2015 WICSEC Charity of Choice

The Western Interstate Child Support Enforcement Council(WICSEC) is a non-profit organization of public and private child support enforcement agencies and professionals from states, tribes and territories west of the Mississippi River. Its purpose is to foster interstate and inter-jurisdictional cooperation in the establishment and enforcement of child and medical support and the establishment of paternity.

Thanks for all the generous donations received at this year's WICSEC conference that designated Family Pathfinders as the charity of choice. They raised $16,380 to help us to further our mission!

North Texas Giving Day

We are over the moon to announce that 2,022 North Texas nonprofit organizations received donations from North Texas Giving Day 2015.

More than 71,000 people made a total of 118,700 donations, giving $33.1 million to support the work of agencies like Family Pathfinders!! From 6am to midnight, donors from around the world representing all 50 states and 28 countries gave to North Texas nonprofits. On average, that was nearly 110 gifts or $30,000 per minute! What staggering statistics!

Thank you to everyone who donated on Giving Day!

Client Spotlight

Thanks to the partnership with

Cornerstone Assistance N

etwork, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, and The University of Texas at Arlington, Mr. Jose Garcia has taken a huge leap toward self-sufficiency. As a participant in our Mentoring Program, Mr. Garcia has obtained his state ID, has been connected with the proper channels for regaining custody of his child, and is currently working on his is GED. Mr. Garcia graduated the Level 1 Masonry Certification program and did an excellent job considering the challenges that he faced. Even with many challenges such as transportation barriers, meeting his curfew, and a number of court ordered activities,

he made it. We are all so proud of him!

Upcoming Events

October Mentor Training

Saturday, October 10

Saturday, November 14

9:00am - 3:00pm

2601 Clover Lane

Fort Worth

Please forward this newsletter to family and friends who are interested in becoming mentors. We have many wonderful opportunities in Family, Youth and Reentry mentoring for those looking for a meaningful volunteer experience.

Tarrant County Needs you!

National Financial Goal Day

Thursday, October 15

On 10/15/15, join hundreds of your peers in-person or online for the first annual National Financial Goal Day, a nationwide celebration to launch financial goals! Funders, front-line staff, supervisors and advocates from a diverse range of nonprofits and government agencies will come together to leverage the power of financial goals to help millions build financial security. The celebration coincides with the public launch of Change Machine, and will feature numerous opportunities to participate in-person or virtually from the comfort of your own desk. We invite you to join us for the festivities!

https://change-machine.org

October Mentor Mixer

Tuesday, October 20

12:00pm - 1:00pm

2601 Clover Lane

Fort Worth

You are INVITED to Lunch at Family Pathfinders!

Thank you for being a mentor! Please join us to discuss mentoring issues and celebrate successes. Together, we can answer questions and share how mentors have handled challenging situations. We encourage you to attend even if you have not been matched yet, as it will give you an opportunity to ask questions, and hear how things are going with others.

RSVP to Nicole Vasquez

(817)731-1173

Resources

Yoga Classes

Sponsored by Family Pathfinder's for female clients.

Located Grace UMC Fellowship Hall

2601 Clover Lane Fort Worth

2nd and 4th Tuesday at 5:30PM

Tuesday October 13 and Tuesday October 27

*Yoga mats provided

Join other women, men, and families that increased their financial well- being through stable jobs in high demand occupations.

You select the service track that best fits to help you reach your employment goals with access to financial coaching, soft skills training, job retention and career advancement services.

817-927-4050

womenscentertc.org

List Family Pathfinders as your charity and raise money every time you search the Internet! It doesn't cost anything!