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Dear friend,
When you encounter Saranam's mission, you feel immediately that there is a heartbeat that drives our work. It's a pulse that is deeply rooted in building connections between families, with staff and volunteers, and within the community.
Nobody symbolizes this commitment to forming relationships more than our Director of Development Sue Rzendzian. This month we say a fond farewell to Sue as she retires after six years at Saranam.
We have had the honor of being Sue's last stop in a noteworthy career dedicated to inspiring those around her to address disparities in our world. From her initial introduction to Saranam with the Community Builders Program at Albuquerque Academy to her time as a Board member, and finally a staff member, s
he has developed innovative and ambitious plans for Saranam to increase it's presence and capacity in our community.
T
hanks to her meticulous fundraising work,
Saranam has been able to expand to meet the ever-growing demand for our program. Since 2012, we have:
Relationships are the keystone to this success. Sue's energy and warmth have helped to create a sense of community at Saranam and she used this same spirit to draw the borders of our community closer together through the sharing of our families' stories and engaging volunteers in our mission.
Sue is one of the rare people who can inspire others to take on new challenges, and use their creative energy to push boundaries of fundraising past its traditional doors. One of these groundbreaking projects was Saranam's 500 for $500 campaign, where Sue, inspired by Jennifer Riordan, led a team of volunteers to transform a small $500 grant from Life is Good into a campaign that raised over $250,000- enough to support an entire cohort through Saranam for a year.
One of the many highlights of participating in the $500 for 500 campaign was working side by side with young people who Sue had mentored at Albuquerque Community Builders, a program Sue created at the Albuquerque Academy. Each of these young people spoke to me about how the Community Builders program experience set them on a path of giving back to our community. I was fortunate to see them in action during the campaign."- Sonya Priestly
The ripples of Sue's work will be felt for many years. Her work at Saranam has allowed us to grow our mission and materialize our plans for expansion. Most importantly, her passion will continue to ignite our work to make the world a more equitable and safe place for all families.
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It's the Season of Giving!
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Thank you to all who donated to Saranam in 2019! Your support has enabled us to do BIG things to end homelessness for families in New Mexico.
In addition to our current families achieving remarkable goals in the program, our alumni families have also celebrated major milestones on their journey home including:
- Passing national nursing boards
- Earning a dental hygiene certificate
- Being chosen to join a national academic honor society
- Invited to represent a caucus at the White House
There is still time to make your year-end gift!
If you make your donation by the end of the year
your donation will be matched, up to $50,000! That means
your gift will have DOUBLE the impact on family homelessness in New Mexico.
Need some more information?
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We're Jingling With Excitement!
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We are honored to
welcome Ian Vetter as Saranam's Director of Education!
Ian's will
lead Saranam's instructional team and continue evolving our curriculum to prepare families to thrive in an ever-innovating workforce.
"I consider myself extremely lucky to be a part of Saranam's mission and its long-term strategy to address poverty and family well-being."
Ian's 15 years of experience as an educator is tailor-made to benefit Saranam's families, with ample training in
one-on-one tutoring, supplemental instruction, and curriculum development for a variety of age groups.
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Their generous $45,000 contribution will be distributed over
the next THREE YEARS, giving crucial support to help many more families at Saranam build a solid foundation and a thriving community.
GARR understands better than anyone how much
home represents joy, hope, comfort and security. We appreciate their commitment to
bring home one step closer for our families.
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There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays
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Once again, we are FLOORED by the outpouring of support for our families this holiday season. So many groups in the community have helped
make the season merry and bright for our families.
This time of year can be difficult for families struggling to make ends meet, and a warm, safe home is often the only gift in mind. The donated presents
give families a
special warmth
knowing they are cared for and the chance to see the
sparkle of joy
in their children's faces this holiday season.
Our deepest appreciation to the following organizations for generously donating toys, gift cards, and more to our families.
- Albuquerque Woodworkers Association
- Commissioner Charlene Pyskoty
- Central United Methodist Church
- Covenant Church
- Double Eagle Elementary
- G-Force Gymnastics
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- Lambda Chi
- Manzano Day School
- Pursonalities Plus
- West Side Day Spa
- WIN
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Community Corner
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HELP Portraits
Did you know that every year volunteer photographers donate their time and talents to provide free portraits for low-income families in Albuquerque?
Many of our families have taken part in HELP Portraits' annual event. The photos
capture the dignity and hope they feel during this special time in their journey home.
"To date this is the only photo I have of myself with my parents and kids. My son still talks about going and loves the picture."
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Deck the Halls!
Is there anything better to get you in the holiday spirit than throwing on some tunes and decking the halls?
Our families come to us with precious few possessions, but thanks to donations from our volunteer for our Holiday Decor Drive, families are able to make their homes feel festive.
The apartments glow, but the twinkling lights are nothing compared to the faces of the kids as they put up their favorite decorations.
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Gifts from the Heart
It is so easy to overspend trying to make the holiday special for our loved ones.
Families put their budgeting knowledge to use this month, learning to make
homemade, heart-filled gifts that don't break the bank.
Need some ideas?
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Get Involved!
We have many volunteer opportunities with the program, fundraising, and apartments. Check out our website to see our current opportunities.
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