“THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS GAVE MY KIDS A FREE PLACE TO GO SO THAT I COULD COMPLETE MY NURSING DEGREE.”

Putting College on Pause

With five kids, my family is my focus and always my first priority. I wanted and needed to provide a better life for them, so I started a nursing program. Unfortunately, three weeks before I was supposed to graduate, I had top drop out due to financial difficulties.

Despite the ups and downs with my own education, I was always focused on my kids’ education. My oldest son, who is developmentally delayed due to a stroke he had when he was born, was struggling in first grade. I was talking to my social worker about him and she suggested the Lift Up Through Literacy program at theBoys & Girls Clubs (in partnership with Kalamazoo Public Schools). She told me that they work on different literacy strategies for the entire family. That was all I needed to hear.

Mom on a Mission

Since going through the Lift Up Through Literacy program, my son has really taken joy in reading, and my other kids love it, too. After seeing such a positive impact on my kids, I learned about other programs the Boys & Girls Clubs offer and signed them up for as many as I could, including art, singing, street smarts, summer camp, after school programs and more.

With my kids participating in the Boys & Girls Clubs, I not only had the time to finish school, but I could afford to, since it was saving me thousands of dollars in day care costs a month. I graduated in 2012 and in May 2013, I passed my nursing exam on the first try.

My kids have achieved educational success. I’ve achieved educational success. And as a family we’ve achieved more than we ever thought possible, all thanks to theBoys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo.

My name is Shonna, and now I help change the story.

With the generous help of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo, Shonna was able to change the story.

Health

We are making sure people have access to physical and mental health care, and that babies are born healthy. We work with health care providers to keep costs low and make sure services are available for those with little or no health insurance.

Income

We’re helping families become – and stay – self-sufficient by investing in programs that help them stay in their homes, through rental assistance, budgeting and financial counseling. We also help people become financially stable by supporting job training and retention programs, and through the Tax Counseling Initiative and the Emergency Food and Shelter program.