Fall 2016
BRIGHT FUTURES
Sunflowers, Certificates and Smiles
Honor Proud Graduates
At our recent Thriving Families Program Graduation
Ceremony, there was not a dry eye in the room as
graduates walked proudly forward to receive their
certificate. Each graduate was praised
by their case manager for all
of their accomplishments and
was given a sunflower to signify
that sunnier days would be in
their future. Our hard working,
courageous and determined
Thriving Families Program clients
often worked two or more jobs,
took classes, raised children, and
studied at night when everyone
else was asleep – determined
to break the cycle of poverty
or domestic violence that was
threatening their family’s lives.
Our Thriving Families Program has been helping clients like
Monica for over 16 years providing guidance, support, and
resources to help low-income families improve their lives
and become financially independent.
Our Case Managers Ana Rivera, Isaura Resendiz and Aurora Tovar
are highly successful at guiding our clients toward better income
opportunities, higher education, safe housing and improving
their financial planning skills.
Monica describes her experience
with Isaura:
“Isaura guided me through the
whole process. I was really scared.
She helped us find housing.
I could really open up with her.
With so much going on, it was
very difficult to be focused.
It helps to have someone who
really cares about you to help
organize your ideas, get things
down on paper, make a plan, and
then you can start doing it!”
Many of our young mothers
successfully escaped abusive
relationships, worked hard to
acquire new job skills, and forged
ahead to successfully get a job.
Others bravely started their own
businesses to improve their
income.
Monica, a single mother of two
special needs children in the
program, had no family in the area
to turn to for support, and was facing
homelessness when she came to
Novato Human Needs Center for
help. Monica shares her story:
In the Program, participants work
with case managers for up to two
years. In July, we held our first
formal Graduation Ceremony to
celebrate the accomplishments of
22 of our successful clients.
Monica (left) is congratulated at the NHNC Thriving Families Graduation
Ceremony by Senior Case Manager Isaura Resendiz.
Executive Director Deanna
Euritt handed each graduate a
certificate and congratulated them
for completing this intensive
program. After the ceremony,
Monica smiled and shared these
thoughts about her progress:
“I have a more stable life
now. My kids are better.
I’ve got my GED and
aesthetician’s license.
My hope is that someday
my children can grow
up to be strong and
independent, too.
“Imagine you have a
home where you expect
to raise your kids, and
one day it all changes.
You have to leave it all –
and just walk away with
your children. I started
from zero. I had to learn
everything to become
independent.
It’s really amazing. I’m going to
be grateful my entire life to NHNC
and Isaura for everything they’ve
done to help me and my family.”
I didn’t have any money for food
or Christmas gifts for my two
boys. It was the hardest time of
my life.
Novato Human Needs Center
has served more than 3,800
low-income children, adults and
seniors each year. We provide
the information, resources and
guidance they need to confidently
move forward on their path to a
brighter future.
That’s how it all started. I found
out about Novato Human Needs
Center’s Holiday Share Program
and began meeting with Isaura,
my Thriving Families case
manager.”
“Many times I didn’t really have food. My children and I depended on your food
pantry,” says Monica, a Thriving Families Program participant.
New sign, same services
Our Center is over four decades old, but our sign is BRAND NEW!
Look for our new logo, inspired by our goal of
MOVING PEOPLE FORWARD on their path to a better life.
Our Center offers immediate support for those in crisis,
AND long-term support to help those in need achieve more
success at home, at school, at work and in our community.
Thanks to YOU our Center provides:
Emergency Food
Pantry
Senior Services
Job Search Support
Emergency Rental
Assistance
Budget Planning
Education & Training
One-to-One Support
Immigrant Family
Support
Parenting Skills &
Training
Income & Housing
Improvements
On-site Community
Partners
Holiday Share
Visit our newly updated website www.nhnc.org to learn more
about the different ways you can get involved, stay connected and
celebrate our achievements.
Join Us Friday, November 4th!
Address Services Requested
NON PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
UNICORN
GROUP
HOLIDAY SHARE provides gift cards for more than 300 of Novato’s
children living in poverty. You are invited to participate in four
decades of this wonderful tradition of giving by attending our
annual kick off fundraiser, a Fun Family Night Out, Friday evening,
November 4th at Unity In Marin. For more information and to buy
tickets, please visit www.nhnc.org/events
1907 Novato Boulevard
Novato, CA 94947
Party with a Purpose
Brings Community Together
Novato Residents Receive Tax Refunds
Totaling $306,521!
Did you know we welcome many community groups like AARP’s
FREE Volunteer Tax Assistance Program to benefit our clients?
Kudos to volunteer Doris Hoffman and her outstanding group of
AARP volunteers who assisted hundreds of low-income families
and seniors to prepare and electronically file their income taxes.
With an average refund of $1,293 per filing, volunteers saved
589 people a total of $306,521 this year!