RECENT STORIES

Glendale Comm. College archives displayed at USC ( Wendy Grove )
Local Curves offer free breast self-exam kits ( Diane Rumbaugh )
Caduceus Club makes Disney encounter ( Celine Petrossian )
Construction to start on new senior center ( valleynews .com )
Armenian Genocide descendants sue British company ( Diane Rumbaugh )

share a story | more postings »

YourHub.com \\ Glendale \\ Stories \\ Family & Friends \\ General Family & Friends

"New Beginnings" has happy ending

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

NEXT › ‹ PREVIOUS

Contributed by: Jenine Baines on 4/27/2007

Friends of Elizabeth House -- a shelter for homeless, pregnant women and their young children that soon becomes "family" - raise approximately $80,000 for homeless pregnant women and their children

Thanks to some spirited bidding and the heartfelt support of the 175 guests who attended Elizabeth House's recent "New Beginnings" dinner and auction at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, approximately $80,000 was raised for the homeless pregnant women with small children who turn to the shelter - the only program of its kind throughout the San Gabriel Valley - for help.

"It was a wonderful, magical evening," says Terry Bright, Executive Director of Elizabeth House. "Guest speaker Frank Pastore of KKLA radio moved many of us to tears as he shared his odyssey from being a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins to becoming a radio commentator and host. He also inspired each of us to embark upon 'new beginnings' in our own lives."

But without doubt the focus of the evening was on raising funding to help the women Elizabeth House serves make a successful "new beginning" once they leave the shelter.

"Our program is designed to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of women in a crisis pregnancy practically and holistically," explains Bright. "Our goal is to prepare each resident to meet the future challenges of supporting a family."

In addition to meeting their basic needs for shelter and clothing, women at Elizabeth House attend classes covering topics from job skills and budgeting to parenting and health education. The shelter also provides not only current but "alumni" residents with therapeutic and case management support.

"We keep in touch," says Bright. "I talked the other day to a former resident whose child is now 10."

Nor does Bright turn a deaf ear to those Elizabeth House is unable to help, due to lack of space. (Recently a new room was added to the house while future plans include adding another bathroom and renovating the kitchen.) The executive director keeps a long list of referral services and agencies on hand specifically to aid such women.

The success of "New Beginnings" was particularly welcome because the shelter receives no state or federal support.

"We're entirely dependent on the generosity of our friends," says Pamela Sheldon, a member of the Development team at Elizabeth House and a longtime supporter. "We couldn't do what we do without them. We're so fortunate that they share our commitment to helping each of our residents - and their children - build a new life of hope, promise and ongoing success."

Statistics support Sheldon's optimism. Since its establishment in 1994, the program has come to the aid of over 169 women and 286 children and babies. Currently, surveys of over 75 percent of past residents reveal that roughly 11 percent are completely dependent on welfare; 31 percent receive absolutely no aid. Perhaps most excitingly, many residents choose to continue their education, graduating from high school and, in a heartening number of cases, even college.

"This proves that happy endings aren't something that happen only in fairy tales," says Terry Bright. "They happen at Elizabeth House, too...on a daily basis."

Those wishing to help homeless women and their children take that critical first step, toward a New Beginning, can call (626) 577-4434 or visit the program's Web site, www.elizabethhouse.net.

The mission of Elizabeth House is to provide shelter and family-focused support to homeless pregnant women and their children through a comprehensive program that addresses the physical, emotional, spiritual, and economic needs of women and children in a nurturing atmosphere. At this time, Elizabeth House is home to six women and their children. Residents remain at Elizabeth House throughout their pregnancy and for two to four months after the birth of their child. Staff then helps each family transition to stable housing through the Section 8 program, transitional housing programs or through family reunification.

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story