Pam and her 9-year-old son were desperate and sought help from Brunswick Family Assistance in 2007. Pam was scared. She was fleeing a dangerous domestic violence situation, and had to stay with friends because she couldn't afford housing. Pam was working part-time as a caregiver earning about $180 a week, but times were tough and her pay didn't go far enough. Pam's car was always breaking down, continually causing her to miss work. Both she and her son were under mental health treatment, on medications, and having difficulties functioning. But help was only a phone call away. Through Brunswick Family Assistance, Pam and her son received a rental subsidy, case management and some car repair assistance to help them get through the hard times.

After seven months in the program, Pam and her son are living in a new low-income, tax-credit housing unit at a rent they can afford without subsidy. Pam is working full-time and also manages to volunteer at Brunswick Family Assistance-the agency that helped Pam and her family make ends meet. Her son is doing well in school and has been weaned from medication. In December of 2007, Pam completed the eight-week Money Start financial literacy program offered by Brunswick Family Assistance and First Bank, and at graduation was awarded a new car loan from First Bank to replace her unreliable transportation. Pam was finally back on her feet, thanks to Brunswick Family Assistance.

Paul, a recent graduate of the DREAMS Center for Arts Education, truly had the odds stacked against him. Paul was the child of a single parent, he had been diagnosed with ADHD at a young age, and he faced poverty and all of its associated risk factors: an unsafe neighborhood, poor nutrition, a greater chance of failure in school, an increased risk of becoming a crime victim or of committing a crime, and much more.

Despite these difficult circumstances, Paul was lucky. He had a mother who was committed to his success, and he had DREAMS. Paul became involved with DREAMS at an early age, taking every music and drama class he could. His phenomenal talents as a performer thrived at DREAMS, eventually earning him paid gigs as a rapper, lead roles in community performances, and several CDs that he self-produced—all by his sophomore year in high school. And the best part was the scholarship he earned to the North Carolina School of the Arts.

His mother credits DREAMS for much of his success, saying that the program connected Paul with artistic mentors and helped him cultivate the self-discipline that is crucial to succeeding as a student and an artist. Paul agrees, saying, “DREAMS is a place that helps people, not for financial gain, but for the common good. When I reach success, I want to give back.”

Samantha was a low-performing student with very limited English proficiency. She was struggling day in and day out. To help with her confidence level and strengthen her education, Samantha enrolled in the Communities in Schools (CIS) After-School Program, where she participated in all the activities and tutoring opportunities that were provided. Samantha soon became one of the most enthusiastic participants they had seen. She was more confident and proud of her accomplishments. Her positive attitude toward learning was displayed one day when she was feeling bad yet refused to go home, saying "No, I have to get my education."

Samantha's hard work paid off with her End-of-Grade test scores in reading. She moved up from a very low Level III proficiency. Although she did not reach grade level in math, her 47% gain from the beginning of the year was enough to motivate her to continue her efforts. And Samantha's teachers were motivated too and agreed that her positive attitude and hard work in overcoming her language barrier helped her to achieve academic success. Samantha finally had the confidence she needed thanks to CIS After-School Program.

Roger was a commercial fisherman until he suffered a neck and back injury in a boating accident that left him unable to work. A lifelong smoker, Roger also suffers from severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Like many others who are poor and uninsured, Roger used the emergency room frequently because he was unable to obtain the health care that could help keep his condition under control.

But an amazing Case Manager for the Cape Fear HealthNet made it possible for Roger to treat his chronic condition at home. She encouraged his physician to write a generic prescription for his medicine. Then she found a local medical equipment supplier who agreed to provide a nebulizer, which administers the medication, at cost. Using grant money, Cape Fear HealthNet purchased the equipment at the reduced price. The Case Manager then went to Roger’s home and set up the equipment and taught him to use it with the $4 generic medication.

Roger thanked the Case Manager with tears in his eyes. A week later, she received a note from him that said, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me. No one seems to care anymore except for a few beautiful people and you’re one of them.”

But this success story is not yet finished—the Case Manger realized that Roger, who is semi-literate because he left school during the sixth grade to begin working, had never completed the application for Medicaid. She has referred him to a CFHN Navigator for help in completing that often complex process.

By the age of 12, John had already dropped out of school and joined a gang. He was well on his way to becoming another statistic—another young man losing his future to drugs and crime. Kids Making It gave him the confidence to turn away from that path. After becoming involved with KMI, John quit the gang and returned to school.

During his time at KMI, John learned valuable woodworking skills and approached every customer who came into the shop with a smile. In fact, he set a sales record at KMI with his product sales earnings—all of which he spent on tools, equipment, and wood for his own small shop and woodworking business. With a welcoming place to go after school and a means to earn money, John is no longer heading down the road to gang involvement and neighborhood crime.