Small grants make a
big difference in families’ lives
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Tedra Root was worried. What if she lost her job?
“I was making a lot of mistakes at work,” says Tedra, “because I needed glasses.”
Someone had stolen her only pair when she and her two sons were living in a shelter.
As an accounting assistant, she says, “I deal with numbers. I proofread a lot of things,” invoices, spreadsheets. Her errors could be costly.
She needed new glasses – fast! – but none of the places she called would help her because she was no longer homeless or because she was employed. Her job was just part-time, though, and her income barely covered her bills.
She mentioned her need to her family advocate at Operation Breakthrough. Within days, Tedra had new glasses.
Tedra is exactly the sort of person The Mutual Fund Store Founder Adam Bold hoped to help when The Mutual Fund Store Foundation set aside $20,000 last year for the needs of families at Operation Breakthrough.
“I personally derive satisfaction from knowing that I am helping a specific individual who would otherwise not have a chance to be helped,” says Adam, of Leawood. “Now (Tedra) has a chance. That’s a very satisfying thing for me.”
Dozens of Center moms have received life-changing help from The Mutual Fund Store Foundation recently. They have been spared from eviction and homelessness by grants for rent. Some who have lost Medicaid have been able to get long-needed medical or dental care. Some have used grants to escape from batterers or neighborhood violence.
“I don’t find these resources available anywhere else,” says Family Advocate Susie Roling. “This fund saves us a ton of time. You can get right to work addressing the problem.”
When Adam and his wife, Sharon, started The Mutual Fund Store Foundation, requests came from all over the country. They needed a way to be sure that their funds were reaching the people who needed them most.
“We partner with Operation Breakthrough because you have people in your social work department who are already face to face with the people I want to help,” Adam says. In December, his Foundation set aside another $20,000 for Center families.
“A small amount of money can make a huge difference,” Adam says.
Solving Tedra’s problem cost $409.
“I have only made one mistake since getting my glasses,” she says. Best of all, her employer has promoted her to a full-time job. |
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