North Star of Chester County was awarded a generous grant of $10,000 from the Genuardi Family Foundation to continue its homelessness prevention and self-sufficiency program for single working parent families. The support came at a critical time, when the needs of vulnerable households are greater than ever. “Layoffs, furloughs, school closures, and more have impacted families across the country,” said Joyce Lacy, Executive Director of North Star. “Support from the Foundation ensures we can continue to serve the families in our program during this crisis.”
North Star of Chester County provides ongoing rental assistance, to keep families in their homes, along with mentoring, education, and additional support to help single parents achieve self-sufficiency. Participants may remain in the program for as long as three years. “Achieving financial independence takes time,” said Lacy. “The length of our program takes life’s uncertainty into account. Whether it is a job loss, costly car repair, or even a pandemic, our families need long-term support to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.”
The Foundation moved quickly in order to respond to the needs of local families amidst the ongoing health and economic crises. “Initially, the Foundation intended to award Core Grants in June, in accordance with our Grant Cycle timeline,” said Marisa Ferst, Executive Director of the Genuardi Family Foundation. “However, due to the impact that COVID-19 continues to have on organizations throughout our region, we felt it was imperative to award the 2020 Core Grants as quickly as possible.”
About the Genuardi Family Foundation
The Genuardi Family Foundation supports the development of healthy individuals, families, and communities by promoting self-sufficiency, hard work, and generosity with a commitment to caring for the most vulnerable in our communities. The Foundation supports nonprofit providers whose work addresses food access and security, homelessness prevention and housing, and job training and placement.
To learn more about the Genuardi Family Foundation, visit www.genuardifamilyfoundation.org.