Impact Statement (2016)
~ Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries ~
Issue or Problem Statement
In 2004, my husband and I moved to a new community in Southwest Michigan and eventually joined a local church, resuming our youth outreach. When we saw the report cards of those youth, we were surprised — no, shocked — to see so many Ds and Fs. We later learned that some of these youth were academically eligible to participate in sports with as many as 3Fs and 4Ds! As college-educated professionals who had worked with youth in our previous community, we were deeply concerned that such low expectations would not position these young people to be competitive and flourish in the 21st Century. (That particular school, Ross Beatty Junior/Senior High School, has 57.2 percent of its students receiving free/reduced lunches, compared to a state average of 43.8 percent.*)
Action Statement
My husband and I learned that a tutorial program might help and started one, volunteering two days at Ross Beatty Junior/High School in Cassopolis, Mich. (population of 441). To maintain our students’ academic progress, we started an eight-week summer enrichment program. Around this time, supporters urged us to incorporate so they could donate to our work, as all programs were self-funded by us. We did, incorporating as Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries (October 2012). The Internal Revenue Service determined we qualified as a non-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status in 2014 (retroactive to 2012). We later responded to a service agency’s need for transitional housing and birthed our own transitional home. Additionally, OFFKM offers:
Bridges Out of Poverty ~ program that educates about financial literacy
Job Corps ~ coordinated with regional recruiter to present information regarding government-funded, free education/vocational training for people aged 16 to 24
Camping and Retreat Facilities ~ free use of wooded campground and waterfront property
Lakeside Fellowship
Impact ~ The Benefits
Since then, we have held 93 after-school sessions; served 191 youth and provided 692 meals in our tutorial program; and supported 30 K-10th graders in our Summer 2012 Enrichment Program. A local social service agency, knowing that we had purchased a 2-bedroom home next door, asked us if we could temporarily house a mother and four children; we agreed, and thus, giving birth to our Transitional Housing Program. We have also benefitted our local community by:
Providing free housing to 9 adults and 8 children (since April 2013);
Supporting one resident at OFFKM transitional house in becoming fully self-sufficient;
Assisting another woman in obtaining her CNA license (she plans to earn a RN degree);
Providing secure, long-time residence for a Job Corps student who has no family support;
Serving as a day and/or weekend retreat for Michigan and Illinois church groups, youth, singles and marriage ministries, and for youth and staff at a youth treatment facility.
Community Partnerships We have enjoyed phenomenal support in our efforts from Calvin Community Chapel and the Village of Vandalia and previously, from Cassopolis Public Schools (support that we are seeking to restore), all in Michigan.
Respectfully submitted . . .
Curtis and Bianca May, Executive Director, 269.476.1257
* Source: http://high-schools.com/directory/mi/cities/cassopolis/ross-beatty-high-school/260843004397/)