When Rana, a Family Support Specialist in our First 5 First Steps Program, first met Angel, she had just arrived in California from another state. Angel was pregnant, caring for two toddlers, supporting a husband with disabilities, and starting over in a place where she knew no one. No family. No friends. No support system.
But she did have a dream.
She wanted to finish her degree in biochemistry, break her family free from poverty, and create a more stable future for her children. What she lacked in resources, she made up for in determination — and because of donors like you, she didn’t have to take on this journey alone.
Rana began working alongside Angel step by step to create a plan. Together, they mapped out goals, built a routine that fit the demands of caring for three children under the age of three, and connected her with the resources she needed to keep her family afloat. She transferred the college credits she’d already earned, enrolled in the local community college, and kept moving forward, even when money was tight and life felt overwhelming.
A year and a half later, her hard work paid off: she was accepted into San Diego State University. And she didn’t stop there.
Last May, Angel proudly graduated — both from SDSU and from Home Start’s three year in-home support system First 5 First Steps program. Shortly after, she sent Rana a message she had been waiting years to share: she had been hired as a specialist at a local hospital. A stable job. A career path. A future she once feared might never be possible.
But Angel’s success wasn’t just academic or professional. In the midst of all the change, she also found something she desperately needed: community. When Rana invited her to one of our monthly stroller walks, she met another mom who quickly became a close friend — a friendship that still continues today. In a new state where she once felt so alone, she built a support system that will carry her forward for years to come.
This is the power of your giving.
You help parents rewrite their stories and escape poverty.
You provide steady guidance when life feels unmanageable.
You make room for hope — and for community — where there was once only fear and uncertainty.
Because of you, this brave mother didn’t just earn a degree. She built a new life for her and her family.
More families like Angel's need help this upcoming New Year to have hope for brighter futures. Please make a gift today to help them and ensure we reach the full $50,000 Matching Gift Challenge.
