Page 6 - 2020 Annual Report

Family Success Story

Ninety percent of parents at Jack & Jill Center are single with two or more children and earn less than
$26,000 a year. The stress and frustration of finding high-quality, affordable child care locks many South
Florida families into cyclical poverty for generation after generation. Lack of stable child care can often force
parents to drop out of school and job training and leads to experiencing high job absenteeism and turnover.
As a result, parents are prevented from earning steady incomes, achieving job advancement, and providing a
stable life for themselves and their children.

The families who choose Jack & Jill Center are motivated to work, financially stabilize their lives, move toward
independence, and break their cycle of poverty. We hold our families accountable by requiring them to work
a minimum of 30 hours a week and/ or attend school, pay a portion of their child’s tuition—even if they are
paying a reduced rate or are on a scholarship, and attend intensive parent education courses, family coaching
and assessments, and volunteer hours.

One of our fathers, George, took our “First Time Home Buyer” parent education course in 2016. In this
educational series, parents learn how to become homeowners, including how to budget and boost their credit
scores, avoid predatory lending schemes, and search for and maintain a home. Since graduating from the
course, George implemented what he learned to pay off his debt, work on his credit, and start saving towards
a down payment on a home. The Family Team provided case management, support, and encouragement
throughout his entire journey.

In October of 2020, George’s dreams became a reality! George purchased a brand-new home for his family
after a year-long pre-construction process. It was truly an amazing achievement and he attributed his
tremendous success to the support he received at Jack & Jill Center. In congratulations, Jack & Jill Center
Team Members pooled their money to purchase a gift for George and his family—a beautiful, personalized
family name sign for the entrance of his home. George and his family were immensely grateful for this gift.

Additionally, the Family Team connecte d George with Beyond the Basics Foundation. Through this
foundation, he was able to virtually meet The Miami Dolphins', Ky le Van Noy and New England Patriots',
Brandon Copeland who delivered the news that his family would be treated to an Amazon shopping spree as
part of “A December to Remember” where 20 NFL Players teamed up to help 200 families across 18 states
by giving them $800 in Amazon gift cards, totaling $160,000 in support. George was able to purchase
holiday gifts and essential household items for his new house, making it truly a home for the holidays.

George’s tremendous success story is anecdotal evidence that our programs yield our mission: To break the
cycle of poverty for children of high-need working families through quality early childhood and elementary
education and family strengthening programs.