Victor Dupuis, managing partner for UFinancial Group, first got involved with Family Promise of Southern Chester County (SCC) five years ago, when he signed up as a corporate sponsor of their flagship fundraiser, the Evening of Promise dinner.
Since then, he and his team founded the Day of Promise charity golf tournament and raised more than $20,000 for the nonprofit focused on delivering innovative solutions for family homelessness, including prevention, shelter, and stabilization services.
His continued service to Family Promise of SCC earned the organization a $10,000 grant from the MassMutual Foundation as part of the 2021 Community Service Awards (CSA) program.
A national problem
Homelessness is a crisis in communities across the United States that has been further exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. On any single night, an estimated 55,000 family households identify as homeless, with many living on the street, in cars, or other places not intended for human habitation.
Established in 2015 as part of the national nonprofit organization, the southern Chester chapter is one of over 200 nationwide affiliate organizations working to alleviate homelessness at the local level.
To alleviate homelessness in their region, Family Promise of SCC addresses each of the numerous root causes of homelessness and poverty. In addition to offering shelter and meals, the program partners with a network of congregations and volunteers to provide access to community resources and intensive case management, helping guests find employment, housing, and other vital social services. Their mission is to keep families experiencing homelessness together, helping children and their families achieve lasting self-sufficiency and stability.
“Family Promise of SCC is the only organization in the area that keeps families together,” said Dupuis. “We believe families should stay together — not be separated — during a difficult time in their life. Often in a shelter scenario, fathers are separated from daughters while mothers are separated from sons. Families achieve stability and success together.”
Growing their impact
Since first getting involved five years ago, Dupuis and his team have raised over $20,000 for Family Promise of SCC from their Day of Promise golf tournament. The money raised goes towards the programs and case management provided to Family Promise families.
In addition to hosting the golf tournament, they’ve recruited a network of volunteers to staff fundraisers and other organizational needs, from setting up beds and preparing and serving meals, to enriching the lives of the children within the families they serve.
“Vic Dupuis has been a great ambassador for our organization and mission,” said Renna Van Oot, executive director, Family Promise of SCC. “He and his team have helped to ensure that we can do what we need to do to help families. They help by providing extra funds and extra hours so we can serve more families and provide more case management to those in need.”
Grant to fund increased access to services
The $10,000 grant from the MassMutual Foundation will help fund the development of a static shelter site to provide emergency housing for families in desperate need. Along with the static site, the grant will also help provide more families with case management resources and support to find housing, employment, and a variety of other needs with an aim to end the cycle of homelessness.
Each year, the MassMutual Foundation awards grants — ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 — to help nonprofit organizations with which MassMutual financial professionals are involved. You can read more about the program here.
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