SUCCESS STORIES 

The impact you make on your community by giving to the United Way is not always evident.  Our partner agencies provide services to people of all ages and cirumstances.  Below are a few stories of how your dollars are working for your community.

 A young boy in the area was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.  His father had lost his job.  Community Care - Prayer Outreach helped them with gasoline to go to and from Houston for treatments and also with food.  He is now in remission. 

An honor student, fluent in three languages, "John" was the sole survivor of a fatal vehicle accident.  His injuries left him unable to walk or talk in the early weeks of his recovery.  After many weeks of hospitalization, John was sent home and told to continue physical and speech therapy.  John's family owned a small business and had no health insurance for the family members.  As a result, John's parents struggled to find affordable treamtent services for their son.  Capland Speech Therapy Center saw John for several hours of treament daily for more than nine months and ultimately John was able to return to school the following year with minimal classroom modifications.  Capland speech therapists led John through the difficult rehabilitation process and were so proud to see him regain his speech, language and cognitive skills.  The family paid a nominal weekly fee based on their income, which would not have been possible without the support of United Way funding.

"After my husband's death six years ago, I sat in our small house and watched TV.  I didn't really care what was on, just something.  I didn't do much cooking and ate at odd times, more for something to do than hunger.  I felt like my life ended when my husband died and I was just waiting to join him.  A neighbor kept telling me about the Groves Senior Center and kept pushing me to go.  Finally she just about pulled me into her car and brought me here.  She introduced me to several women and men and they soon acted as if we had known each other for years.  I asked my neighbor to let me ride with her the next week and that started it.  I'm here every day now.  I eat good lunches, play skip-bo, sit with others watching TV and just chat with friends--lots of friends.  I now have three homes--my little house, my church and the Center."

When a single parent ended an abusive relationship, she had to move in with her mother.  With the help of United Way funds, Port Arthur YMCA was able to provide financial assistance for the mother to enroll her daughter in the Afterschool Program at a local elementary school and the Summer Day Camp as well.  With the ability to earn a living with a full time job, the mother and her daughter were able to move into a home of their own.

"When I found out my daughter had been sexually abused, it broke my heart.  I did not know where to turn.  I found out about Samaritan Counseling Center through a friend that had gone there for marriage counseling and thought I should try to see if they could help my daughter.  The counselor worked with my young daughter through what they called play therapy and within a couple of months everything seemed much better.  My daughter has stopped acting out in school and the family learned how to support her through her horrible experiences.  I would return to Samaritan Couseling Center in a minute."

"I moved to Boy's Haven at the age of 11, after the retirement of my foster parents and failed attempts with family.  Looking back on it now as a young man, this move was the best thing for me.  The Haven introduced me to a variety of things which has fostered my imagination and inspired me to do great things.  I can honestly say if it was not for Boy's Haven, I would have fallen to the way side.  The Haven gave me the nurturing needed to survive in an everchanging world.  Boy's Haven is my constant motivation to continue achieving the dreams I set forth.  I am currently a holder of a BA degree in psychology and I am in graduate school attaining my Masters in Sports Management.  I will follow up with a PhD in Sports Psychology.  I owe all of this to Boy's Haven and all of those who support its mission."