Dear Friends,
I want to tell you about the incredible work being done at New Moms to foster a community where young moms have the opportunity to build strong foundations for the lasting success of their families.
Life doesn’t stop for a young woman when she becomes a parent. She still has dreams and hopes for her life, and the life of her child. But when a young mom is stifled by poverty, it’s difficult to achieve her dreams.
At New Moms, we believe in nurturing the strength, skills, and potential of young moms to help create the conditions needed to flourish. Kiara was 19 years old when she and her infant daughter, Karsyn, were living in a cramped, two-bedroom apartment with seven family members. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she taught herself to cook to pass the time. With the encouragement of her family, she began selling her food and posting her cooking content online, which led to massive social media success.
Despite her dedicated effort to start her own business, and her promising talent, Kiara became homeless after the death of her father. She learned about New Moms through the staff at the homeless shelter.
Kiara and Karsyn found a stable home at New Moms, along with a community of support who leaned into her strengths. Kiara’s New Moms coach encouraged her to enroll in culinary school. She began to grow her catering business, eventually taking on high-profile clients like Chicago Bears Wide Receiver, Darnell Mooney. With true grit, Kiara graduated culinary school and is now taking business classes at The Hatchery Chicago to develop her catering company.
“Everything I’m doing is for Karsyn—I have to build a better life not only for me, but for her. I’ve always had a rocky relationship with my mom so I’m just trying to break that cycle.”
For 40 years, New Moms has come alongside young moms like Kiara who have audacious goals and amazing potential. We provide a stable place to live, job training and academic coaching, and family support, so that their dreams can take root and flourish. We can’t do this work without you. Your generosity helps us continue to provide life-changing support to over 400 young moms and their children each year.
As our Fiscal Year 2023 comes to an end, I want to invite you to imagine the generational impact we can make together. We need your help to raise $30,000 before June 30, 2023 so that New Moms can continue to be a strong and reliable resource for young moms and their children. Will you give a gift to help create sustainable, multigenerational change by investing in young moms?
With hope and love,
Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D. President & CEO
P.S. Click here or below to watch a video of Kiara’s story! https://player.vimeo.com/video/823535075?h=d784eccb8c
#SpaceToGrow