Interfaith Family Services, whose mission is to empower families in crisis to break the cycle of poverty, will hold its 8th Annual Auxiliary Luncheon on Friday, April 28 at the Dallas Arboretum’s Rosine Hall. “Blossoms and New Beginnings” will be the theme of this year’s springtime fundraiser, which will provide support for families seeking to make fresh starts and create lifelong independence. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. for a wine reception followed by lunch.
Emily Hill and Sarah Claire Corrigan will co-chair the event, and Peggy Sewell, Jacquelin Sewell Atkinson and Josie Sewell will serve as honorary chairs. NBC 5’s Meredith Land will be the emcee of the Interfaith Auxiliary Luncheon for the eighth year in a row. The day’s featured speaker will be an Interfaith graduate who will share her experience overcoming hardship and the impact Interfaith Family Services made on her life.
Corrigan said, “Emily and I are so inspired by the work Interfaith Family Services does to help single mothers and their children get back on their feet. We are thrilled to invite others to join us in supporting this vital community asset at the luncheon in April.”
Hill added, “After the pandemic, there has been so much hardship for so many families in Dallas. Now more than ever, it’s important to help. As moms and as citizens of Dallas, we want to be part of the solution so families can access this incredible service if they need it.”
The need for Interfaith’s services has increased in recent years:
- Over the past 15 years, the poverty rate in Dallas has increased by 42% while the population has only increased by 4.4%. (Child Poverty Action Lab, 2022)
- One in four children in Dallas currently lives in poverty – the third highest rate in the U.S. (Child Poverty Action Lab, 2022)
- Single mothers, on average, spend 50% of their income on rent and 30% on childcare, leaving just 20% to cover the cost of food, clothing, transportation and other expenses. (Economic Issues for Women in Texas, 2020)
Interfaith’s holistic approach addresses the root causes of family poverty to produce remarkable results. About 97% of Interfaith’s graduates exit with employment, where 89% remain employed after one year, and 94% of graduates exit to permanent housing. Additionally, 81% of Interfaith’s school-age children improved in math and reading.
Interfaith Family Services Chief Executive Officer Kimberly Williams added, “The Interfaith Auxiliary Luncheon provides critical financial support that helps families become financially independent and break the cycle of poverty. We are so grateful to the Interfaith Auxiliary for their support.”
ABOUT INTERFAITH FAMILY SERVICES:
Since 1985, Interfaith Family Services has empowered Dallas families in crisis to break the cycle of poverty. The organization’s model includes programs that eliminate barriers to stability; equip parents with career and financial coaching; and educate children to stop the cycle of generational poverty. Programming is located at Interfaith Family Services’ Family Empowerment Center in East Dallas, which houses both a residential program to empower families to overcome homelessness, as well as nonresidential services that help families who are at risk of homelessness to overcome crisis. Interfaith’s holistic and dual-generational programs help 9 out of 10 Interfaith graduates exit with employment and permanent housing, while 4 out of 5 school-age children in Interfaith programs demonstrate improved math and reading skills. For more information, contact Kiaria Lipscomb, Community Relations Manager at (469) 828-1831 or klipscomb@interfaithdallas.org, or visit www.interfaithdallas.org.