Houska Car Donation and Challenge
At the CSU Lagoon Concert on July 14th, Houska Automotive will donate a 1999 Saturn SL 2 Sedan to a PS-S participant selected by our Volunteer Car Donation Committee.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have been chosen to receive the car from Houska. And also a little shocked!” said 28-year-old Rebecca McGill, a local single mother currently involved in PS-S.

“Having a car will relieve the stress of having to plan out bus routes and transfer buses to get across town to school and my young daughter's daycare. Getting an 18 month old to sit still for an hour bus ride is next to impossible!” said McGill. “I am deeply grateful.”

McGill is studying microbiology at Colorado State University and has been working part-time as an Evaluation and Enrichment Coordinator at the Larimer Humane Society. McGill is a low-income single parent to an 18 month old daughter named Madison. She has been in the Project Self-Sufficiency program since September, 2009.

McGill states that her PS-S advisor helped her to set and achieve more realistic, attainable goals. Upon entering the program, her advisor helped her explore alternative careers and set up a series of informational interviews with professionals in fields of interest. Although she wants to ultimately attend veterinary school, her near term goal is to complete her microbiology degree and secure a living wage job that will allow her to support her daughter and pay off student loans.

Houska Automotive also hosted the Houska Challenge by challenging other local dealerships/garages to step up and donate to or offer discounts for PS-S participants.
View houska donor list.

Houska Challenge Donor List
17 generous automotive businesses have met the Houska Challenge, donating goods and services to insure that PS-S participants have reliable, safe transportation for their families. Summers Auto Repair & Supply stepped up by donating two cars! Here’s a complete list of Houska Challenge donors.

Project Self-Sufficiency Awarded Funds from Pathways Past Poverty
Pathways Past Poverty provided money to prominent agencies in 2009 in an effort to showcase best practices for helping move people from poverty to self-sufficiency. Pathways Past Poverty, an initiative of the United Way of Larimer County, provided $35,000 for The Matthews House and $50,000 to Project Self-Sufficiency. LEARN MORE

Success Story: Cassie
Cassie is working full-time at a financial management firm while maintaining a 4.0 in business courses at CSU. She has two children ages 5 and 8. Cassie’s lofty goals include obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree, Para-planner certificate, Master’s Degree and Certified Financial Planner certification.

Cassie is proud of her accomplishments but admits it hasn’t been easy. “I have had to sacrifice a lot of time to focus on my studies, manage a household as a single mother and work a full time job,” exclaims Cassie. “Someday after I get my degree, I hope to be able to get into a weekend Master’s program at a good school and want to keep my grades up both for potential scholarships as well as being considered at top rated schools.”

Cassie is enjoying the training she’s receiving at the financial management company. “I enjoy coming to work and feel like I am part of a great team of people who are dedicated to their jobs as well,” says Cassie. “It’s a challenging environment, and so naturally I want to be able to grow within the company and make progress that benefits myself and my employer.”

Cassie praises her PS-S advisor by saying, “She has helped me get through what could have been truly overwhelming times as a single mother. I am focused and determined to create a safe and nurturing home for my children.”

Last fall Cassie received a Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award Scholarship at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Fort Collins Chapter of Soroptimist International.

A Single Parent Success Story
Jessica finished her Dental Assisting degree at Front Range Community College and passed her certification exam. She’s enjoying her new full-time position at a Loveland dental practice. In her free time, Jessica enjoys camping, barbecues, karaoke and spending time with family and friends. Jessica’s nine-year-old son Brendon plays soccer and loves the outdoors and swimming.

Jessica credits her participation in PS-S with giving her the courage to further her education by saying, “If it wasn’t for PS-S, I do not think that I would have ever gone back to school. All my life I was told to take the easy way out by just working and that it would be to hard to go to school. It was hard, but I enjoyed every minute of it.”

“PS-S has taught me that it’s ok to go after whatever dreams you may have,” exclaims Jessica. “They have taught me how good it feels to accomplish something that you have worked so hard for. They have given me hope, confidence, independence and a lot of lifelong tools that I can take with me.”

As Jessica prepares to “graduate” from PS-S, she reflects upon her time in the program: “I am truly grateful for everything I have been given. I have learned that it is ok to take help from others, so I guess I have learned trust as well. While I am sad to leave, I know that there is someone else waiting to take my spot who I know will do great things. I will always be grateful to the people who have helped me through this journey.”

Project Self-Sufficiency's Director Honored for
Social Work
For her unwavering commitment to single parents in need, Project Self-Sufficiency’s Mary Carraher was presented with the Hawkins Social Work Achievement Award by the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. LEARN MORE

Project Self-Sufficiency Annual Scholarships
Each Spring, Project Self-Sufficiency has a competitive process that awards scholarships to single parents enrolled in the program. Committees based in both Fort Collins and Loveland consider scholarship requests from single parents enrolled in the Project Self-Sufficiency program.

Scholarship funds help pay for tuition, books, and fees. Some scholarship dollars are also used to assist single parents with living expenses while they attend school. We hope to reduce the need for employment while enrolled in school, so that parents have more time with their children and more time to study.

Program participants attend community college, universities, and training programs. They are studying everything from nursing to business. Through increased education, single parents are better able to qualify for living wage employment. For more information contact Mary Carraher at (970) 635-5901 or mary@ps-s.org.

"Cool Kids" Back-to-School Clothing Program
Established in 2000, the PS-S "Cool Kids" Back-to-School Clothing Program gives kids from K-12th grade the opportunity to purchase brand new clothes to start the new school year out right. LEARN MORE about the program or DONATE NOW.