Giving Every Child Wings to Soar
Thank you to all the donors, volunteers, participants, and staff for all the ways you support FamilyPoint. Everything I share today is possible because of you.
When Lynne came up with the bird design for the luncheon I immediately thought of a book club I was a part of. We used to joke that we were all “lumbering souls trying to fly”. That phrase came from the Pigasus stamped on the inside cover all of John Steinbeck’s books. Initially the story was told to me that he put this pig with wings in his books because when he was in middle school he declared he would write a book and the teacher replied, “sure. When pigs fly.” We all love a stick it to ‘em story, but unfortunately this one was just a rumor. The truth is that Steinbeck’s middle school teacher was extremely encouraging and known to often read his stories aloud to the class. This Pigasus, was a figment of Steinbeck’s imagination and according to his wife, the way he reminded himself that he was “earthbound yet aspiring”
For me, this begs the questions, how do we fly?
How does FamilyPoint give children wings to soar?
There are 5 things necessary for flight
You need wings.
A structure, specially designed to provide empowering opportunities and supportive relationships.
2. Not all air is equal.
The atmosphere, the circumstances, in which you try to fly matter greatly.
3. Pressure from a Lower Speed
Opportunities encountered on a regular basis that create good habits, develop skills, promote a positive mindset, and strengthen determination.
4. Pressure from a Higher Speed
Opportunities that require setting goals, stepping out of your comfort zone, and pushing the limits of your abilities. For a lot of people, these just pass them by like a gust of wind.
5. Big Fans (aka Drag)
The people and community that gather to guide, encourage, and support you.
So what have we accomplished in the past 18 years of learning how to fly?
Why are these numbers so important to us?
Based on the 2022 Annual Earnings Report, the median annual salary of a full time worker from the age of 24 - 34 who has not completed high school will only make $35k while a high school graduate will make about $7,000 more annually. And a bachelors degree earns an average of $66,000 a year. And this trend hasn’t changed, those with higher education earn more money. So FPR Alumni are more financially stable. That is a very good starting place for a young adult pursuing a career. This is one, important part of breaking cycles of poverty.
These FPR long term stats are possible because of the foundation we build every day
In 2024 - 2025, FamilyPoint
served 665 individuals(PreK -12) and
provided 3,636 hrs of enrichment
with the help of 423 volunteers
We awarded 12 FPR Scholarships
totaling $55,000
applauded 48 high school graduations (35 participants, 13 volunteers)
And more, from 139 campers attending OTX to 23 FPR Speed athletes placing All American, to Magic Camp- there are many ways children fly throughout the year at FamilyPoint.