Footbridge for Families

Sometimes the very steps we take to secure our future can lead us into unforeseen difficulties. Olivia’s* family found themselves in this paradox when a decision aimed at helping them build savings for the future unexpectedly pushed them to the brink of eviction. Her story underscores how quickly outside forces can change a family’s financial stability, even from unexpected places. Read the full story on the Footbridge website: https://lnkd.in/dU2-N9gH *This name has been changed for privacy reasons

Footbridge Founder and CEO @Kim Eckel will be presenting at the PA Family Support Alliance Pennsylvania Child Abuse Prevention Symposium this November 7th, 2024. The Symposium brings professionals, partners, and stakeholders in the fields of family support and child abuse prevention together to share best practices for making families stronger and keeping kids safe. Kim will be presenting alongside Clare Anderson, Senior Policy Fellow, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. The presentation, Creating Concrete Supports for Families and the Confusion Between Poverty and Neglect, will give participants an understanding of the ways that concrete supports can build resilient families. It will also look at the differences between poverty and neglect, and the role that these supports play in each of them. Lastly the presentation will share success stories from local, state, and national efforts to provide support and resources to help strengthen families and the communities they live in. Learn more and register to attend at https://lnkd.in/gTEBuSTj

At our Founder Kim Eckel’s briefing to bipartisan Senate Finance Committee staff on July 29th, another member of the panel, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, presented on the Rx Kids initiative in Flint, Michigan. This innovative program is the first of its kind in the country to give cash payments to every expectant mother and infant in the city of Flint, Michigan. This program aims to improve infant and maternal health, ensure the economic and mental well-being of families, and strengthen the community as a whole. Thanks to a $20 million allocation in the most-recent state budget from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, along with philanthropic contributions, RxKids is slated to expand to several additional parts of Michigan. This Detroit Free Press article has more about the program and its impact: https://lnkd.in/djf6q7eK At Footbridge we are excited to see this initiative leverage TANF funds to provide targeted support that helps these families start off with a solid economic foundation. As we expand our focus beyond Western Pennsylvania, being able to leverage TANF funds would make it significantly easier for metropolitan regions and entire states to partner with Footbridge to help families get back on their feet quickly after a temporary financial crisis.

Did you know? Footbridge is a 2024 Candid Platinum Seal Recipient for the second straight year. This designation is awarded to the under 5% of nonprofits, reflecting our commitment to make clear, current information about our progress, ethical financial management, accomplishments and plans for the organization’s future readily available to the public. Our Candid profile page is here: https://lnkd.in/eJBN6vcr Your one-time or recurring donation to Footbridge helps families get back on their feet after a temporary financial crisis. If your circumstances allow, you can make a donation at https://lnkd.in/eQvtmQk8 or through your donor-advised fund by searching 'Footbridge' or using our Tax ID: 84-2077025.

Financial stability can be fragile, even for those who seem to have it all together. Nia’s* family – her husband a pastor, she herself a working mother – found themselves facing this reality when a series of unexpected events pushed them to the brink of crisis. ⠀ It began with Nia’s car breaking down, a common enough occurrence but one that carried a hefty price tag. As they grappled with this setback, tragedy struck. Nia’s father, living with her sister in Memphis, passed away. Travel and missed work for funeral arrangements meant that Nia, already behind on utility bills due to the auto repair, wasn’t able to catch back up. ⠀ Nia’s story serves as a stark reminder of the fine line many families walk between stability and crisis. It highlights how quickly a series of unfortunate events can snowball, threatening even those who’ve built their lives around helping others. ⠀ Read Nia's story on the Footbridge website: https://lnkd.in/dBeRcZQq ⠀ * this name has been changed for privacy reasons

When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises. --Angela Merkel

"I was just in the doctor’s office last week, stressed about this stuff. And she said, 'I know a program,' and a week later, those bills were paid." Footbridge partners with frontline providers like pediatricians, family practices, and other community organizations to ensure that we can act rapidly as the funder of last resort. If your circumstances allow, a donation to Footbridge helps families in communities like yours get back on their feet after an unexpected financial setback: https://lnkd.in/eQvtmQk8

Unexpected expenses, especially those that affect a family’s ability to work, can quickly overwhelm carefully balanced budgets. ⠀ Amara*, a mother who works as a delivery driver for both Uber and Walmart, found herself in this situation when her car was improperly impounded after an accident. This incident set off a chain of events that threatened her family's stability.⠀ ⠀ Her experience serves as a reminder of the importance of community support networks and the resilience of families working hard to maintain stability. ⠀ Read Amara's story on the Footbridge website: https://lnkd.in/dU3xFZXU ⠀ ⠀ * this name has been changed for privacy reasons

In our work, we sometimes find that our clients are unaware of the existence of support programs for which they are eligible. Data from our evaluation surveys shows that 2/3 of the families we assist report that their knowledge of community resources has improved since working with Footbridge.

Our sincere thanks to all of you who visited our booth at the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project Kickball for a Cause event this past Saturday or made a donation in support of the event. It was an honor for Footbridge to be selected as a beneficiary and a joy to participate in such a fun and engaging event.