Client stories

Faith came to Unity 4Kids (U4K) in August 2012 and was very timid. After three weeks she completed an Ages and Stages Assessment. This assessment is used by U4K preschool to gain an understanding of the strengths and areas needing improvement in students. Faith’s results showed that she needed great improvements in her language skills and after professional evaluation, she began speech therapy. After only a few months into the program, Faith’s language and social skills began to improve dramatically. She was able to express herself better and gained the confidence she needed to become more outgoing. She completed her school year successfully and later joined our VPK class.

During this time, Faith's mom was also receiving support from HUF. She participated and was graduated from all of our Family Events and Parenting Classes, and was referred to the Healthy Start Program of Broward County for prenatal classes. In addition to this support, our Preschool Director made referrals to help Faith’s mom address the challenges with her own adult sister. She received a recommendation to Henderson Mental Health (for her sister) and to Legal Aid services for advice on how to take temporary custody of her nephews, until her sister fully recovered.

Faith's parents are tremendously happy with the improvements their young daughter has made in all areas of her development. She loves going to school and even asks her mom to take her on the weekends. Faith's family is extremely grateful for the help they have received from HUF and for allowing Faith to be part of Unity 4Kids.

With your support, HUF was able to help “Faith” know the true meaning behind her name, and helped support a family during very challenging times.

Originally from Peru, Fausto Lopez has lived in Florida for more than 20 years. After leaving his native country and separating from all his family, things weren’t always easy for him and his wife Mary.

At 84 years “young”, his life is still tough. Fausto works everyday distributing newspapers in his community. “I can’t tell you I am happy doing this, but I cannot complain, because I have a job” he says. Whenever time and strength allow, Fausto attends Hispanic Unity’s ESOL English classes.

Entrepreneurship runs deep in Olga Garzon’s blood; she owned a shoe factory in Colombia for many years. After Olga took HUF’s Emerging Entrepreneurs Workshops in 2012 (offered by Broward SCORE in partnership with HUF), she realized that she could make her own dreams come true in the U.S. Olga put into action many of the strategies she learned and prepared her business plan with a Broward SCORE mentor. In June 2013, Olga launched the summer collection of handbags and other fine accessories under the “OLGFashion” brand. Keenly aware of the importance of networking, Olga has been actively working in getting word of her company out in the public.  OLGFashion products are sold in boutiques like BP Barbara Palacios in Brickell and Weston,  high-end stores in Winter Park (Florida) and Aspen (Colorado) and soon, in Georgia.

You too can own an OLGFashion original by visiting her gorgeous website at:  http://www.fashionolg.com

Fiordaliza Fernandez-Urena came to HUF, sometimes on foot, after walking for more than an hour with the youngest of her two children. She was a single mother with a small toddler, a preschool-age child, living with her sister and cleaning homes to survive.  She relied on the bus or others for transportation and without childcare there was little she could do to jump start her career. She had dreams, but they were on hold.

On the first day she came to HUF, we were able to find a slot for her young daughter at the Unity 4Kids program. And she found a supportive “life coach” in the person of Yonela Carusi the director of the Unity 4Kids preschool.

She was encouraged to participate in the Center for Working Families Program (CWF) program which she did in January of 2013. The focus for her and her HUF coaches was to help her find childcare for her youngest son and a solution to Fiordaliza’s transportation challenges, as well as a living-wage job.

Through her participation in the CWF Program, she was able to obtain free Head Start childcare for her two children through Family Central. After intensive one-on-one coaching and guidance from her Financial Coach, Fiordaliza was able to purchase a vehicle on her own with the money she saved. Her savings grew after she had her taxes prepared, for free, through Hispanic Unity’s VITA FREE tax preparation program. She received assistance with resume writing and interviewing skills and learned how to apply for jobs on her own.

Her life has changed completely. After having secured a safe environment for both of her children, she focused on her job search. Two weeks after purchasing a car Fiordaliza found a job as a data clerk coordinator at a local automotive group.

She is now registered at Broward College and will start the Dental Assistant Program in September to further her education and become more marketable.

This single mom is on the road to self-sufficiency with the help of intense, wrap-around services and lots of loving coaching and support from her knowledgeable and committed HUF Coaches.

Born in Colombia and trained as a dentist, Luz came to America more than eight years ago with her spouse and two sons. Since arriving, she took care of her family by working long hours cleaning houses until she met someone who referred her to a dentist. Her husband, Juan Camilo put aside his own dreams to support Luz and her decision to restart her professional career by becoming a  dental hygienist. She attended classes and two years later she graduated with her degree. Luz is now happily working in a dentist’s office.

After five years as a Legal Permanent Resident, Luz came to HUF to fulfill her other dream: to become a US Citizen. In 2012 she enrolled in the USCIS citizenship classes. On June 12, 2013, Luz went to her interview and passed the test. A month later, with Luz’s help and encouragement, Juan Camilo, her husband, accomplished what he thought would not be possible – he too became a US Citizen!