Issue 38, January 2015 Promise Next Steps Partners and Friends, For nearly two decades, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland has partnered with residents, nonprofits and community leaders to change the trajectory of poverty in Cuyahoga County. Your partnership in one of our signature initiatives - the Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood - is integral in helping kids grow up with the tools they need to thrive and be successful, from birth through college. Promise's series of interwoven social and educational programs - initiated together and with community leadership and sustainable funding - make change possible. As this important work continues, we want you to know about a leadership transition for Promise. As you may know, Sonya Pryor-Jones has left her position as the director of the Central Promise Neighborhood. In 2015, she will continue working on mission-driven projects with several organizations. On behalf of the foundation's board and staff, as well as the many Promise partners, we extend our sincere appreciation and thanks to Sonya for her many contributions. As we move forward to select the next Promise director, we will provide an opportunity for Promise partners to meet the final candidates. It is our hope to install the new director by May 2015. In the interim, Leslie Perkul Strnisha, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland's vice president, will continue her oversight of this important work. Together, we will continue to create positive outcomes for the Central Neighborhood residents through a cradle to career pipeline of supports that touch all aspects of life, from stable housing and healthy lifestyles to good schools and safe neighborhoods. Please feel welcome to connect with Leslie or me regarding any questions or comments you may have Warmest regards, Susanna Krey Please join us at the upcoming Promise Advisory Board Meeting for updates and dinner on Tuesday, February 17 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Friendly Inn Settlement House, 2386 Unwin Rd. Free Tax Prep & Financial Counseling for Central Residents Central residents who need help filing their taxes can dial 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment to have their taxes prepared professionally and free of charge. Tax services, as well as free financial counseling will be offered at 2617 Central Ave., in the Promise Computer Lab every Thursday until April 15th from 12 to 4 pm. See more. Neighborhood residents can also go to CornUcopia Place, 7201 Kinsman Rd., beginning Feb. 1st through April 15th. Tax help is available at CornUcopia Place on:    Monday - 4 pm to 7 pm Friday - 10 am to 2 pm Saturday - 12 to 4 pm The tax help will enable low- and moderate-income families avoid costly fees and obtain the Earned Income Tax Credit. Those who participated in recent years received an average refund of nearly $1,400 per family. We are proud to partner with Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc., which is working with The Cuyahoga Earned Income Tax Coalition, to bring these services to the neighborhood. Read a Policy Matters report on the program's effectiveness in Cuyahoga County. TRI-C receives $500,000 to develop program to award high school diplomas to adults The Ohio Department of Education awarded a $500,000 planning grant to Cuyahoga Community College to develop a program to help adults 22 an older who have dropped out of high school. Tri-C and the four other schools that received state grants will determine how to contact potential students, assess their current knowledge and address potential challenges such as illiteracy. Read the article. WinterFest Success Thanks to Aramark, the Aramark Building Community program and Friendly Inn Settlement House for a great event Dec. 22. Aramark Building Community is a volunteer and philanthropic program dedicated to enriching and nourishing lives by improving family health and wellness and helping people succeed in the workplace, in partnership with local community centers. Aramark supported the event and their and other volunteers led parents and children in fun activities such as creating stockings, ornaments and other crafts. Children listened to Christmas stories and all the children left with books to read over the holidays. Thanks to Promise Ambassador Renee Wren who baked cookies for the more than 150 youth and adults who attended the event. Thanks to all who helped make the event great. Coats for Kids A big thank you to Coats for Kids who donated about 200 coats to the Promise initiative. The coats were given to students at neighborhood elementary schools and at local community centers in mid December, just in time before the deep freeze hit. Sisters of Charity Foundation Relocates to the Campus District The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland's office has moved to the Sisters of Charity Health System Building in the heart of the Campus District, which includes the Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood. The Promise Neighborhood staff continue to work from their offices at the George Washington Carver STEM School. Please save our new address: Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland 2475 East 22nd Street, Fourth Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44115 216.241.9300