Hand in Hand: Rebuilding Lives for Refugees

*Giving update - April 6: a generous anonymous donor has matched $800 to help us surpass our $6,000 push goal! Give now to have your gift matched 1:1!*

*All gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $2,000, thanks to the Horizon Community Funds!*

Who we are: 

We are students pursuing the bachelor’s degree in social work at Northern Kentucky University. This semester, our SWK 311 class is participating in a Mayerson Student Philanthropy project and partnering with RefugeeConnect, a local nonprofit, to support refugee families in the Northern Kentucky area.  

Who we are fundraising for: 

Throughout SWK 311, we have learned a lot about the refugees within our local communities through speakers and personal experiences. We learned through our speakers that RefugeeConnect needs to expand the Family Stability Fund to help support more families. Our goal is to raise $4,000 – and we are thankful for the $2,000 match offered by Horizon Community Funds.  

How your gift will be used: 

The Family Stability Fund was established in 2022 to assist refugees who resettle in the Northern Kentucky area. Through this fund, refugees can become self-sufficient in their new community. They are eligible to apply for $1,000 annually, supporting a long-term goal. For example, the Family Stability fund has helped families with funeral costs, car repairs, and furnishing for housing. Recently this fund has helped a mother of two escape a domestic violence situation. Without this fund, she would not have been able to provide a healthy and safe environment for herself and her children.  

Why we should care:  

Refugees are people who flee from their countries to escape from war, persecution, and other dangerous situations. Many families migrate from their country of origin to refugee camps, where resettlement can sometimes take multiple years. Many refugees come to the United States without support from their families which can make adjustment to a new culture hard. As soon as they step on United States soil, they are eligible to apply for federal programs for 90 days. Given the short amount of time with government support, many refugees are left vulnerable due to cultural and language barriers.  Refugees must hold residency for a year in the United States prior to applying for a green card. Many Americans do not understand the difficulties so many refugees endure when they come to the United States. For this reason, it is important to advocate for the needs of refugees so that they can thrive in their new communities. 

We are grateful for your time and consideration towards supporting The Family Stability Fund. THANK YOU!

SWK 311 Student Team

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