Project for Pride in Living

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The 2009 PPL Achievement Awards featured stories of seemingly unmanageable lives that take a turn for the better.

The awards are presented annually to a few select PPL participants. Through affordable housing, support services, employment training, and education initiatives, PPL creates opportunities for people to improve their path in life and gain footing.

Seventeen individuals stood out for their unique successes. Recipents were involved in at least one program, but often more. In delivering the Keynote address, PPL Director of Community Outreach Delroy Calhoun told them: “Your success is our success.”

Outstanding community partners were also recognized. The event, held at Zuhrah Shrine Center, drew 220 friends and family members of recipients, PPL staff and supporters. Outstanding Community Partner awards were also presented to Target Foundation and Joyce and Richard McFarland. The theme was “Shining Stars” and it was sponsored by Wells Fargo and MicroGrants.

Integrated services proved valuable
In a number of speeches, recipients told their stories and while unique, each revealed a core similarity to the others. They came to PPL for one service and stayed when they found a number of integrated services could help them really gain control in their lives. In 2008, PPL served more 12,500 people.

Highlights of the speeches:

• Mark, a recent graduate of MERC Alternative High School, spoke of gangs, fighting, and getting suspended – until he started at MERC Alternative High School where he was regularly on the honor roll. He said, there, he “fit right in” and felt respected.

• Troy came for the technology and stayed for the people. He described a series of bad choices, hard knocks and false starts at trying to better his life. But he feels he’s on more solid ground now. He credits working with PPL staff with having secured full-time employment, making a plan for furthering his education, and establishing a stronger relationship with his daughter.

• Peachu came to the United States in 2006, after spending several years in refugee camps across West Africa. She first learned about PPL through the welfare-to-work program, Connections to Work and said she thinks is should be called “Connections to Life.” She is no longer on public assistance and her child attends the PPL Early Wonders pre-school. She’s also worked for PPL as a receptionist.

• Robert told the crowd “the only requirement for change is a dream, desire, and the right people along the way.” Yet, he said that before working with PPL staff, a voice in his head consistently repeated “I wasn’t smart enough to go to college and that anything I tried to do would fail.” Robert connected to PPL through a classroom-based program for adults with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis who are interested in entering or returning to work.

Click to Gallery of all recipients>>>