From news release
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app
MACHESNEY PARK — Three nonprofits that offer help ranging from education assistance to mental health support have taken residence inside the United Way of Rock River Valley’s Strong Neighborhood House.
The service organizations moved into the house at 825 Marie Ave. on Dec. 27 and will serve the neighborhood and the entire county.
Secondary Success and Beyond, the Live REAL Foundation and the Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation now occupy the house, which opened in 2019.
More charity: Beautiful heart, tortured mind: How a Rockford-area man’s legacy of generosity continues after his death
Secondary Success and Beyond provides high school students with advising and mentoring from young professionals in the Rockford area. It offers assistance with post-high school plans, federal student aid, time management and college applications.
“We are so excited to announce our partnership with United Way and the Strong Neighborhood House,” Gabrielle Sims, executive director of Secondary Success and Beyond, said in a news release. “We now have a central location where youth in our community can come for help in achieving their goals.”
The Live REAL Foundation’s goal is to reduce opioid overdoses and deaths by giving people resources to face hard times, trauma and everyday struggles.
“The Live R.E.A.L. Foundation is excited about this new collaboration that United Way has created by having LRF, the Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation, and Secondary Success and Beyond operate out of the Strong Neighborhood House,” Bev Pomering, executive director of the Live REAL Foundation, said in a news release. “The partnership of these three, women-founded and women-led nonprofits is going to be a wonderful community resource.”
More news: Winnebago County sheriff among those who won’t enforce the state’s new weapons ban
The Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation works to improve education on factors that lead to suicide. It’s goal is to improve the mental health of individuals and their families through awareness, prevention, support and education.
“This new space will allow us to grow our programming and build collaborative relationships while offering a safe and welcoming space for anyone struggling to find support, refuge, and a community of individuals with the heart to help and serve,” Xavier Whitford, executive director of the Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation, said in a news release.
All three organizations will work out of the house with the assistance and support of United Way. United Way and the village of Machesney Park provide the space rent and utility free until the end of June.
“The level of service and excitement that these three organizations provide has brought new life into this house and will spread throughout the community,” said Julie Bosma, president and CEO of United Way of Rock River Valley. “We know the synergy they will bring working together is greater than what was being offered before and we are delighted! We intend to use this formula for all three of our Strong Neighborhood Houses and know the surrounding communities will benefit greatly from them.”