Upward Transitions is grateful to be a recipient of a Sarkeys Foundation grant. In 1962, Sarkeys J. Sarkeys had a vision to create a better state through the establishment of a foundation to award grants to nonprofits who were equally committed to improving the quality of life in Oklahoma.
Upward Transitions received a grant of $15,000 for the mission of ending generational poverty in Oklahoma County from the Sarkeys Foundation. Upward Transitions serves families and individuals who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or stranded by providing case management and stabilizing resources to help meet basic social needs. Our goal is to assist families and individuals during times of financial devastation, so they remain – or can return to being – productive contributors to their community.
In the past year, a year that faced a COVID-19 pandemic and a crippling winter, Upward Transitions has seen exponential growth in requests for assistance. In the first six months of our fiscal year, Upward Transitions assisted as many clients as they normally serve during a full calendar year.
Periann Pulliam, Chief Executive Officer of Upward Transitions shared, “Upward Transitions is grateful to Sarkeys Foundation for their continued support of our services and mission. Our programs to end generational poverty have never been more relevant, and we appreciate that Sarkeys recognizes the importance of our work.”
Through Upward Transitions’ Community Outreach Program, emergency relief, case management, and direct services are provided to clients to address the issues of homelessness and generational poverty. During COVID-19, the demand for Upward Transitions’ services have increased exponentially with the economic impact of the virus. This, coupled with the October ice storm, made support services especially critical for those who were vulnerable and at-risk of homelessness in our community.
Upward Transitions does not anticipate a decrease in the need for services any time soon, as the impact of the pandemic has greatly increased the eviction rate and homeless risk in our community. This makes the support from donors like Sarkeys Foundation vital to serving families and individuals at risk.