Cushman Foundation Funds Propel New Programs for Women Overcoming Trauma
San Diego, Calif. (August 6, 2019) – For the first time, Leap to Success will expand its “Leap to Confidence” personal leadership program to East County women starting in fall 2019. This program empowers women overcoming domestic violence, homelessness, addiction, and other major life challenges to become self-sufficient and reclaim their lives.
Funded by a $50,000 grant from the Cushman Foundation’s “Making a Difference for San Diego” initiative, Leap to Success will collaborate with lead partner Crisis House based in El Cajon, California, along with other social service agencies in the region working with women in recovery from trauma, to offer two new cohorts of its life-transforming “Leap to Confidence” (LTC) program. With this generous funding and support, LTC will serve 50 women over the next 12 months.
“The Leap to Confidence program is a wonderful way for women to gain critical communication skills, knowledge, and support to improve their lives,” said Mary Case, executive director of Crisis House, “When we feel good and empowered about ourselves, we project that to others which can lead to healthy relationships, increased marketability in the workforce, better parenting, and more opportunities.”
“In 2011, we ran our first Leap to Confidence class in downtown San Diego in partnership with Father Joe’s Villages and the YWCA of San Diego County,” said Dana Bristol-Smith, founder and executive director of Leap to Success. “Today, we offer programs in North County, City Heights and Downtown San Diego and partner with over 50 organizations to empower women who are overcoming huge life challenges by teaching them the skills they need to recover, find employment, and move forward to self sufficiency. To date, we have served over 2,000 women through our classes and more than 7,000 people through community outreach. We are excited to have the opportunity to bring our transformative program to East County.”
Leap to Success programs are offered at no cost to women emerging from major life challenges. With this new location in East County, participants will be referred by additional partner agencies including Center for Community Solutions, Community Housing Works, Home Start, Inc., Neighborhood Healthcare, Public Consulting Group, License to Freedom, and the Salvation Army who identify candidates among their clients.
“Crisis House is proud to partner with Leap to Success to bring their Leap to Confidence program to East County,” said Mary Case, “Crisis House is located in El Cajon and serves over 200 moms (400 children) each year in 4 housing programs for survivors of domestic violence. We are excited to have this program come to our region to provide access to those we serve and others in need.”
“With the support of Cushman Foundation, women in East County who are recovering from major traumas will now have an opportunity to be empowered, renewed, and transformed through our program. We will make success possible for not only the 50 women participants, but also their children, who will have a better future because of the compassion and caring of the Cushman family,” said Bristol-Smith.
The need for Leap to Confidence to expand into East County is great. El Cajon has San Diego County’s highest poverty rate among adults at 29.7 percent, and children at 36.5 percent. East County experienced a three percent increase in homelessness from 2016 – 2017.*
Domestic violence is the most common cause of homicide in San Diego County;** one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families.***
About Leap to Success
Our mission is to educate and empower women who are overcoming domestic violence, homelessness and other major challenges to reach their greatest potential. Leap to Success became a 501(c) 3 not for profit organization in 2013 and is based in Carlsbad, California. Learn more about Leap to Success www.leaptosuccess.org
* SD Regional Task Force on the Homeless (PIT data 2017)
** SAFEHORIZONS
** SAFEHORIZONS and Joyful Heart Foundation
