staceybooks

Every year, we talk about giving, generosity, and the importance of showing up for others. But there are moments when giving becomes more than a seasonal gesture – it becomes the foundation for real change, the kind of transformation that strengthens families, neighborhoods, and entire communities.

This year, our two fundraisers – Second Chances: Stronger Futures and Epic Youth Tennessee – represent more than campaigns. They represent a belief system. A commitment. A promise that we will not stand by while people with talent, heart, and determination are left behind.

These two initiatives focus on different populations, but they share one truth:

Everyone deserves a chance to rebuild. Everyone deserves stability. Everyone deserves a future.

1. Second Chances: Stronger Futures – Because Redemption Should Lead Somewhere

Every day, men and women who have been justice-involved walk out of correctional facilities with hope in their hearts and fear in their steps. They want to work. They want to provide for their children. They want to break generational cycles and prove – to themselves and to the world – that their lives have value far beyond their worst mistake.

But hope alone doesn’t rebuild a life. Opportunity does.

That’s what this fundraiser supports:

Tech training behind the walls and in communities Career pathways that lead to sustainable employment Mentorship and wraparound support Stability for people who have spent years living in survival mode

We know second chances work because we’ve seen it.

We’ve seen individuals go from having no direction to building careers in technology, gaining confidence, earning certifications, restoring family relationships, and contributing to their communities in meaningful ways.

But none of that happens without people willing to believe in them.

This fundraiser isn’t charity – it’s investment. It’s belief in human potential. It’s a declaration that no one is defined by their past, only by their willingness to build a better future.

2. Epic Youth Tennessee – Because No Young Person Should Face the World Alone

On the other side of the spectrum are our young adults – ages 19 to 24 – many of whom are aging out of foster care, experiencing homelessness, or living without any support network. These are young people who have dreams, talents, and untapped potential but who are often forced into adulthood without guidance, resources, or stability.

Imagine being 19 with no home.

Imagine being 20 with no family to call.

Imagine being 21 and having to choose between food and safety.

These young adults don’t need judgment.

They need a community that believes in them.

Our Epic Youth Tennessee Fundraiser helps build exactly that:

Transitional housing for at-risk youth Neighborhood hubs that offer safety and support Therapy, mentoring, and emotional guidance Training and pathways to careers A chance to rewrite their story before the world writes it for them

This isn’t a small effort.

It’s a long-term commitment to breaking the cycle – and to making sure our youth don’t fall through the cracks simply because no one was there to catch them.

3. Why Both Fundraisers Matter: Two Ends of the Same Spectrum

These two campaigns support different groups – returning citizens and at-risk youth – but they are deeply connected.

Because when we strengthen the most vulnerable, we strengthen everyone.

When a returning citizen gets a job, a family stabilizes.

When a young person gets a safe place to sleep, a future becomes possible.

When we offer mentorship, skills, and opportunity, we don’t just change one life – we shift the trajectory of entire communities.

These fundraisers matter because:

They reduce homelessness They reduce recidivism They increase employment They strengthen families They create safer neighborhoods They build a workforce ready for the jobs of tomorrow They show people – often for the first time – that someone sees potential in them

The return on investment isn’t measured in dollars.

It’s measured in dignity.

In hope.

In restored lives.

In futures rewritten.

4. The Heart Behind the Mission

When we say “Second Chances: Stronger Futures,” we aren’t just talking about programming. We’re talking about the mother who gets her children back because she now has stable employment. The father who can finally provide. The young woman who realizes she is capable of more than she was ever told. The young man who chooses healing over survival.

When we say “Epic Youth Tennessee,” we’re talking about the 19-year-old standing at a crossroads with no one to turn to. The 20-year-old trying to figure out life without guidance. The 22-year-old who never felt chosen but still hopes to be seen.

These fundraisers give them that chance.

5. How You Can Help

If these missions speak to your heart, we invite you to join us:

👉 Second Chances: Stronger Futures

https://upcurve.life/fundraiser/16/giving-tuesday-second-chances-stronger-futures

👉 Epic Youth Tennessee

https://upcurve.life/fundraiser/17/epic-youth-tennessee-at-risk-youth-neighborhood

Every donation – large or small – creates real impact.

Not temporary help.

Not empty promises.

But true transformation.

Because everyone deserves a chance to rise.

Because every young person deserves a safe place to land.

Because stronger futures start with all of us.