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Name: Dawn Marie Rapaport
Name: Homeless Engagement Lift Partnership
City, County: Phx , United States
Company founded Year: 2012
Employees: 1-10 employees
Industry: Non-profit
Website: www.HelpnowAZ.org
Company Detail:
At Homeless Engagement Lift Partnership (HELP), the mission is to disrupt the cycle of homelessness by focusing on children. HELP provides immediate aid, advances education, promotes awareness, and restores dignity and hope. As a non-profit organization, HELP is dedicated to serving at-risk populations, displaced families, and children through innovative programs and initiatives that address urgent needs while creating sustainable, long-term solutions to break generational homelessness.
What makes Dawn uniquely equipped to lead HELP is her personal experience. She grew up as a homeless child in Arizona during the 1970s and 1980s, experiencing homelessness from ages 5 to 15. She knows firsthand the realities of being hungry, feeling worthless, and lacking a safe environment. Frequent relocations—sometimes three to four times within a school year—disrupted her education and made it impossible to form lasting friendships. Bullying and exposure to unsafe environments were constants in her life. However, the time she spent with her grandfather was a source of hope and inspiration. His uplifting words stayed with her and now form the affirmations handwritten on every HELPSnackz bag, offering encouragement to thousands of children each year.
At the age of 15, Dawn found a way out by getting married, completing high school, and learning a trade. Over the years, she built a successful career, achieving financial stability with a big house, cars, and money in the bank. Despite this, she felt unfulfilled, which led her to establish HELP 13 years ago. Through her work experiences and personal journey, Dawn developed a deep understanding of homelessness, particularly childhood homelessness. Her approach combines empathy with determination to address the challenges of others. She thrives on tackling obstacles, setting clear goals, and collaborating with others to elevate communities and create impactful solutions. At HELP, she is committed to raising awareness and fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience to inspire change and restore hope for families and children in need.
Achievements
In 2024, H.E.L.P. reached new heights in making a tangible, life-changing impact on families, children, and teens in need. Through innovative approaches and unwavering commitment, the organization strengthened its programs to ensure lasting results for the communities it serves.
Key Achievements:
HelpSnackz Program Sustainability: H.E.L.P. transformed HelpSnackz into a sustainable model by introducing corporate team-building events. Companies now fundraise the cost of food and assemble snack bags, fostering community engagement and ensuring the program’s longevity. This innovative approach has been a game-changer. H.E.L.P. delivered over 1 million snack bags to children in need.
Adopt a Family Growth: In 2024, the organization supported 350 families and over 2,300 individuals, delivering 6,000+ gifts through the power of community. With the help of 680 volunteers, it provided essentials, wish-list items, and food, bringing not just material support but renewed hope and joy to families during the holiday season.
Back-to-School Tools Expansion: The Back-to-School Tools program equipped 824 children and teens with backpacks, shoes, socks, books, and school supplies, helping them begin the school year with confidence. By incorporating a carnival-style event with games, water slides, and face painting, H.E.L.P. transformed a resource distribution effort into an unforgettable day of joy for families.
Empowering Summit Success: Launched in January 2024, the Empowering Summit program achieved a 60% reduction in homelessness among participating families. By providing proactive, year-round resources and education, the program shifted from reactive aid to prevention, empowering families to build sustainability.
Under Dawn's leadership as Founder and CEO, H.E.L.P. expanded its reach, fostered sustainability, and created innovative solutions to address poverty and homelessness. These accomplishments reflect a year of growth, innovation, and measurable impact, fueled by the dedication of the team, volunteers, and supporters. Together, the organization demonstrated that change is possible, and brighter futures are within reach for the communities it serves.
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