Hand Up Hand Back participant honored at United Way’s Live United Awards

We are excited to announce that Yohali Asende, one of our Hand Up, Hand Back program participants, is the 2017 recipient of the United Way Shooting Star Award. The award was presented on Thursday, Feb. 1 at the Sloan Convention Center during their Live United Awards and Annual Meeting. The Shooting Star Award honors “an individual who exemplifies the organization’s commitment to helping people overcome personal difficulties and become self-sufficient.”

Yohali is a model of what a little support can do to help someone provide sustainably for their family. Here is what Yohali said about our program, “I am so happy to see the people who helped me find this job. Each time I see them, it gives me courage and strength to keep working hard and persevering because I see how much they believe in me. I am a mom with little education and little work experience in American terms, but because of this program, provided by United Way funds, and these people who believe in me, I have been able to be successful in my job and in providing for my family. I have been given a chance and an opportunity, and I am determined that this is just the beginning.”

Yohali is just one of many that are being supported currently by our program. Hand Up Hand Back focuses on education and occupational training, while encouraging our participants in their daily lives, we expect to see great strides accomplished in the local international community in the years to come.

We offer a huge thank you to the United Way of Southern Kentucky, Kelly Services, and the KY Career Center. We could not accomplish anything without your support and collaboration, and we are proud to partner with you in this work.