Adam once played on a baseball diamond, living his dream as a professional baseball player. From 2019 to 2022, he competed in the United Shore Professional Baseball League, chasing the career he had worked toward for years. That dream ended abruptly when a serious injury cut short his playing days, leaving him without a clear future.

Determined to rebuild, Adam moved to Arizona with new goals in mind. But life quickly threw another challenge his way. Just as he was about to start a new job, he learned he was being evicted. Unable to recover financially, he found himself on the brink of homelessness, struggling to hold on to hope.

That hope returned when Adam connected with St. Joseph the Worker, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals facing homelessness or major life transitions secure meaningful employment. Since 1988, the organization has helped more than 40,000 people achieve stability.

Adam initially sought help from St. Joseph, the Worker, to obtain uniforms for his new job. However, he was offered something even more transformative: a place in the Workforce Villages program. The program gave Adam the stability and structure to focus on his goals. He secured full-time employment at $22 per hour and committed to saving 80 percent of his income. In just 90 days, he exceeded his savings target, built more financial security than ever before, and moved into an apartment of his own.

Adam’s journey from loss to independence is a testament to the power of community support. His transformation was made possible through the generosity of a $30,000 grant from the Catholic Community Foundation Giving Circle to St. Joseph the Worker.

The Giving Circle has granted over $1.3 million to local non-profit organizations in the past ten years. The Catholic Community Foundation Giving Circle hosts an annual event that includes its members in the grant-making decision process of local non-profits. Each member invests their philanthropic dollars, and collectively, the impact of their giving in our community multiplies. The Giving Circle members listen to pitches by various organizations like St. Joseph the Worker, learn about the services being provided, and where the money will go. Then each member casts their votes to decide who will be the recipient.

This fundamental granting commitment ensures that individuals like Adam survive life’s toughest setbacks and emerge stronger. Together, the Catholic Community Foundation and St. Joseph the Worker’s efforts create lasting change and hope for those who need it most.