Football season is here! Team up with FOCUS advisory board member, Theodora Polamalu, and her husband, All-Pro Safety and Pittsburgh Steeler, Troy Polamalu, in FOCUS North America’s Tackle Poverty campaign, the organization’s key initiative to help the homeless and working poor in America.
“Our participation in this ministry is very personal, because Troy struggled in his youth with poverty,” Mrs. Polamalu said, “By God’s grace, Troy was able to overcome the circumstances he grew up in. However, not everyone is as fortunate as Troy.”
The Tackle Poverty initiative supports FOCUS’ sustainable assistance programs, providing “hand-up, not hand-out” interventions to help poor families and individuals live self-sufficient and successful lives.
FOCUS’ programs provide targeted services, like housing assistance, job training and professional counseling that help people move off of dependency programs.
Chris Ridley came to FOCUS after hitting rock bottom and spending seven years in prison. “I messed everything up,” Ridley said. “It only took five minutes and one big mistake.”
At his lowest point, he prayed and recommitted his life to God, “I fell to my knees and said, ‘Show me what you have for my life,’” he said.
At FOCUS, Chris found the love, support and help that he needed to support his transformation. Through FOCUS’ assistance, he has built a new and productive life for himself. “My goal is to show others that no matter what a person’s past is, it’s who they are now that matters,” Ridley said. “I represent true change that can impact the world.”
“We want to hear stories like that,” Mrs. Polamalu said, “We want to hear more stories of how people can overcome their difficult circumstances and come to understand their importance in life and that God loves them. We feel that through FOCUS these stories are real possibilities.”
Join FOCUS as we continue to help serve people in need here in America. Click here to make a donation today and help Tackle Poverty.
