Saving Grace offers guidance, support and resources

Becky Shaffer

Co-Founder and Executive Director Saving Grace NWA

Tell us about your organization: ■ Mission: Saving Grace is a Christ-centered home in Northwest Arkansas offering hope and transformation to young women lacking critical supports. We provide relationships, skills and resources to empower generational change.

■ Services provided: We serve girls who are aging out of foster care or are homeless. This program

is very experiential — we believe good experiences heal bad experiences. Saving Grace provides the girls a wonderful “home” that is safe and stable, a place to thrive while learning basic life skills and receiving coaching to reach their goals and counseling to help overcome childhood trauma. Each one is connected to three women in the Northwest Arkansas area who mentor for life.

■ Service area: Northwest Arkansas.

■ Average number of people served annually: Saving Grace serves 12 young women at a time in our space, but many more beyond that. We also continue to serve the girls who transition into the community and also provide support and encouragement for their mentors.

How is your organization’s mission unique? Saving Grace NWA serves one girl at a time, focusing on helping her make changes that break the cycle of poverty for generations to come. The culture of poverty is difficult to change, but through time, education and a safe place to practice and learn how to function without government assistance and to sustain relationships — it can be life altering. We focus on specific areas of relationships, education, volunteerism, life skills and building a personal foundation of wellness, physically and spiritually.

Why do you work or volunteer for a nonprofit organization? Do you have a personal connection to the mission? If so, what is it? I grew up in “the system” and “aged out” when I graduated from high school and was virtually homeless when I was 19. That was 30 years ago, and not much had changed [with the system] when Saving Grace was founded in 2009. There’s a lot more emphasis on the issue now, but we believe what we are doing to serve this population is truly helping to break the cycle. It’s evident in the girls transitioning from our program. However, there is still much work to be done!

What part of your job fills the most of your time? As the executive director, I’m involved in all areas of this nonprofit, managing the organization as a whole. However, I serve with the greatest team in Northwest Arkansas, and they do a phenomenal job in their areas of service! We also have a very talented group of professionals serving on our board! I don’t do this work alone.

What challenges face your organization? One of the greatest challenges is space. We’ve received well over 400 applicants since opening in 2010 and have served just over 100 in the building we are currently in. We have a desire to serve more!

Are there volunteer opportunities in your organization? We have a variety of opportunities to serve! Please reach out to Amanda at amanda@ savinggracenwa.org if you’re interested in getting involved.

What upcoming fundraisers or other events does your organization have planned? We are having our ninth annual Butterflies & Blooms Luncheon on April 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is held at John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, and seating is limited. Information: amanda@saving gracenwa.org.

Shaffer