Celebration of Success – Another Successful Year!
Eighteen AHA residents and their families were honored at the
9th Annual Celebration of Success held September 26, 2006 at the Arapahoe County CentrePoint Plaza.
This event is sponsored every year by the Aurora Housing Corporation, Aurora Housing Authority and STRIDE.
Most honorees are graduates of the Corporation’s Families in Transition (FIT) Program or the AHA Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. Many have risen from homelessness to home ownership, or have achieved other goals such as furthering their education and getting better jobs to support their families. Preston Prince, AHA executive director said, “These are people who’ve overcome major obstacles to get themselves off assistance and moving toward a dream of home ownership.”
Two community service partners, Kim Rapier, Aurora Housing Authority, and Ramona Graves, A Home of Their Own, were also honored for their contributions to the community.
Under the theme of “Follow Your Dreams,” the
celebration started 
with a buffet dinner from
Katherine’s Catering followed by a motivational speech from Aurora City Councilwoman Molly Markert. The evening ended with a magic show from Ned’s Mile High Magic & More.
Preston Prince, Executive Director of the
Aurora Housing Authority and Master of Ceremonies for the evening, presented each honoree with a customized plaque and letter of congratulations from U.S. Senator Ken Salazar. Preston was assisted by Dave Hoover, Chairman of the Board of the STRIDE organization. Each honoree was recognized for their individual achievements.
Honoree Tracy Starkey was a single mom living on unemployment and unsure about her family’s future in 2003. While on the S
ection 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program she decided to take control of her life and open her own daycare facility. After going through the required training and licensing procedures, she was able to open her own childcare facility in 2004 and recently took herself off assistance. Starkey is now self sufficient and working toward her dream of home ownership.
Jeanetta McCain, a single mother of two was recognized for her achievements while on the FSS program, including completing Kaiser’s L.P.N. program, paying off debt and repairing her credit. After attending classes through the Colorado Housing Assistance Program and the Home Ownership Assistance Program she was pre-approved for a home loan and moved into her new home this past April.
Honoree Judy Moore commented after receiving her recognition that she’s thankful to the AHA, the AHC and Stride for “building communities one family at a time.”
Other honorees included Elijah and Rashaunda Bell, Janelle Bianchi, Candice Carr, Rachel Colorado, Debra Durst, Candice Few, Sybil Lewis, Sharita Link, Kecia Montague, Toia Nash, Sandra Ragland, Jennifer Rhoades, Rose Santana, Kari Shie and Angelic White.
Other special guests at the event included Erin Minks from Senator Ken Salazar’s office, Holly Ratzlaff from Congressman Bob Beauprez’s office, Aurora City Councilwoman Renie Peterson and Arapahoe County Commissioner Lynn Myers.
For more information, contact Jennifer Siegel. 720.251.2105