Join CCCS-OC at our Client Appreciation Celebration and Graduation September 17th!
Graduation in September? Never heard of that before!
Well then, you must not be aware of the annual event put on by Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County to recognize the dozens and families and individuals who have completed their debt management plan (DMP) or housing programs in the past year.
Unlike a high school graduation ceremony, which usually occurs a few months before people head off to college and start incurring significant debt, this graduation honors all our clients' triumph over debt. It also specifically recognizes some of the more truly heartwarming client success stories, such as the tale of Shelly and Rich Mager, our 2014 DMP Graduate Clients of the Year.
Buffeted by the recent recession, by early 2010 the Magers were facing more than $100,000 in credit card debt alone. With the help of CCCS-OC Counselor Aileen Chau, they were able to become completely debt-free this year!
"Our biggest motivation for staying the course was to ensure that our two school age daughters would not inherit our mess," Shelly said. "We wanted to be in a position to help them down the road if they needed it."
After pushing through the credit card program with a perfect payment record by cutting expenses and carefully monitoring every dime they spent, the Magers have since been able to successfully tackle a number of other financial issues, including a nagging IRS bill.
"We changed and you can change," Shelly said. "There are resources to help and we're deeply appreciative of CCCS-OC. We're a happy family again with a much brighter future!"
This year's recipient of the top honors in the housing program was Jeanne Turner, who faced both financial woes and the heartbreaking loss of her husband.
"The recession hit hard," Turner said. Her husband's pay was cut and after 27 years in marketing she was laid off. And then tragedy struck - her husband underwent spinal surgery and was unable to work for four months. And then struck again - three weeks after being back on the job he was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, finally passing away on Mother's Day, 2012.
"With tears in my eyes I continued to push through the financial challenges," Jeanne said.
She applied for a home loan modification - and applied again - and resubmitted paperwork again... and the months went on with nothing to show. Finally, she turned to CCCS-OC for assistance and she and her counselor, Luisa Pinner, were finally able to get the process going through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).
Two years to the day of her husband's death she received a UPS package. Hands trembling, she opened the box and found she had qualified for a mortgage modification she could afford.
"Miracles do happen!" Jeanne said. "And I'm so thankful to CCCS-OC."
Also receiving special honors for their achievement in working successfully through the DMP program are Amber Zimmermann- Ahlo and Diana Wise, while Robert and Evangeline Matthews and Laura and Shannon Fisher are being feted for their success in the housing program.
"Our Client Appreciation and Graduation Event is the premier celebration of our year's activities," said CCCS-OC President and CEO Cheryl Spencer-Borden. "We get a chance firsthand to see that our financial counseling and plans are successful and to hear the impact we have made on people's lives. I am proud to say that for the second year in a row, CCCS-OC has had a record breaking graduation class with an impressive 15% growth."
So please join CCCS-OC for a fun-filled evening to celebrate all our clients' progress toward debt freedom and hear inspirational stories from DMP graduates and clients.
We'll also enjoy food, drink, and an insightful message from Reginald H. Gilyard, Dean of The George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics, Chapman University.
We hope to see you there!
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You're Invited
CCCS-OC Client Appreciation Celebration and Graduation
Date: September 17
Time: 6 - 8 pm
Location: Chapman University
RSVP Today
Dilani Silva
714.547.2227 x301
dsilva@cccsoc.org
Connect
Contact
Consumer Credit Counseling Service
1920 Old Tustin Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92705
map & directions
P: (800) 213-2227
F: (714) 245-1680
E: cccsoc@cccsoc.org
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