One Family Scholars Program Celebrates the Highest Number of Formerly Homeless and...

One Family Scholars Program Celebrates the Highest Number of Formerly Homeless
and At-Risk Mothers to Graduate from College

Annual Mothers of Inspiration Gala on May 4, 2009 to Celebrate the
Accomplishments of These 38 One Family Scholars

BOSTON, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- One Family, Inc., a not-for-profit
organization started by Paul and Phyllis Fireman and family with a mission of
ending family homelessness in Massachusetts, announced today that this year 38
women who were formerly homeless or at-risk for homelessness will complete the
One Family Scholars program and graduate from college; this is the highest
number in the organization's history. One Family will celebrate the
accomplishments of these courageous women at their annual Mothers of
Inspiration gala on May 4, 2009 at the Westin Copley Place Boston.

"With family homeless numbers on the rise, attention needs to be on prevention
and helping mothers and families break the cycle of homelessness. One Family
Scholars is a unique and successful program that helps formerly homeless and
at-risk mothers attain a college education so they can enter careers that will
allow them to support their families," says Denise Durham Williams, One
Family's new Executive Director.

The One Family Scholars program offers one-of-a-kind scholarships; in addition
to college tuition, scholarships include flexible funds for everyday expenses
such as transportation, rent, and childcare to allow the scholars to focus on
earning a college degree. Scholars also benefit from leadership training,
financial literacy and professional development to help them build a path to
economic independence.

"We are very proud of all of our One Family Scholars. They are courageous and
determined women who recognize that education is the path out of homelessness
and poverty for themselves and their children. They also recognize that they
are their children's role models and need to show them that getting good
grades, staying in school and getting a college degree are essential," said
Hope W. Koram, One Family Scholars Program Director.

There are a total of 125 One Family Scholars in the 2008-2009 academic year.
The women represent the faces of homeless families in Massachusetts in both
geographic location and ethnicity (39% Caucasian, 29% African-American, 16%
Latina/Hispanic, 6% African, 4% Cape Verdean, 3% Asian, 1% Bi-racial and 2%
Other). The majority of women enrolled range in age from 26 to 38 and have an
average of 1.7 children, with a total of 201 children.

About One Family, Inc.

One Family, a private-public partnership founded by Paul and Phyllis Fireman
and family, is committed to ending family homelessness in Massachusetts.
Working together with elected officials, faith and community leaders, higher
learning institutions and private businesses, One Family is helping to break
the cycle of poverty and homelessness and to provide stability for future
generations. Every day, One Family is changing policies and changing lives by
building solution-based responses to homelessness and awakening the broader
public to the realization that we are all one family, and that our public
policies and private acts must be responsive to the plight of our poorest
members.

Recognizing education is the pathway out of poverty, One Family offers the One
Family Scholars Program -- a unique scholarship program that provides flexible
funds for everyday expenses such as transportation, rent, and childcare to
allow the scholars to focus on earning a college degree. Scholars also benefit
from leadership training, financial literacy and professional development to
help them build a path to economic independence. For further information,
visit www.OneFamilyInc.org

About the 2009 Mothers of Inspiration Gala

One Family, Inc.'s 2009 Mothers of Inspiration gala will take place on Monday,
May 4th at the Westin Copley Place, Boston from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Leadership
Sponsors currently include:

The Jenzabar Foundation -- The mission of The Jenzabar Foundation is to
recognize and support the good works and humanitarian efforts of student
leaders serving others across the global community. The Foundation seeks to
foster a culture of service and to educate and inspire future generations to
create a better world.

Dana and Robert Smith

Dancing Deer Baking Co. -- Since 2001, Dancing Deer has donated 35 percent of
the revenues from its Sweet Home product line (www.dancingdeer.com/sweethome)
to fund the One Family Scholars program. In April and May 2009, the company's
CEO, Trish Karter, will ride her bicycle from Atlanta to Boston for homeless
families. Along the way, she'll be stopping at homeless shelters, reaffirming
Dancing Deer's philanthropic mission of ending family homelessness. During the
ride, all online donations and proceeds from the Sweet Home line will be used
to build the Scholars program outside of Massachusetts.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ATTEND THE MOTHERS OF INSPIRATION GALA,
PLEASE CONTACT:
Eve Harris, One Family, Inc., 186 South Street, Boston, MA 02111
617.423.0504; 617.388.6743 (cell)
eharris@OneFamilyInc.org

SOURCE One Family, Inc.

Eve Harris of One Family, Inc., +1-617-423-0504, or +1-617-388-6743 (cell),
eharris@OneFamilyInc.org