| Dear Friend,
On a bright Saturday in late November, the Relationship Skills Center's first annual Wedding Marathon, an occasion of much joy and celebration, took place. Eight couples that graduated from relationship skills classes were married in ceremonies as unique as their stories.
One such story is that of Damorio and Safiya. Damorio proposed to his bride, Safiya, the morning after their first child, a daughter, was stillborn. They now have another little girl.
"After that tragedy, we were bonded and decided to make a life together," Safiya said. "And God blessed us with Baby Celeste."
Safiya and Damorio, who are both 31, met at a marketing class at American River College in Sacramento. The bridegroom, a chef looking for work, and the bride, a homemaker, said they jumped at the chance to get married with the other couples.
"It was the only way we could do this," Safiya said. "Our savings went toward our first daughter's funeral. The second time we had savings, Celeste came along."
Couples in the Sacramento area, like Safiya and Damorio, want to love and support one another and create healthy, strong, and safe families. Over 200 families have turned to the Relationship Skills Center for assistance in making this happen. In the news, we are continually reminded that healthy families are the key to creating a healthy society.
Though a great deal has been accomplished, much work still needs to be done and we need your support. Will you consider sending us a donation? $10 will purchase a workbook for a young person, $50 will provide a relationship class to a couple which will change their lives forever, and $200 will sponsor an entire relationship class at a middle or high school.
The work we do changes relationships for good. Thank you for your dedication to and support of Sacramento area families!
Sending you and your family health and happiness in the New Year,
Carolyn Rich Curtis, Ph.D. Executive Director
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