pet care that unleashes human potential 2024
a note from our founding CEO
2024 proved to be a remarkable year for Pawsperity. Since moving into our new facility in 2023, we have been in capacity-building mode, trying to impact as many lives as possible. As we quadrupled the number of families we can serve in our new school, we have also experienced some growing pains. I am proud of how our team has faced these hurdles head on, improving our overall student experience and outcomes. Fortunately, we are seeing the positive result of changes that were implemented last year.
Our case managers and grooming instructors work hard to keep our students in class for thirty-five hours a week for 7 months to reach graduation. During this time, students are experiencing homelessness, unreliable transportation, childcare disruptions, domestic violence, learning disabilities, and mental health challenges.
In the past, our program was self-paced. While we encouraged students to finish in a 7-month timeframe, often it would take much longer. As we have grown, we noticed our attendance rate had dropped, as well as more students not finishing the program. While 100% of those who graduated still found employment within sixty days of graduation, these new issues still had to be addressed.
In August of 2024, we decided to restructure our grooming school. Even though students are facing obstacles that would keep most people from attending class altogether, we decided to lean into student accountability. We set a 70% minimum attendance rate as a requirement to pass each of the 6 courses. We knew the sooner our students graduate and bring in a living wage, the sooner they can remove the obstacles trapping them in poverty.
On top of increased attendance requirements, we made our skills testing more stringent to ensure we were graduating qualified dog groomers. Students must now receive 80% or above to pass the skills test and graduate from each course. Every 5 weeks, each course has a skills test week and 2 weeks prior to that, there is a "pre-test” week — giving both the instructor and the student time to work on areas needing additional support.
These changes allowed cohorts of students to stay together, versus having individuals at different levels often feeling more alone. Students say it is very positive to study and celebrate moving through courses together.
I am happy to report the first cohort under the new 2024 structure will graduate in April of 2025. Early numbers already show an 18% increase in attendance rate and a 17% increase in our graduation rate, meaning fewer students are dropping out during the program. Our overall student satisfaction rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars indicates we are on the right path.
2024 was a year of change for Pawsperity. Fortunately, we are now seeing the positive results of those changes. I want to thank you for supporting our mission and making this journey alongside us. Together, we can continue to make a real difference.
Board President Treasurer Secretary
Tom McDonnell Jarrod Sanderson Terry Garberg
8k AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME OF INCOMING STUDENTS
$ 47k AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME PAWSPERITY GRADUATES $
100k INCOME OF OUR HIGHEST EARNING GRADUATE $
THAT’S A
466%
INCREASE AFTER COMPLETING OUR 7-MONTH PROGRAM
100% OF STUDENTS WERE EMPLOYED WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF GRADUATION IN 2024
“Ten years ago, I couldn’t have dreamed of living on my own. Now, I’m off government assistance, no longer rely on food pantries, and I’m closing on the house of my dreams.” - KELLY, GRADUATE
36 STUDENTS GRADUATED IN 2024
55 PROJECTED GRADUATES FOR 2025
65 PROJECTED GRADUATES FOR 2026
curriculum overview
Since our inception in 2016, we’ve been dedicated to preparing students for a career in the grooming industry and all of the challenges life may bring. This year, we reorganized and streamlined our curriculum ensuring students demonstrate highquality skills while keeping cohorts together. The impact of these changes have been huge.
After the completion of our 7-month program, students’ lives are transformed completely. Armed with the tools they need to succeed, Pawsperity students break the cycle of generational poverty.
courses
INTRO TO BATHING + BRUSHING 101
7 months TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM
790 hours OF HANDS-ON GROOMING INSTRUCTION
92 hours OF CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS COURSES
AND GROOMING THE FULL ANATOMY
life skills
It takes more than top-notch grooming skills to succeed in a career and in life. Thanks in part to our community partners, we’re able to offer courses in parenting, financial health, mindfulness, and customer service.
Our partnerships help us provide the best possible education and resources, like accessible bank accounts for students for whom that would otherwise be impossible.
These courses enrich the grooming education students receive and prepare them for life beyond Pawsperity.
wraparound services
Pawsperity students come from a wide variety of backgrounds—homelessness, incarceration, domestic violence, and other traumatic pasts. They need more than an education; they likely need help with their most basic needs. Our “wraparound” services like housing, case management, food assistance, and the numerous other services our students receive are just as critical to student success as our curriculum.
family residence
In 2021, we opened a 6-unit Family Residence 2 blocks from the school. Units are fully furnished, with a private bath, in-unit laundry, and shared living areas and kitchens. The fenced property has parking, outdoor play space, and a community garden and orchard.
An onsite housing case manager is available during after-school hours to support students and their families as they learn to navigate school and community living. The case manager provides group and individual counseling on topics like boundaries, as well as specialized case management services. She runs bi-weekly house meetings and promotes a sense of community, offering support with conflict resolution, communal meal preparation, and social activities for students and their children.
11
100% OF STUDENTS HAVE CRITICAL HOUSING NEEDS
Eligibility for the Family Residence is based on need, unit availability, and completion of Course 101. Students can stay in the Residence for the program duration and sometimes immediately following graduation, depending upon the situation. For parents who have lost custody of their children, the Residence also provides a secure, stable visitation/reunification site.
FAMILIES LIVED AT THE RESIDENCE IN 2024 $
TOTAL VALUE OF FOOD DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS 75,678
food pantry
Our onsite food pantry supplies all students with daily breakfasts and lunches, as well as nonperishable food items for them to take home to feed their families. We also receive weekly donations of fresh produce, allowing students to “shop” for additional healthy options for their families.
events
entrepreneur of the year awards
In November, our Founding CEO, Natasha Herdman, was recognized at the UMKC Bloch School of Management’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards with the Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship. This prestigious award recognizes Natasha for her outstanding work in founding and leading Pawsperity.
“It has been my dream to paint a new picture for adults who grew up in generational poverty and teach them how to break the cycle for their kids. I feel very honored to receive the Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship.”
- NATASHA HERDMAN
dog days of summer
In July, we had donors and clients onsite to celebrate the “Dog Days of Summer.” We had fun celebrating all things Pawsperity with a talk from a program graduate, shopping, a scavenger hunt around our building, pet portraits, and adoptable puppies from the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.
pup pageant
In 2024 we introduced a brand new fundraiser — the Pawsperity Pup Pageant! This pet costume contest had pets and their owners strutting their stuff across the stage at Bar K, all in support of Pawsperity. Not only was it one of the most fun days of the year, but dozens of Kansas City pet owners learned about Pawsperity for the first time.
magazine launch
The annual magazine, Grooming | Love and Hope, had been paused since 2022. In October of 2024, we released a new issue filled with graduate success stories. Firehouse KC was the location for a great magazine launch party.
Guests enjoyed live music, food and drink, and got to hear Christine, our magazine cover story, speak about her new experience of becoming a business owner. Graduates from the featured articles were on hand to chat and answer questions.
BOARD PRESIDENT, TOM MCDONNELL, ADDRESSES THE ROOM
FEATURED GRADUATES CHRISTINE AND JODIE ENJOY A MOMENT TOGETHER
We would like to give a special thank you to Hallie Sigwing for donating photography services for the 2024 magazine and organizing the photoshoot! We extend further thanks to Brush Co. Studio, Bronzed and Blushed, and Record Hair Co. for donating their spaces and services for the 2024 photoshoot.
ATTENDEES READ THE MAGAZINE AFTER THE COVER REVEAL
AMY, A FEATURED GRADUATE AND CURRENT INSTRUCTOR, STANDS PROUD IN FRONT OF HER SPREAD
UNVEILING THE 2024 MAGAZINE COVER
cover story
In 2016, Christine joined the inaugural class of Pawsperity at the age of 26, a quiet, resilient single mother determined to secure a better future for her children. Her son was learning to walk, and her daughter was about to lose her first tooth. Today, Christine stands as the proud owner of her own grooming salon, having transformed her life and career through hard work, dedication, and the unwavering support of Pawsperity.
Christine’s journey began with a “rocky” upbringing, but she persevered and earned a cosmetology license after high school. However, the limited hours and low pay made it difficult to support her family. She even took a part-time job at Taco Bell to supplement her income, sacrificing precious time with her children.
Interestingly, Christine’s path to Pawsperity was through her children. A contact at Operation Breakthrough, where they were enrolled, told her about the new dog grooming program and gave her a flyer when she went to pick them up. “She said, ‘You will be great for the program. You should go.’”
Once she was accepted, Christine knew she was on track to a better, more fulfilling and financially stable future. She not only excelled at dog grooming but also found a special camaraderie with the dogs and with her fellow students.
“It was really, really amazing,” Christine said. “The pets were so calm. I never thought I would be grooming animals, but it’s relaxing, it’s therapeutic.”
Upon graduation, Christine’s dedication and talent led her to manage Pawsperity’s Lee’s Summit Salon, a full-service pet grooming salon. Under her leadership, the salon thrived, providing top-notch services to clients while creating opportunities for other Pawsperity graduates.
Reflecting on her achievement of purchasing the salon she once managed, Christine said, “The best part of buying the salon is taking care of the pets and the staff.” She credits her success to the motivation and support she received from Pawsperity, emphasizing the importance of having someone in her corner who understood her struggles and guided her toward her goals.
Christine’s journey has impacted her family. She can now provide for her children in ways she couldn’t before, allowing them small luxuries that were once out of reach. “You know, before, I wasn’t able to provide certain things for my children because of living on government assistance. But now, they can get one thing at the store and not nothing,” she shared, smiling.
As a new business owner, Christine is most excited about the opportunity to help others. She plans to hire more Pawsperity graduates, continuing the cycle of support and success that she benefited from herself. Christine attributes her achievements to the numerous mentors and supporters who guided her.
Earlier this year, Christine humbly accepted an honorary resolution from the Jackson Country Legislature who was inspired by her story. This is a great acknowledgement of her positive effect in our community.
Christine’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, community support, and the transformative impact of Pawsperity. From a struggling single mother to a successful business owner, she proves that with perseverance, faith, hard work, and the support of others, anything is truly possible.
individual volunteers
With volunteers that come from all ages, motivations, and backgrounds, Pawsperity has thrived. Individuals looking to make a big impact in only a few hours can volunteer with us in a wide array of areas. Our different volunteer opportunities revolve around food security, community outreach, student mentoring, facility support, and more.
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1,735 HOURS OF INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERING
3,735 HOURS OF GROUP VOLUNTEERING
5,488 TOTAL HOURS VOLUNTEERED
What I respect most about Pawsperity is that it doesn’t just pay lip service to giving its students a second chance.
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- DENISE
group volunteers
We are proud to have community partners who dedicate time as volunteers. From bandana cutting to weeding gardens at our Residence, group volunteering from both community organizations and companies makes a real difference. It is a win-win with excellent team building, too!
food team
Volunteers are a crucial piece to our food assistance program. Our Food Team volunteers pick up food donations from partner organizations like Harvesters, Pete’s Garden, and Bishops’ Storehouse and bring it back to Pawsperity. On Mondays, picked-up produce is organized for shopping, which classes do together after their life skills courses. We receive very positive feedback from students regarding the impact our food pantry has on their school expeirence.
bandana cutting
Every dog who gets groomed at Pawsperity leaves with a bandana on their neck — an industry standard that is a perfect final touch. Since Pawsperity receives a high volume of dogs each day, we go through thousands of bandanas of all sizes each year. When volunteers help cut bandanas, they’re ensuring that students are spending their time where it’s most valuable: hands-on grooming instruction.
garden + orchard caretakers
Our Family Residence has a garden and orchard onsite. Not only does this provide life in the Residence yard, but also supplies Pawsperity with some food for students and residents. Our garden and orchard caretakers use their green thumbs to keep the Residence looking beautiful and keep our students fed with fresh, local produce.
Grooming is vital to both our instruction and our financial health, providing both learning tools and revenue that support the program as a whole. We are grateful to the thousands of pet owners who entrust their pets with us, and are proud to provide high-quality, low-cost grooming services to keep pets happy and healthy.
top breeds
1. Poodle/Poodle Mix
2. Shih Tzu
3. Golden Retriever
4. Yorkshire Terrier
5. Havanese
6,786
grooming
206,670
“I don’t think I can ever go to another place to groom my dog. These people CARE! Care that they do a good job. Care that you’re happy. And most importantly, care about your pet. I cannot recommend Pawsperity more!”
CLIENT REVIEW
Our students have to demonstrate proficiency in several breed standard grooms before they can graduate from our program. To incentivize some of the most sought-after breeds to come in, we offerred special discounts each month. This diversified our pool of dog clients and helped expose students to a wide variety of breeds well before test day.
breed specials clean paws pass continuing education
Our students in 101: Intro to Bathing need lots of dogs to practice their bathing techniques. We started the Clean Paws Pass, an unlimited Bath program, to help fill this need and offer clients an excellent maintenance program.
We’re proud to continue to offer courses that help our graduates remain competitive in the market. Continuing education courses on products and techniques help our graduates hone the skills they learned in grooming school and pick up new skills that are not part of our standard curriculum.
DR. DALE SANSON | PET-AG, INC.
kappa homes tour
Each year, the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma puts on a holiday homes tour to raise money for local charities, and Pawsperity was a 2024 recipient. We were able to share our mission with tour attendees and received a share of the ticket sales, totaling $21,000.
This year, we were honored to be included in the Light the World Giving Machines, a program sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During the holiday season, vending machines were placed inside of Union Station. Instead of purchasing a drink or snack from the machines, individuals could “purchase” items for area nonprofits like Pawsperity. Through this unique program and the generosity of our community, we raised over $26,000.
$ $ $ $
988,410 AWARDED IN GRANTS
500,890 FROM INDIVIDUAL DONORS
341,641 IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING
129,864 FROM CORPORATE PARTNERS
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cara, mike, & barry
PAW MEMBERS
It’s like how they say you can give a man a fish, but teaching a man to fish keeps him fed forever. [Pawsperity] is keeping families fed forever.
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We are fortunate to have many private foundations who have supported us over the years. While their support continued in 2024, we also worked on building both our individual donor base and our corporate partnerships.
We had more companies onsite than ever before, volunteering, listening to our presentations, and touring. At the same time, we invited donors to many of our onsite events and kept them updated through our monthly newsletters and eblasts. We also highlighted our Paw Membership Program, a monthly giving opportunity, through a special summer campaign.
Paw Members give monthly and receive perks like an annual gift and discounts on grooming and merchandise. Their regular, sustained support helps us with long-term stability.
BECOME A PAW MEMBER
This year, we also finished up our heart tag donor wall, which featured the variety of funders who made getting into our new facility possible. This wall is just outside our lobby and qualified donors also received a keepsake heart tag.
giving opportunities
It takes all of us to create positive change. Without your support, none of our vital work can be completed. When you give to Pawsperity, you’re helping another family in your community break the cycle of poverty, enter the workforce with meaningful skills, and unleash their human potential.
