Mission
A nonprofit foundation based in Orange County, California, Pathways to Independence’s mission is to foster profound and healing changes in the lives of young women who have been traumatized by their family and/or society.
Many Pathways young women come from alcoholic families and/or have struggled with chemical dependency themselves. Others have experienced years of incest or other forms of abuse. Some have spent years in foster care or even became indigent.
Pathways’ goal is to stop the cycle of abuse and enable these young women to become independent, self sufficient members of society.
The Pathways Program: Leveraging What’s Right in the World
Pathways helps these deserving young women by providing them with professional therapy and helping them attain a college education. Through its all-volunteer network of doctors, dentists, therapists, and other professionals—and through the much-needed donations of individuals and organizations—Pathways is able to provide these women with housing, healthcare, tuition, auto repair, and more. Most importantly, the “Pathways Family” provides the foundation of love and support required for these young women to heal emotionally.
Accountability
A key aspect of Pathways to Independence is accountability. The women in Pathways (referred to as “clients” as a term of respect) are required to maintain part-time job,s commit to a full-time class schedule with a minimum GPA requirement, submit to intense therapy to help heal their childhood wounds, and interact with a mentor every week. To be allowed into the program, each girl must deeply commit to changing her life.
History
Educators Dave and Joyce Bishop founded Pathways in 1991 to help a former student at the continuation high school where Dave worked. Monica was the product of a dysfunctional alcoholic family, and at age nineteen had a two-year-old daughter and no support. With the Bishops’ help, Monica was able to get advanced training and a full-time job with health benefits for her and her daughter. Pathways to Independence received 501(c)(3) status as a Public Charity in February, 1994.
Success in Numbers
Since 1991, Pathways to Independence has served over 260 young women and can proudly say that 80% of women accepted into the program have graduated from college.- With over 92% of all donations going directly to the women, Pathways funds its program with donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and service clubs.
- Pathways women are supported by more than 300 community volunteers. Their volunteer roster includes 50+ medical professionals, 40+ licensed therapists, 10+ dentists & orthodontists, and a growing list of attorneys, printers, mechanics, accountants, and other professionals. All of these professionals generously donate their services free of charge.
