Save the Family Awarded $500,000 Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to Expand Phoenix Scholar House Programming.

Two-year investment will strengthen education, career development and family support services for Arizona’s first Scholar House community

Save the Family Foundation of Arizona received a $500,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to expand programming and support services at Phoenix Scholar House, Arizona’s first affordable housing community designed specifically for single parents pursuing higher education.

The two-year grant will strengthen the comprehensive support system that helps Scholar House residents succeed both in the classroom and at home. Funding will expand academic coaching, career development, financial literacy, individualized case management, and family support services while also growing the program’s non-residential scholar component, allowing more single parents to access educational and career resources even if they don’t live on-site.

“Family Scholar House participants achieve an extraordinary 89% graduation rate—far exceeding the national average of 18% for single-parent students completing post-secondary education,” said Robyn Julien, CEO of Save the Family. “This transformational investment from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation allows us to strengthen every aspect of the Phoenix Scholar House program so more families can earn their degrees, build lasting financial independence, and create brighter futures for generations to come.”

Phoenix Scholar House, which opened earlier this year, is the first community in Arizona based on the nationally recognized Family Scholar House model. The innovative approach combines affordable housing with education and wraparound services, helping single parents earn college degrees, certifications, or workforce credentials while providing their children with the stability needed to thrive.

“You can’t expect someone to focus on school if they don’t know where they’re going to sleep,” said Bob Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Phoenix Scholar House solves that first, so parents can focus on what comes next—real opportunities that only an education can make possible.”

Phoenix Scholar House reached full occupancy last month, after opening its doors to residents in March of this year. Families who have made the community their home are already reporting an increased sense of support, security, and hope for the future, and this is only the beginning.

“Education has the power to change the trajectory of an entire family, but all too often single parents are faced with having to choose between earning a degree or keeping a roof over their child’s head,” said Renee Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “By removing barriers that stand in the way of higher education, Scholar House gives parents the stability they need to pursue their goals and create lasting opportunities for their families.”

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that empower, educate, nurture, and nourish people during some of the most challenging times in their lives. The Foundation’s investment in Phoenix Scholar House reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to education, stable housing, and long-term opportunity for Arizona families.