A Major Investment in Arizona’s Single-Parent Students: Save the Family Receives $500,000 Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation

Big things are happening at Phoenix Scholar House.

Save the Family is proud to announce a transformational $500,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation that will expand education and support services at Phoenix Scholar House – Arizona’s first affordable housing community created specifically for single parents pursuing higher education.

This two-year investment is more than funding—it’s an investment in parents who are working to build a better future for their families.

Expanding Opportunity Beyond Housing

Phoenix Scholar House welcomed its first residents in March and reached full occupancy just a few months later. Families are already experiencing the stability, encouragement, and sense of community that comes from having a safe place to call home while pursuing higher education.

This is a new housing model for Arizona: one that combines affordable housing with education, career development, and personalized support to help single parents achieve long-term financial independence.

Now, thanks to The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, those services will grow even stronger.

The grant will expand:

• Academic coaching
• Career development services
• Financial literacy education
• Individualized case management
• Family support services
• Career resources for single parents across the Valley to access educational and career resources—even if they don’t live at Phoenix Scholar House.

By strengthening these programs, Save the Family can help even more parents stay on track toward earning college degrees, workforce certifications, and careers that create lasting stability for their families.

Removing Barriers So Families Can Thrive

For many single parents, the dream of earning a college degree often competes with the daily challenge of keeping a roof over their children’s heads.

Bob Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, says that’s exactly why Phoenix Scholar House matters.

“You can’t expect someone to focus on school if they don’t know where they’re going to sleep. Phoenix Scholar House solves that first, so parents can focus on what comes next—real opportunities that only an education can make possible.”

Renee Parsons echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the long-term impact education can have on an entire family.

“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. 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.”

A Model That Works

Phoenix Scholar House is Arizona’s first community based on the nationally recognized Family Scholar House model, which has helped thousands of single parents earn degrees while raising their children.

The results speak for themselves.

While only 18% of single-parent college students nationwide complete a post-secondary degree, Family Scholar House participants graduate at an extraordinary 89% rate.

That success comes from removing the barriers that often stand between parents and higher education—starting with stable housing.

Building Momentum

We are incredibly grateful to The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation for believing in this vision and partnering with us to create brighter futures for Arizona families.

Together, we’re proving that when families have stable housing, personalized support, and access to education, extraordinary things are possible.