Denise Proutt

Denise Proutt was recognized with the Live Your Dream Award in the amount of $2,000. The
award recognizes women supporting a family while attending a higher education or technical or
undergraduate degree program. Proutt, the single mother of three children, is currently pursuing
an Associates of Arts Degree in Accounting at Peninsula College. She received staunch support
through her letter of recommendation.

I became a single mother almost 2 years ago. So I have done it on my own ever since. Shortly after becoming a single mother I was involved in a hit and run accident. The person that hit me left the scene and I have been dealing with that ever since. I had to
leave my two jobs because in the wreck my ACL was torn and I was not able to walk. It took almost 10 months to get the surgery since we had to find the person that hit me and then we had to deal with the court so my surgery could be paid for. After surgery I
could not walk for 5 months due to complications. So when it comes to financial responsibility it has been lacking at my house. I am just now at the point I am trying to get caught up on everything, however; I am in the process of losing the home me and my kids live in because the land lord wants to sell the house.

While not being able to work I decided to go back to school so that I could get into a field that I enjoy. I like working with numbers, so accounting seemed like a good choice for me. I am working on an Associates Degree in Administrative Office Systems-Accounting
I’m so thankful that my surgeon cleared me to go back to work. I am looking for work now.
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Her Reference stated: “I am highly recommending Denise for this award as she has worked really hard to get to where she is today.

Last quarter, she came in once or twice a week to work on her homework just to make sure everything was done correctly to keep up in the class. She is a smart young lady, and she knows what she needs to do, and she is doing it!”

Amber Tatarek

Amber Tatarek received the Live Your Dream Award in the amount of $1,500. Tatarek, who
holds an Associate of Arts Degree, is enrolled in Peninsula College’s Bachelor of Applied
Science in Management with a specialization in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. The single
mother of one seeks to pursue a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Her recommendation
strongly supported her educational goals.

I am currently attending the bachelor’s program for Business in Applied Science with a concentration in Entrepreneurship/Marketing that will help me achieve my goals of financial security, business ownership, and help me gain more skills and knowledge about how to manage my own business. This business opportunity will be my primary source of income and financial stability. I own a small soy candle business that I plan to have as a mission-based, human-focused, community-
centered business. This small business will help bring in income, create a space for others to find healing and purpose through peer coaching and service opportunities, and will support our local
social services community focusing on behavioral health, substance use, and trauma recovery.
I’m a single mom of a teenager, in the midst of transitioning into a new career in Business and am focusing on completing my degree at Peninsula College. We come from adversity, and I’m
the first in my family to break the chains of the family disease of alcoholism and overcome the adverse childhood effects of trauma. One thing I’ve learned is that by reducing my stress in one area of my life, I am able to thrive in others. I’m currently in my last quarter for my Bachelor’s, due to graduate in June. By completing my degree and gaining the security I need to thrive, this allows me to move out of survival mode so that my son and I
can truly thrive. I receive financial aid assistance through grants and worker retraining so my tuition is covered without the need of student loans, any additional financial support has helped with the
cost of books, supplies, and any needs that come up for us to help at home. Finally, after I complete my Bachelors degree, my hope is to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA). I’ve been accepted into the MPA program at The Evergreen State College and plan to attend starting in Fall of 2025.

My passion lies in advocacy, bringing awareness to recovery, supporting theirs in their own healing journeys and sharing what helped me overcome my prior circumstances, it’s how I spend my free time, and I’d like to continue that work through a formal approach in my business. I volunteer as the Co-Lead for the Salish Recovery Coalition spanning Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties. Though I may not be in a role of traditional business, my true passion is helping people overcome adverse effects of childhood trauma from abuse/DV, mental health challenges, and substance use.