Room to Rise: A Family’s Path to Stability and a Business with People Inc.’s RISE Program
When Brandon is offered a job opportunity in Virginia, it feels like the right move for his family. He and his wife, Kira, pack up their lives in Florida and relocate with their three children, hopeful and ready to begin a new chapter.
But shortly after they settle in, the job falls through. Without the income they were counting on, the pressure sets in fast.
What follows is a turning point. Through People Incorporated Financial Services (PIFS), Brandon and Kira connect with RISE, Reaching Independence through Savings and Education, a matched savings program that helps eligible individuals and families work toward financial goals through saving, financial education, and one-on-one support.
With monthly guidance from PIFS and a clear plan, Brandon and Kira begin rebuilding stability step by step.
“The savings match was a game changer,” Brandon says. “We were able to pay off a lot of our own debt and get ourselves a little bit more stable financially. It helped us start moving toward long-term goals for our family, like getting a house.”
Through the RISE program and support from PIFS, Brandon and Kira paid down a substantial amount of household debt and regained financial footing for their family. At the same time, Kira started leveraging RISE to prepare for the launch of her own small business, setting the stage for their next chapter.
A Surprising Path Forward
Through a referral from local social services, Brandon enrolls in the RISE program during a period of financial uncertainty. What surprised both Brandon and Kira was how straightforward the process felt once they got started.
“It was pretty easy getting signed up with it,” Brandon explains. “They just needed to take a look at our income, see where we sat as far as how much we were bringing in and how much we were able to save. It was really easy to get approved and into the program. It wasn’t hard at all.”
From the beginning, Brandon and Kira work closely with Faith Johnson, RISE Program and Administrative Specialist with PIFS. Faith meets with Brandon monthly, helping him review his budget, build financial management skills, and stay focused on clear, achievable goals.
“It was a pretty smooth process,” Faith says. “Brandon met with me monthly to go over his budget and do some financial management training.”
With that steady guidance from PIFS, the couple focuses on saving consistently and following a plan that makes sense for their household. Each month, they track progress together and watch their savings grow through the program’s match.
“It allowed us to see our contributions grow,” Brandon recalls. “It felt like our efforts were actually making a difference.”
Room to Breathe
In just six months, Brandon becomes the first participant to complete the RISE program. Together, Brandon and Kira pay down a substantial amount of household debt and begin easing the financial pressure they carry.
“I can’t stress how much that financial freedom really takes a lot of stress off you. It can get very overwhelming — getting stuck in debt,” Brandon says. “Having that assistance really makes a difference.”
The impact of RISE is beyond numbers on a spreadsheet. For Brandon and Kira, financial stability means relief. It means showing up for their kids with less stress and more confidence.
“We’re able to provide a decent Christmas for the kids. That’s always a big concern for any parent,” Brandon shares. “Being able to provide for our family and having a more sound financial situation is just a huge relief.”
With some of that pressure lifted, the family begins thinking beyond survival and toward long-term goals, including homeownership and building something lasting for their children.
From Spark to Something Real
As Brandon moves through the RISE program, something begins to shift for Kira as well. With the household gaining steadier footing, she finds herself returning to an idea she has carried quietly for years: the possibility of building a small business of her own.
This time, the idea feels different. With support in place and space to think beyond immediate needs, Kira decides to start taking that vision seriously. She joins RISE during Brandon’s participation, not to rush toward an end goal, but to begin laying the groundwork.
Through People Incorporated Financial Services and the RISE program, Kira is introduced to planning tools designed to help turn early ideas into something more tangible. One of those tools, Initiate, helps her easily navigate the process, breaking big concepts into manageable steps.
“It helped me see a plan instead of all these tasks that were overwhelming,” Kira shares. “I could actually see a path from start to finish.”
Kira is currently building Pink Lotus Group LLC, operating under Pink Lotus Virtual Solutions. The business is a relaunch of an earlier venture, and this time she is building it with intention, structure, and ongoing support through PIFS and RISE. Rather than feeling stuck at the starting line, she feels ready to move forward.
“Personally, it put a little fire under me,” she says. “I feel like I actually have a chance at making this work. It helped me get organized.”
With guided planning and steady encouragement, Kira begins mapping out next steps, transforming ideas into an action plan she can follow as she works toward launch.
Her vision is rooted in lived experience. As someone who is autistic and has ADHD, Kira understands firsthand how challenging traditional work environments can be for neurodivergent individuals. As Pink Lotus Virtual Solutions continues to take shape, her long-term goal is to create flexible, remote job opportunities for others who need work that fits their lives and how they work best.
“I want to focus on being able to hire virtual assistants that are neurodivergent,” she says. “People who struggle getting regular jobs and struggle with being out in the workforce and need something from home.”
The work ahead is still unfolding, but the foundation is clear. Kira is building a business that values different ways of thinking and makes room for people to show up as they are.
What Becomes Possible
Today, Brandon and Kira move forward with greater financial freedom and confidence. Brandon remains focused on long-term security for his family, while Kira prepares for the next phase of launching her business.
For Faith, who works closely with RISE participants through People Incorporated Financial Services, that range of progress is exactly what the program is meant to support.
“The program is a great program that could help a lot of people. It can help you to purchase a vehicle, purchase a home, or even put a down payment toward your first home. Also, you can start a business with the funds,” Faith explains. “So, there’s a lot of different things and ways that it can help people just based on where they are in life and what they’re needing.”
From debt reduction and financial education to business planning and long-term goals, the program is built to meet people where they are and support steady progress over time.
With their children by their side, Brandon and Kira are creating more breathing room for their family and showing up with greater confidence and less stress.
When the right support is in place, progress becomes possible. And with that progress, the future is within reach.
Rise Up with RISE
RISE, Reaching Independence through Savings and Education, is a matched savings program through People Incorporated Financial Services that helps individuals and families turn steady saving into real opportunity.
- What is RISE?
A matched savings program designed to help eligible participants reduce debt, build assets, and work toward long-term financial goals with guidance and support. RISE is open to employed Virginia residents who meet income eligibility requirements, including those receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or who qualify at up to 200% of the federal poverty level
- How does it work?
- Save money consistently from earned income or tax refunds
- For every $1 you save, RISE provides an $8 match
- Save up to $500 of your own money
- Unlock up to $4,000 in matched savings
- Receive financial education and goal-specific training
- Take up to 24 months to complete the program
- What can RISE help with?
- Paying down debt
- Starting or growing a small business
- Purchasing a vehicle
- Post-secondary education
- Working toward homeownership
Ready to see what’s possible with the right support in place? People Incorporated of Virginia offers programs designed to help individuals and entrepreneurs move forward with confidence, including matched savings and financial education through People Incorporated Financial Services (PIFS).
To learn more about RISE or explore whether the program is a good fit for you, contact the PIFS team to get started.
Phone: (276) 619-2297
Email: PIFS@peopleinc.net
Written by Michelle Fleury, People Inc. of Virginia
For communications, marketing inquiries, or partnership opportunities with People Incorporated of Virginia, please contact Michelle at mfleury@peopleinc.net.
