2023 has been an exciting year for Pawsperity. As you may know, we moved into our brand-new, three times larger facility in January, two doors down from our old building. Shortly after, we launched two new pet-related businesses under the same roof (a market rate grooming salon and a doggie daycare). Revenue from these services feeds directly back to our mission and heart of Pawsperity, the nonprofit grooming school.  

Mostly single parents (85% women) living in deep poverty, students accepted into our program are some of society’s most vulnerable — backgrounds of addiction, domestic violence, childhood trauma, and abuse are unfortunately common. Since first opening our doors in 2016, we have successfully graduated 112 students from our program with a 100% job placement rate. Statistics will tell you they should be stuck in the cycle of poverty for generations. Pawsperity proves that doesn’t have to be their story.  

Over the years, we have greatly improved our program by learning the needs of the families we serve. In our recent program evaluation conducted by UMKC, most graduates reported transformational changes such as regaining custody of their children, the ability to purchase a more reliable car, and buying their first home. Interestingly, the biggest indictor of success was the change in their self-esteem. Many of these single moms are now making $43,000 a year (working 31-38 hours a week) while caring for their children. Our highest earner brought in over $95,000 in 2022. Considering most students average only $3,600 PER YEAR prior to coming into our program, that increase in such a short time is truly life changing. Pet grooming is a family-flexible profession, which makes it a great fit for single parents who are raising kids. We hope to graduate 40 students by the end of the year, doubling that number to 80 by the end of 2025.  

You will be hearing much more about where we are heading and how we are impacting Kansas City families in future issues of our new monthly communication appropriately titled Pawsitive News. As we continue to grow, we thank you for supporting us along the way. Whether you are utilizing one of our pet services, donating, volunteering your time, or simply spreading the word about our mission, thank you! 

Natasha Herdman (formerly Kirsch) 

Founding CEO