Northeast Ohio organization helps families navigate through financial uncertainty

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Buying a home, managing credit cards or saving money – Any one of those topics can feel overwhelming.

But, a Northeast Ohio organization helps families navigate through that anxiety to reach their financial goals.

Their work has made such an impact in our community, the Cleveland Cavaliers are honoring them during Friday night’s game.

The Phe’be Foundation will be recognized as the Jif DIFF Maker of the Game during the Cav’s 21st Annual Black Heritage Celebration.

The non-profit organization runs a variety of financial wellness programs.

There are options for college students on how to navigate credit cards, for seniors on how to prepare an estate, and for those on a fixed income on how to still thrive.

There’s radio programming too. Ras Asan is one of the hosts.

He says one of the best parts is all of this is free.

“There’s not a financial cost associated, but you have to pay attention. So, you also have to give your time,” says Asan.

Since 2000, the Phe’be Foundation has helped more than 125,000 households in the Cleveland area.

“We’re 25 years old, and we haven’t run out of being necessary,” says Sharron Murphy Williams, the director and founder of the Phe’be Foundation.

When Sharron created Phe’be, she was in the midst of a successful career in the finance and credit industry.

She was learning to build wealth. It was exciting, but there was something missing.

“No one that I worked with looked like anyone that I went to school with, when I went back to my neighborhood, when I went to my church,” says Murphy Williams.

Her passion became changing that picture and sharing her knowledge to help others achieve success too.

“I think people don’t care what you know, until they know you care,” she said.

Larry and Karen Wright have felt that compassion.

They recently graduated from the homeownership program at Phe’Be Foundation, learning how to achieve their dream of owning a home.

“How to buy a home, how to do it responsibly, what you need to save, what you, who you need to talk to,” says Karen.

The Wrights are ready now to take that next step to buy their first home together.

“The Phe’be Foundation is really giving us some confidence that we didn’t have before,” says Karen.

Murphy Williams says financial wellness is not complicated.

It’s about having the right people to guide you through the process: “It’s an American dream. All you have to do is dream it and let’s figure out how it is yours.”

You can find more information on the Phe’be Foundation here.