Meet AJhona

AJhona, age 27, was experiencing homelessness and staying at a shelter in York, PA when she first learned about Tenfold’s Matched Savings for Tomorrow program.

Through this program, participants work one-on-one with a financial counselor to save for a specific goal. Participants who complete the program and meet their goal can receive matching funds, multiplying the impact of their savings and allowing them to purchase a stabilizing asset, such as a home or a vehicle.

As a caregiver for children and adults with special needs, AJhona has a passion for helping others. She also loves to travel. After experiencing homelessness, her goal was to purchase a vehicle that she would be able to live out of full time, allowing her to travel freely while always having a safe place to sleep. She shares that her dream has always been “…to be free and to live life fully on my own terms.”

To pursue this goal, AJhona enrolled in the Matched Savings for Tomorrow program and began working with Diahann, one of Tenfold’s Financial Empowerment Specialists. Diahann guides individuals in the Matched Savings program to make a savings plan and provides one-on-one counseling to help them increase their financial skills and knowledge.

With Diahann’s support, AJhona made a savings plan and began working towards her goal of purchasing a vehicle. She was also determined to purchase the car in cash, to avoid taking on any debt for the future. “Diahann was just absolutely amazing,” AJhona shares. “She helped me, guided me, and advocated for me the whole time I was in the program.”

Although she was in a challenging situation, AJhona always remained positive and determined.  She shares that her faith guided her throughout all of the difficulties she was facing, stating that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

By remaining diligent and sticking to her plan, AJhona was able to meet her savings goal and receive matching funds. She found the perfect car for her, and Diahann helped her navigate the purchasing process.

In April of 2025, AJhona officially purchased her vehicle, which will also serve as her home on wheels as she travels. “I got my car, and I was so grateful,” she recalls. “I remember when I picked it up, and I was driving away… I was crying, I was filled with so much joy.”

Thanks to her new vehicle, AJhona was also able to accept a new job. “An amazing opportunity opened up for me in Texas,” she shares. “I drove all the way from Pennsylvania to Paradise, Texas, to be a camp counselor at a summer camp for special needs children and adults.” At the end of the summer, AJhona was awarded the Staff Member of the Season award, recognizing her kindness and positivity in serving others.

Thanks to her own determination, and the support of the Matched Savings for Tomorrow program, AJhona exceeded her goals and is thriving in her new life. “I’m on cloud nine right now, I really am,” she shares. “The whole time I was driving down to Texas to take this job, I was just so grateful that I had this car and could take this journey.”

November 21st is the ExtraGive, Lancaster’s biggest day of fundraising for nonprofits! To donate to Tenfold during the 2025 ExtraGive, click here. Your support helps individuals like AJhona achieve lasting stability.