Bucks County Opportunity Council Economic Self-Sufficiency graduation. (Credit: Buck County Opportunity Council)
The Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC) hosted the 2025 Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Graduation on Wednesday, April 30 at The Warrington Country Club. This year’s celebration honored 18 graduates, bringing the program’s total to 1,131 people in 420 households.
Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie kicked off the evening by welcoming all the guests and commending the BCOC ES Program for many years of contributing to the improvement of the lives of Bucks County residents. BCOC’s CEO, Erin Lukoss then presented the annual Champion of Self-Sufficiency award to Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. The award honors a business, partner, or community member for their role in the success of the ES program. Kyle Melander, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s representative, accepted the Self-Sufficiency Champion award on behalf of the congressman and shared a video from Fitzpatrick congratulating the graduates on their accomplishments. He spoke about the importance of the ES program and its impact within Bucks County, which was why they were driven to help BCOC receive congressionally directed funding.
The ES Program is a highly successful program that provides one-on-one coaching and resources to those living in poverty who commit to working toward economic self-sufficiency. The graduates have worked, mostly for several years, on an intense, structured plan to become financially self-sufficient.
Nearly every graduate reflected on the program as a life-changing experience. Each of their coaches provided help and support, and gratitude was a consistent theme throughout the event. The coaches and the program break the stigma often associated with asking for help. One graduate shared that through a difficult life, full of more downs than ups, her mantra was always “everything is temporary.” She got through, one moment at a time, convinced that things could be better. Being a part of the ES program, she was able to break the cycle of generational poverty that she had experienced. Her words, “I know my kids will have a better life” had an incredibly emotional impact on the over 200 guests.
The 2025 class began the program with an average starting income of $19,687. In the 31 months’ time it took for the group to graduate, they increased their income to an average of $65,948, that is an increase of $46,261. The key to success has been acquiring the additional education and training necessary to earn a living wage. All 18 graduates have improved their position within their company or gained new employment since beginning the program.
In her closing remarks, Lukoss said, “At BCOC, we know that economic mobility starts with stability. You can’t dream about the future when you’re worried about getting through the week. That’s why our programs are designed to meet people where they are, with the resources they need to move forward. What does economic mobility really mean here? It means having the choice to live where you want to live. It means freedom to leave a job that isn’t working for you to pursue something better. And it means dignity, the kind that comes from knowing you can care for yourself and your family without fear. That’s the heart of what we’re working toward every day.”
Graduation is based on ten benchmarks recognized nationally as standards of self-sufficiency: Full employment; free of all subsidies (food stamps, cash assistance, housing subsidies); balanced household budget; resides in safe, affordable housing; reliable transportation; health insurance coverage for all family members; checking and savings account; acceptable credit rating or approved Credit Repair Plan; completed education/training program (if needed); and basic employment skills such as interviewing and resume preparation.
To learn more about all the BCOC does, visit our website bcoc.org.
BCOC is the lead economic mobility non-profit organization in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, dedicated to ending poverty by connecting people with the resources they need to thrive.
BCOC has five major program areas: Housing, Food, Weatherization, Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) and the Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Program. Housing includes street outreach, rental and move in aid, and utility shut-off prevention. Food services supply food directly to families through a network of 75 food pantries and distribution sites. Weatherization services help families in reducing their energy costs. VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance. The ES Program assists individuals and families to leave poverty permanently through case management, education, and employment.
For 60 years, the Opportunity Council has served low-income families in Bucks County by helping them to stabilize when in crisis, garner resources to achieve a livable wage, gain additional education and training, and work towards economic self-sufficiency.
