Set a Goal, Acheive a Goal

Ahead of the summer of 2012, Farther Foundation awarded a scholarship to Christopher making it possible for him to spend four weeks exploring the language and culture of Argentina.

In his scholarship application, Christopher told us that he “hopes to assist people in need to the best of his abilities, and to be affected in a way that would open my mind to different cultures and worlds.”

Upon his return, Christopher wrote, “I feel as if my experience has taught me that there is a lot of things to look forward to in life and that hope is never absent in someone’s life regardless of their life status and positions. I have been motivated by what I experienced, thinking about the things I am capable of doing for others and if I was to put myself in a position to make a difference, how I really could.”

Last fall, Christopher came out to a gathering of Farther Foundation friends and supporters where he confided that he had visited Furman College, a selective liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, and that it was his first choice among all the colleges he was considering. A year later, we heard the great news that Christopher was indeed accepted to Furman and will enter as a freshman this fall.

At that same gathering Christopher also told us, half-joking, that one day he will be President of the United States – don’t bet against it.

Farther Foundation and the students we serve depend on the tax deductible donations from people like you to make these life changing experiences possible. Visit our website to make a donation online.

Follow our work more closely by subscribing to this blog or liking “Farther Foundation” on Facebook. Thank you for your support.

Farther Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing scholarships to low-income students to inspire them to reach their highest aspirations through educational travel experiences.

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What I Want my Life to Be

Juan told us,

“I’ve always been confined to the boundaries of the city’s south side. While this in itself is not necessarily bad, it’s not what I want my life to be.”

There is a big difference though, between knowing what you don’t want, and knowing what you do want. Our Farther Foundation supported students are smart, eager and hopeful, but they simply do not have the backgrounds that would expose them to the possibilities that the world has to offer. They come from inner-city communities that are isolated and from families where they will often be the first to consider going to college.

Juan knows that he faces barriers to success and that the streets in his neighborhood are a constant challenge to achieving his potential. But he has great potential, and he knows that whenever he is presented with an opportunity he must be willing and prepared to seize it and take full advantage. Juan attends Phoenix Military Academy, a Chicago Public High School with a junior ROTC program. Phoenix asks a lot of its students both in terms of discipline and academic rigor. From day one students are presented with the expectation of college attendance and graduation. Juan, although just a freshman, is stepping up to the challenge.

With the help of Farther Foundation, Juan is also taking the bold step of traveling to Costa Rica this summer. On his program, provided by the Road Less Traveled, he will have some new and exciting challenges – whitewater rafting, hiking, kayaking and surfing – but he will also Study the native culture and serve the local community by engaging in more than 70 hours of community service.

Juan knows that this is a rare opportunity for him and that he must fully engage in it to get the most out of his opportunity. After meeting Juan and experiencing his gratitude and determination, I know he is up to the challenge and will use all he sees and learns to take a giant step toward a bright future.

Farther Foundation and the students we serve depend on the tax deductible donations from people like you to make these life changing experiences possible. Visit our website to make a donation online.

Follow our work more closely by subscribing to this blog or liking “Farther Foundation” on Facebook. Thank you for your support.

Farther Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing scholarships to low-income students to inspire them to reach their highest aspirations through educational travel experiences.

Go Farther!

 

Class of 2013 scholarship recipients announced

This year, Farther Foundation will help 18 deserving high school students take a bold step toward a brighter future.  They come from neighborhoods that face challenges of crime, poverty, isolation and often despair. But these students are fighting the odds, confronting the challenges, seizing opportunities and preparing to succeed.

Meet our Farther Foundation class of 2013 scholars who will travel across the country and around the world to discover the best in themselves.

***

Juan will trek to volcanoes and waterfalls, explore the language and culture, and provide over 70 hours of community service on an expedition to Nicaragua with The Road Less Traveled.

– “I’ve always been confined to the boundaries of the city’s south side. While this in itself is not necessarily bad, it’s not what I want my life to be.”

Ladasia will learn about writing and living on a college campus while participating in the summer writing program at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

– “I feel like I’m reaching my potential now that I’m on this new path.”

Froilan will spend 30 days in the Pacific Northwest on a backcountry expedition with The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) developing wilderness and leadership skills.

– “There are going to be numerous challenges waiting for me and with this experience, I would really see my potential grow.”

Tavaris will get a taste of college life while honing his writing skills at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

– “I work hard every day and try to overcome my past. I am a survivor.”

Ashanti and Christine will travel with AFS to Argentina and China respectively, live with local host families and practice their language skills.

– “It’s not uncommon for people my age to feel like they do not have the opportunity to see anything outside of the poverty filled city.”
— “If I can do all these things before going to college, I can inspire others to do the same.”

Clariza will spend three weeks with students from across the country on the campus of Davidson College in North Carolina experiencing rigorous classes and college responsibilities.

– “My family has financial problems. Because of that, people often try to set limits for me.”

Abigail and Nicholas will become certified SCUBA divers while learning conservation science and marine biology on a service program with The Road Less Traveled in the Florida Keys.

– “I love to be part of a team that has a positive goal of helping others.”
— “This trip is not a vacation, there will be early rises and important tasks to accomplish.”

Brittanie will join a Rustic Pathways program in Costa Rica where she will live with a local host family and learn the local language and culture.

– “I believe that people who travel think about things more meaningfully.”

Jasmine and Kadian will both experience the freedoms and challenges of university life while studying women’s issues at Brown University.

– “I love to be empowered with knowledge.”
— “I will be the first person in my family to graduate college.”

Alicia will spend a month on a Putney Student Travel expedition that encompasses both community service and unique cultural and wildlife experiences in Tanzania.

– “I want to work and affect the lives of the people of Tanzania.”

Gustavo will have a Big 10 experience during his three weeks of living and taking classes at Penn State University.

– “I selected this program because nobody in my family has gone to college.”

Lizbeth will visit Panama with AFS, provide community service and work on her language fluency.

– “I do hope to bring my experience back to my peers.”

Tyler will spend two weeks with Visions Service Adventures exploring the Dominican Republic on a program filled with service projects and cultural exploration.

– “I don’t believe it is possible to live a great life oblivious to the wonders of the world.”

Jerry will partake in sea turtle conservation and coral reef restoration with The Road Less Traveled on a service trip to the island of Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean.

– “I believe that you really do get repaid for the good things you do in life.”

Jessica will join student from around the country on the Pine Ridge Sioux reservation in South Dakota as part of the In-Sight Photography Project exploring native culture through the arts.

– “I look forward to learn what inspires other people to take photos and to meet other teens who are also inspired with photography.”

 

Farther Foundation and the students we serve depend on the tax deductible donations from people like you to make these life changing experiences possible. Visit our website to make a donation online.

Follow our work more closely by subscribing to this blog or liking “Farther Foundation” on Facebook. Thank you for your support.

Farther Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing scholarships to low-income students to inspire them to reach their highest aspirations through educational travel experiences.

Go Farther!

Michelle Obama talks about Opportunity

First Lady, Michelle Obama, spoke recently to a group of business leaders in Chicago making the poignant case for investing in greater opportunities for all of our youth. She spoke of the tragic shooting of Hadiya Pendelton and reflected on how easily Hadiya’s story could have been her story.

Hadiya’s story could just as easily be the story for the dozens of promising young students that we have assisted with our programs at Farther Foundation. And it could be the story for the dozens more that we have to turn away due to limited resources. Watch about two minutes of this video clip of Michelle Obama’s speech where she says that resources really do matter, and that the difference between her success and the challenges that still face so many young people in our community comes down to opportunities.

That is what we are providing at Farther Foundation, opportunities for hard working and deserving students to participate in unique learning experiences. To have those advantages that their wealthier peers have. To be inspired by something new and wonderful. To have their beliefs about their self-imposed barriers challenged. To have their aspirations unbound. To experience success and grow confidence upon which to build a better future.

Farther Foundation and the students we serve depend on the tax deductible donations from people like you to make these life changing experiences possible. Visit our website to make a donation online.

Follow our work more closely by subscribing to this blog or liking “Farther Foundation” on Facebook. On Twitter as well now @FartrherFdn. Thank you for your support.

Farther Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing scholarships to low-income students to inspire them to reach their highest aspirations through educational travel experiences.

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@AFS is 1 of more than 150 enrichment programs for high school students in our directory: http://ow.ly/jKQB7

Why we do it!

Here’s an email I received the other day from one of our 2010 travel grant recipients. In the hustle and bustle of administration and fundraising, we sometimes lose track of why we do what we do at Farther Foundation. Here is why we do it. My dedication is renewed every time I hear from one of our students.

I am writing to both update you on my college experience and to express my gratitude. I am currently on my sophomore year’s Spring Break. These past two years at Pomona have been amazing. I have been challenged academically and been forced to stretch myself. I’ll admit there have been moments where I have been terrified I would not be able to do it (here’s to Calculus!) but the satisfaction I get from making it through is great. It is this feeling that motivates me everyday to try something new. Speaking of new things, I have recently been accepted to study abroad at The School for International Training’s Morocco: Multiculturalism and Human Rights program based in Rabat. With little to no knowledge of the Arabic language, I will be jumping in once more into this adventure. I am also helping out an inner city 12 year-old girl by mentoring her and showing her how terrifyingly awesome adventures can be (though she insists that making me learn to swim will be my greatest adventure).

Thank you so much for your support during the Summer of 2010. I know I would not have been able to experience Thailand the same way without your help. I am also grateful you gave me the opportunity to speak at an event about my experience. Your dedication to the Farther Foundation is inspirational and makes me feel good about the future of our world. I’ve recently been reflecting on the concept of choices and what they mean, the disparity of choices some people have the opportunity to make while others don’t and possible ways we can extend real choices to a greater number of people. I’m not sure if that was just me rambling but  I promise it makes sense in my head. You are an individual who is dedicated to maximizing the choices young adults can make in this city. Maybe not everyone will choose to go abroad in their lifetime, but you make that a possible reality for students who never thought it was possible. Thank you for trying to bridge that gap. I can only hope to do the same someday.

Farther Foundation and the students we serve depend on the tax deductible donations from people like you to make these life changing experiences possible. Visit our website to make a donation online and follow our work more closely by subscribing to this blog or liking “Farther Foundation” on Facebook. Thank you for your support.

Farther Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing scholarships to low-income students to inspire them to reach their highest aspirations through educational travel experiences.

Go Farther!

Travel Program Directory for High School Students

Farther Foundation believes that summer enrichment programs are essential in helping high school students, especially those from at-risk populations, achieve their highest potential. Furthermore, we believe that programs that give those students an opportunity to spend time away from home can be the most significant in helping them to gain the confidence and independence they will need in taking the next step in the education.

Travel is singular in in its ability to open the eyes and unbind the aspirations of students whose experiences rarely escape the boundaries of their neighborhoods. Farther Foundation provides opportunities for students to participate in educational travel programs. They interact with individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, become immersed in new cultures and experiences, learn and develop skills, engage in community service, cultivate leadership potential and attain personal growth.

To help students, parents, counselors and advisors find just the right program, we have compiled an extensive online directory of enrichment travel providers. The directory is searchable by name, category or key word. So whether you are interested in archeology, Thailand, rock climbing or Brown University, all you have to do is type in the key word to search for programs that match your criteria.

We are always adding to our directory to make it a better resource. Sometimes we find programs on our own, and sometimes students bring them to our attention. Two program providers we just added this week, Emory University and Davidson College, came to our attention because student applicants to our scholarship program hope to attend the programs this summer.

Farther Foundation and the students we serve depend on the tax deductible donations from people like you to make these life changing experiences possible. Visit our website to make a donation online and follow our work more closely by subscribing to this blog or liking “Farther Foundation” on Facebook. Thank you for your support.

Farther Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing scholarships to low-income students to inspire them to reach their highest aspirations through educational travel experiences.

Go Farther!