Congratulations to our class of 2013 scholarship recipients

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.”

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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.

Summer learning narrows the achievement gap

At Farther Foundation we evaluate the success of our program in several ways. In the long-run, we believe the most telling statistics will be the high school graduation, college enrollment and college graduation rates of our program alumni. We are very pleased to report that 100% of our scholarship recipients have graduated high school, 95% have continued directly into college and all but one of those are currently enrolled. We look forward to seeing our first class of alumni graduate in 2014.

Another critical research finding that we recently saw reported by the National Summer Learning Association indicates that nearly two-thirds of the 9^th grade achievement gap can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities. So not only are the summer educational travel programs enabled by Farther Foundation inspirational to a student’s future goals and aspirations, they are foundational in preparing students to achieve every day in their ongoing education.

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Farther Foundation's 2012 Annual Report is now available

2012 was another outstanding year for Farther Foundation and the students we serve. In this year's annual report we share our financial statement, data regarding our program's impact on our scholarship recipients, photos and stories from our students and a most sincere thank you to all of our supporters. Click here to read our 2012 Annual Report.

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It was my pleasure recently to be introduced to Erika Walker-Thomas. Erika is the President and CEO of The Walker Thomas Group, a consultancy specializing in diversity, human resources and personal development. Erika understands the growing need for individuals and organizations to be cross-culturally competent in order to succeed in an increasingly global economy. She also understands that we need to reach out to all corners of our community and engage all people in achieving their highest potential. That is why she gives so much of herself in the communities where she has lived and worked.

As part of her “Leadership on the Go” initiative, Erika has recorded a series of interviews with individuals from a variety of fields and endeavors relevant to working and succeeding in the global marketplace. Erika had been introduced to Farther Foundation and our mission of providing life changing opportunities for students to learn and travel abroad and graciously asked me to join her and record an interview.

Here is a link to the interview.  Thank you Erika for your time, your support and your commitment to students who are willing to work for their opportunity to succeed.

-- David Weindling, President, Farther Foundation

Farther Foundation was formed to help students break free from the constraints of poverty and gain experiences that propel them toward their highest aspirations. We provide opportunities for eager and deserving students to travel worldwide and interact with individuals who have diverse backgrounds and experiences. They participate in programs where they are immersed in new cultures and experiences, learn and develop skills, provide community service, cultivate leadership potential and attain personal growth.

You can help support students like these to have life changing educational experiences. Visit our website to learn more about our work and to make a tax deductible gift online.

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Farther Foundation students have traveled to 24 countries on 6 continents. Their experiences have been life-changing and their accomplishments continue to grow. At this time of year we are thinking about the North Pole. Will one of our deserving students aim for the North Pole next year? Donations from individuals like you make all of our programs possible. Click over to our DONATE page to contribute today.

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