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Since 2005, the Friends of SFILSP have awarded scholarships and grants to former foster youth totaling more than $165,000 as well as assistance with college tours, graduation celebrations and other aid. With our support and assistance, we have had the honor of watching many of our award recipients go on to do great things!
LaShunte is currently enrolled in an honors program at Biola University in La Mirada, California and aspires to be a college English professor. In her personal essay, entitled "The Sky's the Limit", she writes that at a young age, she was severely burned and still bears the scars. "While growing up in foster care, I let my scars work as a barrier in my life. Low self-esteem, insecurities, and self-defeat ruled me. Once I entered high school, my whole being craved... positive change." Lashunte made the change: in high school, she joined the student council and served as sophomore class treasurer, student body chaplain, and student body vice president. She also played volleyball, basketball and softball, took piano lessons, and volunteered at a local hospital. This honor student writes: "When I look in the mirror, I am more than just a foster child. I am a unique individual with a fierce passion to accomplish my goals."
RC is attending Laney College in the Bay Area and her dream is to become a nurse. “What I love to do in my free time is to help the elders... and go with them to the doctor’s... spending lots of time with them... [I also want ] to become a role model to my younger brother and sisters, and to show them that no matter what we go through we still can become somebody in life.” Her scholarship helped her pay for a tutor to “do better in school, to not get by not understanding... and to get good grades” as well as for bus and BART fare to get to and from school and a computer to help with assignments. Many people told her that she would never be anything in life; but RC says that the award from Friends of SFILSP will help her complete her goals and “prove everyone wrong.”
WS is the father of two children is currently attending San Francisco City College. He and his partner both work and attend college and have arranged their schedules so that while one is in class the other cares for the children. His goals are to “build enough wealth for my family and I to live a healthy mental life and be financially stable. I want to remain my focus on being a good leader and role model to my kids and be successful in finishing college.” His ultimate goal is to become an architect. He needed to take some photography classes as part of his required studies but did not have enough money to buy the equipment. He and his partner also did not always have the money to pay for BART fare to get back and forth to school. He used his grant to buy a camera and pay for transportation to school. He is currently earning a 3.0 GPA at City College!
Khoa emancipated from foster care at age 18 and began his studies at California State University East Bay. He had little money during his first quarter but persisted in transferring to California State University “to get away from... negative influences.” He worked 40 hours a week while taking 15 units each semester. He also assumed custody of his 16-year-old brother and became a caretaker for his grandmother. Two months before graduation he lost his job and the pressures increased to meet his family responsibilities and study fulltime. He applied for a Friends of SFILSP grant stating that “all I need is two months of not having to worry about rent and utilities”. He was awarded $1500 funded through a grant to Friends of SFILSP by United Way Bay Area and graduated in May 2007 with BA in Finance. He is now working full time and caring for his family; his ultimate goal is to be elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing the Tenderloin District in order to make the neighborhood a better place.
Angelica is a single mother and part-time student at San Francisco City College, working full-time as community worker with youth on probation. Her goal is to transfer to a university and major in Social Welfare and minor in Spanish. “Giving back to my community gives me a sense of pride, a sense of hope, a sense of a possible change in our society, especially when others around you doubt you and your abilities.” She describes her life in foster care as the motivation for her goals: “At the age of thirteen, I was placed into foster care due to my father’s drug and alcohol addictions. Mental and physical abuse also played a factor... which made it impossible for me to remain living at home. I was fed up with my father and his abusive ways; hence, I decided to bring about a change if not for my family, for my future and myself. I was forced to grow up and become a responsible young adult.” Her grant of $1500 funded through a grant to Friends of SFILSP by United Way Bay Area allowed her pay her rent for one month and enabled her to get a ahead so that she could continue her schooling reaching towards her goals.
The Pottruck Family Foundation assisted with funding for Black College Tours. The Black College Tour is an opportunity for youth in the foster care system in San Francisco to be exposed to culturally-relevant academic opportunities outside of California. Of the five youth who attended the Spring 2007 tour, all went on to apply for, were accepted to, and enrolled in college and three are currently attending these historical Black colleges: Talladega College, Clark Atlanta University and Grambling University. The youth who attended this tour wrote notes of thanks in which their words speak for themselves:
“I want to thank you so much for everything that you have provided for us. I’m a teenage mother of twins and I just want to tell you I’m a senior in high school and I’m attending City College. Because of the College Tour I gained confidence in myself as becoming a college student and I want to tell you that you are very appreciated.”
“Thank you so much for sponsoring me on the Black College Tour. It was so much that I learned from this trip. I really appreciate all you have done for me. Thanks to you I was able to find the college for me. Talladega College I am on my way!!”
“Thank you for sponsoring me to attend the Black College Tour. I had a great time and enjoyed myself. [I] learned so much history from the schools I visited. I also got to travel out of state for the first time.”
“Thank you for being so generous as to allow us the opportunity to visit colleges. I was accepted into Clark Atlanta University and seeing the campus only made me sure that I wanted to attend. I feel so blessed to know that there are people who care and are willing to sacrifice to ensure our well-being.”
“Thank you personally for allowing me... to [attend] the Black College Tour. The experience from the trip will stay with [me] forever.”
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