Award Recipient Stories

This semester "Max" is graduating from college with a degree in Marketing. This  has not been an easy journey.  

Max has had a history of instability in his life. Before entering the foster care system at the age of 13 Max lived with his family moving quite frequently. He has an older brother, and two younger twin brothers. His mother divorced his father due to violent alcoholism before moving the boys to a small apartment in a dangerous area where the boys were not allowed to go outside. At this time Max's mother developed severe depression and attempted to commit suicide. Because their mother was deemed unfit to care for them, the boys were briefly sent to live with relatives, soon they began to feel like a burden to their extended family and were subsequently placed in foster care.

At 17 Max, along with his older bother, was moved into a supervised apartment  complex with other youth in care. Max has worked since living in the apartment. He saved some money for college and now pays rent, utilities, college tuition, maintenance of his car, and beginning this year health insurance. He holds two part time jobs in addition to taking on more than a full course load.

He has been working with the Foundation for a year and has had some wonderful opportunities.
In May of 2011 Max landed his first professional job at a major IT firm, after 6 interviews! This opportunity has broken the cycle of poverty for Max. Priceless.

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     John is a success story in progress. A seventeen year old high school junior that’s overcome tremendous adversity- from physical abuse to parental loss and coping with mental illness. John’s childhood dreams were about survival, safety and searching for a family to love him. School, college, athletics were simply something other kids got to enjoy.
    At the age of three, John was forced to sleep in the streets of Philadelphia. By his twelfth birthday, John had bounced around to so many residential treatment facilities that he lost track. He completely missed fourth and fifth grades while being hospitalized. Yet, five and a half years ago this at-risk youth met his future mom and his luck began to change. Fast forward, John is in an emotional support classroom setting, with an IEP plan earning A’s and B’s. Just last month he was recognized by the school as Student of the Month. Outside the classroom John’s excelling too. As a standout three sports athlete, John’s receiving scholarship offers from several major universities.
    In addition to being offered a full scholarship for football and maintaining a 3.2 GPA John has also won two Resiliency Awards from Bucks County Mental Health Conference, a Conference Title for Bucks County, and has gone to Nationals for basketball over the summer twice.
    His progress is a testament to his hard work and resiliency, but also to all the individuals that have helped along the way, like Jo Leonard at the RJLF.  John and his family are keenly aware of the tough hurdles in front of him with his gaps in education and Bi Polar illness in particular. Everyday matters are more stressful for John and learning more complicated. Yet through the counseling and guidance  Jo and her team have begun providing John, starting with SAT preparation, his confidence grows and he becomes more and more stable and excited about life. 
   Johns’ award includes:

• 4 – 6 months of SAT tutoring and/or additional academic support.
• 12 months of college planning, guidance, application assistance, etc. 
• Prom and interview attire.
• Small travel budget for college visits if not covered by recruiting schools.
• Participation in the Art of Life Summer Workshops.
• College Care package for his freshman year in college, including travel home certificates, dorm requirements, clothes, etc.