Before I headed back to school, I was baby-sitting out of my home and we were living on less than could be imagined. We got our groceries with food stamps. The day care that I would have paid if I had gone back to work would have been most of my paycheck, and we would have been worse off financially. My family died many years ago, so there was no support available there. I felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. I had little hope for a better future for my children and myself.

Then one day someone told me about Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County. The scholarships are an enormous help, but I quickly learned that SPSF/BC is so much more. Being involved in SPSF/BC has blessed my life in more ways than I can count. They have been there for me emotionally and physically through out my academic career. The love and encouragement I received helped me keep my focus on my schooling, even on days when I didn’t want to look at another book. They opened the doors for other scholarships and avenues of support.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Private Accounting. I have a wonderful job that I enjoy very much. My children are doing well and have an appreciation for education. God has blessed our lives abundantly. There is a wonderful saying that I love and do my best to live by. "God won’t do anything for you that He can do through you." Wow, what a difference going through school has made in all our lives. I would not change the past several years. They have been very hard at times but I have grown so much. I want to share the blessings I have received from others. "What a difference SPSF/BC’s love and encouragement have made in our lives."