As a career counselor, Marjorie Marugg-Wolfe saw numerous single parents struggling to find jobs.  Without skills, these single parent families faced bleak futures and, worse yet, their children were likely to continue in the same cycle of poverty.  Determined to give single parents an alternative and a chance, Marugg-Wolfe eagerly joined forces with Ralph Nesson who shared her passion to change the future for single parents through education.

Unique in its holistic approach to change, Marugg-Wolfe and the Benton County Advisory Committee had the foresight to know change takes more than just a scholarship to help break the cycle of poverty for single parents.  They designed a program to remove the barriers.  If a student needed car repair, they found someone to do the car repair.  If a student needed counseling, they found a counselor.  Supportive funds were scarce in the early days and professional services were donated.  The Office of Human Concern, headed by Wallace Smith, acted as the "umbrella 501(c)(3)" organization to administer the funds with 100% of the Benton County donations going to scholarships.

"We honor you as the foot soldiers of America's compassion ... the foot soldiers of love." ~ President George W. Bush

Marugg-Wolfe brought a national level of awareness to the program when she accepted the 2001 President's Community Volunteer Award in Washington, DC from President George W. Bush.  The medal, one of 20 awarded annually, not only honors Marugg-Wolfe for her determination, passion and commitment to the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County, but acknowledges the unwavering support from volunteers, donors and the hundreds of individuals throughout Arkansas who make a difference in the lives of single parents.

“We are privileged to live in an area where people sincerely care about each other. Not only do they give money, but also service, time…and heart. Our students say this program is unique and valued because donors care about them as individuals. It is not a program built by a single person. It is a program built by a compassionate community.” ~ Dr. Marjorie Marugg-Wolfe