You made Crystal’s college dreams come true!

Your commitment to VOA sows seeds of hope that grow into a garden of accomplished dreams. Former foster youth like Crystal are thriving because of you! As a child, Crystal experienced trauma that no child should ever go through.

“I endured and witnessed child abuse, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, weapons in the home, and survived living in a world of fear daily. There were days when I did not have a home and had to live in a car or a tent for shelter. Sometimes I went without food or had to search for food for the younger children at home.”

Thankfully, after years of suffering abuse, Crystal was adopted by a loving family and this changed the trajectory of her life. They gave her the support she needed to catch up to her peers in school, and showed her the love that every child deserves.

Crystal graduated from high school with a 4.0 in 2020. Due to the pandemic, though, she was still struggling to find the funds to attend her dream university: William Jessup University. But, as always, YOU came through for her. Your giving to the Dare to Dream scholarship made this dream a reality for Crystal. The Dare to Dream Scholarship is given to foster youth who have a desire to attend college. Despite the difficulties of 2020, Crystal is now thriving as a college student. She received A’s in all of her courses during her first semester, and is on her way to becoming a school teacher. She says that her past experiences motivate her: “I decided to become a teacher so I can assist those students who just need a little more help to reach their full potential.” Your donations to the Dare to Dream scholarship make stories like this possible. Thank you for being a part of life changing work.