AAA Scholarship Foundation

We Make Academic Achievement Accessible

888.707.2465 | info@aaascholarships.org

Dereck Sandoval

by

Dereck Sandoval
Little Flower School
Reno, NV

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”
–Nathaniel Branden

This quote embodies Karla Martinez. Facing many challenges both emotionally and financially, she never gave up on her primary focus – ensuring her son Dereck receives a quality education. Not only has the AAA Scholarship Foundation made an impact on both of their lives, it was a true gift to their family in a time of need. “When times were hard, and it felt like every door was closed, the AAA Scholarship Foundation was there to remind me to remain hopeful, and to keep working hard as a single mother.”

15 years ago Karla Martinez made the bold decision to move from her home in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, all the way to Reno, Nevada. She knew she’d be leaving behind everything she’d ever known, but she was ready to broaden her horizons and see what more the world had to offer. Upon moving, Karla was able to land a job as a medical biller and coder and start a family. When her son Dereck was born, she immediately knew that she wanted to give him the world, and she would do anything to make that happen. Unfortunately, Dereck’s father was not on the same page. When Dereck was only in Kindergarten, and Karla was working long hours just to make ends meet, they were heartbroken to find out that Dereck’s father had left without even a warning. While this undoubtedly brought upon questions and tears, Karla stayed strong for her son and continued to put him first. From that moment, she knew it would be a long road ahead, but the love she had for her son made anything seem possible.

Dereck had been attending Little Flower School – a private school in Reno, Nevada. With her son’s education being her first priority, she wasn’t sure how she was going to manage to continue to send him there. Luckily, she had some money saved to get him through the first two years, but as that slowly disappeared, Karla was beginning to run out of options. Their family was already experiencing a tremendous amount of change, and the last thing Karla wanted to do was take away the school that she and Dereck loved.

Just as Karla was beginning to lose that last bit of hope, she came across the AAA Scholarship Foundation, and learned that they worked with families in Nevada. After researching and finding out that her family did qualify for a scholarship, Karla was overcome with joy. She could see that things were starting to look up for her, even when she thought there was no possible way.

Dereck is now in the fourth grade at his school of choice, and Karla can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Not only does Little Flower School have an excellent academic curriculum, but they also have capable and professional teachers who are constantly taking training courses to keep up with the new era of technology. Additionally, the school has a strict security system that gives parents a peace of mind regarding their children’s safety. The school is adamant about getting the parents involved in school activities and projects, and has become a safe haven for children like Dereck. Being at this school, Dereck has improved academically and socially. He is able to learn at a high speed, and can keep up with his fellow classmates. He has the confidence to ask questions, and be more involved in classroom conversation and activities. He enjoys science and basketball, and does not limit himself to trying something new. He’s even developed a love for acting and performing arts! Karla can see a great change in her son in comparison to how he was four years ago, and it all shows in just his smile.

“As a single mother, having the opportunity to be a part of the AAA Scholarship Foundation has impacted my life in so many ways,” says Karla Martinez. “Because of them, I was able to build a solid academic base for my son’s future. I just want to take the opportunity to thank you all for your support, we are so happy to be one of the scholarship families in Reno, Nevada. Thank you!”

 

 

About AAA Scholarship Foundation

The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs in multiple states. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

For a pdf of this student spotlight, click here.

Sofia Tabaniag

by

Sofia Tabaniag
Calvary Chapel Christian School
Las Vegas, NV

 

The AAA Scholarship Foundation does so much more than provide economic assistance to low-income families. They give children, like Sofia Tabaniag, a chance. A chance to challenge themselves academically and a chance to flourish as both a student and as an individual. This scholarship gives children the chance to push themselves to do the best they possibly can, in all aspects of life. Now in the 3rd grade, and attending Calvary Chapel Christian School, Sofia has surpassed every expectation and hope her mother Iandell could have ever wished for – which was all made possible by the people and donors that work tirelessly to make this program possible.

Iandell Tabaniag grew up in Hawaii and attended a local public school alongside her siblings. While she received a proper education, she wished more scholarship opportunities were available to give her expanded educational options. When Iandell became a mother herself, one of her main priorities was to give her daughter, Sofia, the best education she could. Unfortunately, this meant Iandell would need to make some sacrifices. Hawaii would always be home to Iandell and her family, however there weren’t as many affordable school opportunities that she felt would be a good fit for her daughter. Iandell has family that lives in Nevada, and after many months of researching and seeking advice from her relatives, she made the bold decision to pack up and move across the country.

Iandell’s husband found work as a supply clerk for a medical facility, while she began serving as a teacher’s aide. However, they found out after moving that the Las Vegas public school Kindergarten programs offered were only part time and the quality of education their daughter would receive would not be the best. Iandell received a recommendation about a private Kindergarten program that they believed Sofia would thrive in at Calvary Chapel Christian School. When Iandell and Sofia visited the school, they were blown away by how welcoming the staff was to them.

Instructors were passionate about teaching and wanted their students to work together and rely on one another to make an impact on the world. The cost was much higher than Iandell and her husband had anticipated, but they worked tirelessly to make it work – making financial sacrifices and working with the private school to pay in installments to help keep up with the rest of their bills. The move alone was a challenge, but adding in other factors, such as Sofia’s education, was taking a toll on the Tabaniag family financially. Even with two incomes, their family was struggling to make ends meet.

As first grade was quickly approaching, Iandell needed options. She considered other options, including the local public school program, and while she was not opposed to it, she knew this would be one of the many hurdles her family would face. Even at a young age, Sofia demonstrated promising potential and Iandell felt that the only way this would continue would be to find a setting where she wouldn’t fall behind in a crowd of students. The Kindergarten program that Sofia was attending had informed Iandell about AAA Scholarship Foundation. Because her family met the household income requirements, she applied for a scholarship and was more than relieved to hear that they qualified. Iandell’s hopes and dreams for her daughter were slowly becoming a reality.

Fast-forward three years and Sofia is doing better than Iandell could have ever imagined. Not only has she found her “home away from home,” but she is being challenged academically in a healthy way. Now in the third grade, Sofia is learning and studying above grade level – while also maintaining A’s! She has improved in many subjects, including writing, reading comprehension and spelling. This year she has even learned cursive! The school pushes their students to step out of their comfort zones. For instance, the students are required to participate in a public speaking program called Speech Meet which helps teach them important skills that they will continue to use for the rest of their lives. Sofia has competed in her class, won first place, and will be competing in the District Speech Meet with other private school winners. The school also values the arts and participates in an art festival, in which Sofia’s artwork was recently chosen to compete among the other private school entrants. Because of the relationships Sofia has already built with her former teachers, she looks forward to moving up grade levels and meeting new teachers. Sofia has a true passion to learn, and Iandell knows this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without help from the AAA Scholarship Foundation.

“What word is there to even describe how grateful I am,” says Iandell Tabaniag. “This scholarship is the best thing to ever happen to our family. I remind Sofia every day to make the most of her work because her being able to attend this school is a blessing and not many children have this chance.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a tax credit (dollar-for-dollar in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada, and up to 90 percent in Pennsylvania). The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved Scholarship 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

Click here for a pdf of this spotlight.

Scholarship Application Meetings – Arizona

by

2018-2019 Scholarship Application Meetings Scheduled for Arizona Parents

Join AAA Scholarship Foundation for our upcoming informational meetings for the parents of potential 2018-19 income-based scholarship recipients.

Parents will receive information about our scholarships, a paper application, tips & tricks on how best to complete the application and a raffle ticket to participate in a free raffle.

All meetings will include both English and Spanish sessions. Adults only, please – no child care will be provided.

  • PHOENIX MEETINGS: Monday, March 5th at 6:30 pm – OR – Tuesday, March 6th at 6:30 pm
  • TUCSON MEETINGS: Thursday, March 8th at 6:30 pm

Please RSVP no later than Thursday, March 1st:

Call: 888-707-2465 ext. 735 – OR – Email: rsvpAZ@aaascholarships.org
Include your name, meeting date, number attending (maximum 2 people per household) and contact information.

Once your RSVP is received, our staff will call or email you to provide the address of the meeting.

Andrew Ambrose

by

Andrew Ambrose
Lake Mead Christian Academy
Henderson, NV

When asking Tessa Ambrose how her son Andrew was adapting to his parent-selected school, she had to fight back tears. “I can’t describe the feeling,” she says. “This school has changed my son’s life as well as mine.” Now a freshman in high school, and exceeding expectations at Lake Mead Christian Academy, Tessa knows none of this would have been possible without the financial assistance from the AAA Scholarship Foundation.

A stay at home mother of three, Tessa was adamant about teaching her children the importance of education at a young age. Formerly attending their local public school, she learned early on that her son Andrew was very bright; however, he was having trouble focusing on tasks being given to him. When she found out that Andrew had Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Tessa was worried that the teachers at Andrew’s school would not be as empathetic to this as she hoped. The issue actually wasn’t that the teachers didn’t want to help – it was that classroom sizes were already exceeding the normal limit, which left them little time in their day to further help students, like Andrew, receive the one-on-one attention that they needed. Andrew felt neglected, and Tessa was beginning to run out of options.

Tessa was determined to put her son in an educational setting that would address his specific learning needs, but her family’s financial standing was holding her back. With her husband being the primary source of income, Tessa was unsure of how many options, if any, they had. It was clear that Andrew needed to be in a school that was both aware of his learning disability while also nurturing of it, but the next best school was Lake Mead Christian Academy – a private school in town. Tessa simply didn’t have the financial means to make this possible, but was adamant in finding a way. After repeated visits with the financial aid office, she was ecstatic to find out about the AAA Scholarship Foundation.

According to Tessa, the overall change in Andrew since attending his new school has been extraordinary. Not only has his self-esteem grown tremendously, Tessa can’t get him to leave school! The teachers at Lake Mead Christian Academy have surpassed her expectations. They offer both before and after school assistance to all students, and if they see students struggling with a subject, they have them attend study hall where teachers and their aides are available to work with them one-on-one until they feel confident with their work. “They care about me mom, the teachers care,” says Andrew Ambrose.

Because of his learning disability, Andrew needed more time on assignments and tests than his peers. The teachers were more than understanding and allowed him as much time as possible. If for some reason he didn’t do well on a certain test, the teachers would call him back in and go over it personally with him to see what he didn’t quite understand.

“Before this school, I had to pay for tutoring, which left us low on groceries for the week,” says Tessa Ambrose. “Now I can’t get him to leave! The school truly wants their students to succeed.”

With his new-found confidence, Andrew has also auditioned for the theatre program at his school. In the most recent productions, You’re a Good Man and Charlie Brown, Andrew was cast as the lead role for both! With the additional help offered to him by his new school, Andrew now has the time to pursue his love for theater without worrying about falling behind with his grades. Andrew also loves studying world history and English – he is now in English honors and maintaining A’s and B’s on every report card. Tessa knows none of his accomplishments would have been possible without the ongoing support from the faculty members at Lake Mead Christian Academy, as well as the AAA Scholarship Foundation. One afternoon Andrew came home eager to write a letter. When Tessa asked him who the letter was for, Andrew replied “the school told me I should write a letter to AAA. I need to thank them for their help!”

“Because of the AAA Scholarship Foundation, my son has the confidence to strive for excellence,” says Tessa Ambrose. “Andrew tells me often how thankful he is for the AAA Scholarship Foundation and what a blessing it has been to him. As a parent, I appreciate all of the time the people put in to make this organization possible. I’m truly grateful.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a tax credit (dollar-for-dollar in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada, and up to 90 percent in Pennsylvania). The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved Scholarship 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

Click here for a pdf of this student spotlight.

529 Plans for K-12 Education Expenses

by

The folks over at American Federation for Children, EdChoice and ExcelinEd have put together a memo to answer questions on how the 2017 tax law changes have provided families the opportunity to use their children’s 529 Savings Plans to help pay for qualifying k-12 education expenses.

Not all expenses qualify and not all states participate so it’s important to talk to your tax adviser to be sure you understand the law before making any decisions.

We hope this information is helpful! Click here to access a pdf of the memo.

Alex Vazquez

by

Alex Vazquez 2018_02Alex Vazquez
St. John Vianney Catholic School
Goodyear, AZ

 
Trying to navigate through school at any age is one thing – trying to navigate through school learning in both English and Spanish at only nine years old is another. For Elizabeth Vazquez, it was crucial for her son Alex to go to a school that was both accepting and nurturing of her son working in dual languages. With a tax credit scholarship from the AAA Scholarship Foundation, Alex Vazquez now has the opportunity to change his life, starting with his education.

As a mother of three, Elizabeth Vazquez was hesitant to pack up her family’s life in Iowa and move across the country to Arizona. It helped that she had family awaiting their arrival; however, she knew this would be a much harder adjustment on her children than she wanted. Prior to moving, Elizabeth attended graduate school in hopes of becoming a teacher. Unfortunately, moving meant she had to postpone graduating to ensure that her children were adjusting well to their new home. This left her jobless, which affected her family both academically and financially. When picking the right school for her child, Elizabeth was limited. For Alex, she needed him to be in an environment that would challenge him in dual languages.

Elizabeth turned to her family for guidance. When expressing her concerns, her family told her about St. John Vianney Catholic School. Elizabeth felt excited that not only were close relatives already attending this school, but it also had everything she was looking for: attentive teachers and smaller classroom sizes where the students had more one-on-one time with their teachers. Upon visiting, she was also informed that the school was based around a “supporting as a whole” motto. They didn’t just want their students to succeed grade wise, but learn how to become good citizens during their time there as well. Elizabeth knew in her heart that this was the school where Alex, and hopefully her other children, would succeed, and she was going to do everything in her power to get him there. After weeks of research, she learned that she was eligible to apply for a scholarship for Alex.

The transition to a new school was difficult in the beginning, especially for Alex. Because dual language put him farther behind than his peers, both he and Elizabeth feared that he would not be able to catch up in time. This was a new school for him with different rules and regulations, and even though it was a priority for Alex to continue learning dual languages, there was a chance that the teachers would put their focus on teaching Alex in just English, when his primary language was Spanish.

Although not a dual language school, Elizabeth was surprised to find that the teachers at St. John Vianney were more than supportive of this request. Since starting, she has seen a tremendous improvement in her son both academically and socially. Now in the fourth grade, the teachers at St. John Vianney were able to get Alex above grade level with his studies, particularly in reading. Instead of feeling like an outsider, Alex has been taught to embrace his cultural background and to continue challenging himself. Once falling behind in his classes, Alex is now getting A’s and B’s on a regular basis, and Elizabeth can see an overall improvement just by the way he speaks. No longer timid, Alex is enthusiastic to learn. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support from his mother and the AAA Scholarship Foundation.

“I am extremely grateful for this scholarship and that it’s available to all different types of families,” says Elizabeth Vazquez. “The AAA Scholarship Foundation has enabled us to grow as a family, and let me take on the ability to go back to graduate school and become a teacher.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a tax credit (dollar-for-dollar in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada, and up to 90 percent in Pennsylvania). The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved Scholarship 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

Click here for a pdf of this Spotlight.

Is Arizona’s Low-Income Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program Growth Unsustainable?

by

Recent newspaper articles have claimed that the growth of Arizona’s successful and effective Low-Income Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program is unsustainable at its current growth rate. Below we discuss the four main claims and provide the facts that prove that they are unfounded.

Claim #1) Unless capped, the allowable credits will exceed the amount of taxes owed by corporations.

Fact: The credits are approved by the Arizona Department of Revenue based on the taxes owed by corporations. The approved credits can only be taken against the amount of taxes actually owed subsequently, they can never exceed the amount of taxes owed by corporations.

Claim #2) Income taxes are the only corporate tax against which the credits may be applied.

Fact: The credits may also be taken against insurance premium taxes. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimates over $504 million in insurance premium taxes were collected into the General Fund during 2017.

Claim #3) Credits will “swallow up” all of the eligible corporate taxes in the year 2027 unless the 20 percent annual increase is capped.

Fact: Even if one assumes no increase in the amount of tax liability due to economic growth, the maximum credits that can be approved for the year 2027 will represent less than 44 percent of all eligible corporate taxes (income and insurance premium taxes). The credits approved for the current fiscal year represent less than 9 percent of eligible corporate taxes.

Claim #4) Corporations may have reached the limit (“natural water level”) of what they’re willing to take in credits.

Fact: All of the available credits were taken within 6 months of becoming available – half the time allotted for the process. There are many reasons that corporations may not participate immediately once credits become available, including:

  • Given the option, many corporations choose to strategically time their remittances to correspond with their normally required estimated tax payments. Corporations must remit their funds to a Student Tuition Organization within 20-days of having their application approved. Now that sufficient credits are available after the opening day of the cap, corporations will naturally take advantage of this timing opportunity and apply for credits when it best matches their cash flow needs.
  • The due diligence process for large corporations is lengthy, multi-layered, and crosses many departments (tax, public affairs, government affairs, foundations, community engagement, etc.) subsequently, it takes time for corporations to participate the first time.

The unwavering support of the Arizona Low-Income Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program from corporations proves that there is great demand from the business community for these credits. They see the Program as a viable solution for providing real educational opportunities to an underserved population who will one day lead their companies, work in their stores and factories and be consumers of the goods and services they provide.

The Program was designed to save taxpayer dollars by limiting the maximum cost of educating a student benefiting from it to an amount less than the cost of educating that same student in a public school. Instead of limiting the growth of a Program that saves taxpayers money, we encourage Arizona legislators to grow it at an even faster rate by adding additional types of taxes to the eligibility pool.

What is Scholarship Stacking and Why Are We Against It

by

Scholarship stacking is the unregulated practice of allowing students to receive multiple tax credit scholarships from different scholarship organizations so that the resulting benefit to the student is greater than the maximum scholarship value set by law.

The Arizona Department of Revenue has confirmed to us that they believe the intention of Arizona legislators in including a maximum scholarship limit for the Arizona Low-Income Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program was to “save” taxpayer money by setting the cost of educating a student in the Program to something less than the cost of educating the same student in a public school (the 2017-2018 maximum value of a scholarship is $6,600 for students in grades 9 – 12 and $5,300 for students in grades k – 8).

This intent is not unusual. Legislative supporters of tax credit scholarship programs in the other states have successfully used the same argument to pass similar laws – they save taxpayer money. Unfortunately, the Arizona law was written in a way that leaves the administration of these scholarship limits open to interpretation.

It is our belief that scholarship stacking puts this successful and effective Program (and the tens of thousands of students who benefit from it) at risk unnecessarily by allowing those who oppose it to point to stacking as a waste of taxpayer dollars. Subsequently, it is our policy to interpret the law in the same spirit that the Arizona Department of Revenue has told us it was passed – the maximum scholarship value in the law is the maximum per student per year.

It is our mission to provide access to students with economic disadvantages to the best educational setting for their learning needs and we believe that the best way to do that it to strengthen the program – not weaken it. To that end, we encourage the Arizona legislature to raise the annual scholarship value per student, allow it to be used for required books and fees at eligible schools (along with tuition as it is today) and to either regulate the practice of scholarship stacking or prohibit it altogether.

The future of this Program – and all the students who rely on it – is bright. Let’s keep that light shining for them and for the great state of Arizona!

Dominque Smith

by

Dominique Smith 2017_11Dominque Smith
Young Americans Christian School
Conyers, GA

Dominque Smith started her life fighting to survive.  Weighing only three pounds at birth, the doctors told her mother, Cynthia Smith, that Dominque would likely not make it past her first birthday.  Dominque proved them wrong; the first of many milestones she would surpass with strength and determination fueled by her mother’s love.

Even with her continued health struggles, Dominque persevered and made it to elementary school.  Unfortunately, she began to encounter bullying from other classmates by the time she was in 4th grade, which eventually trickled over and impacted her academic performance.  Despite her mother Cynthia’s best efforts, the bullying continued and Dominque’s grades declined along with her happiness.  The last straw was when Dominque fell at school and suffered a concussion, and Cynthia was not notified by school staff until much later in the day.  With Dominque’s wellbeing at risk and her spirit crushed, Cynthia knew that she had to do something to save her daughter from a potentially disastrous future.

In her quest to find the right academic environment for her daughter, Cynthia began to look into private schools in her area, although she knew as a single parent on a limited income the tuition would be a far stretch for her finances.  However, the staff at one of the schools told her about Georgia Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit Scholarships available through the AAA Scholarship Foundation and she was able to apply on Dominque’s behalf for the next school year.  The scholarship gave Cynthia the ability to find the right academic setting for her daughter and it has made all the difference in the world.

Over the past five years, Dominque has blossomed into an engaged student with a more positive outlook.  While she has still had some health struggles over the years, the encouraging support she has received at school has boosted her confidence and the impact is tremendous.  Her grades are soaring and she is stepping outside her comfort zone, including participating in activities like archery, drama and motivational speaking, as well as dance performances at her church.  A huge step for a young girl who once shied away from social activities.

Now in the 11th grade at Young Americans Christian School in Conyers, Ga., Dominque is starting to look towards her future.  She is currently considering a future career in forensic science and is looking into colleges both near and far.

Despite the sacrifices she has had to make to ensure her daughter attends a school suited to her needs, Cynthia has no doubt that it is worth it.
“I drive 45 minutes each way every day to get my daughter to school,” she says.  “While many would think that is an inconvenience, I see it as a small sacrifice to pay to ensure my child is in an academic environment where she can really thrive.  A huge burden has been lifted off of me, both financially and emotionally.  I am truly grateful for the AAA Scholarship Foundation and its donors for making this opportunity possible for my family as well as so many others!”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students.  The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community.  More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty.  Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship.  Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options.  They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact.  They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a tax credit (dollar-for-dollar in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada, and up to 90 percent in Pennsylvania).  The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved Scholarship 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs.  AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs.  For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

Click here for a pdf of this student spotlight.

Champagnat Catholic School

by

Champagnat Catholic School Spotlight July 2017Champagnat Catholic School
Miami/Hialeah, FL

It has been nearly 50 years since Isabel Alonso’s parents, Dr. Reinaldo Alonso and Maria I. Alonso, founded Champagnat Catholic School in Miami, Fla., located in a community built around the immigrants that came to the area to start a better life for their families.  Over the years, the school has grown and evolved to meet the unique needs of the children living in the multi-cultural South Florida communities.  However, Isabel, who now leads the school, has remained dedicated to continuing the school’s original purpose to serve the diverse community – especially the economically disadvantaged and immigrant families in need of educational options for their children.

As Cuban immigrants themselves, and with a history in leading educational institutions in Cuba, Dr. and Mrs. Alonso started Champagnat Catholic School at a time when there was a shortage of schools to serve the many families migrating to South Florida from Cuba and Central and South America.  The school started with 123 students and over the years, as its popularity and a sheer need for educational choices for the families in the area grew, the school eventually added a second location in Hialeah, Fla.  Today Champagnat serves students in sixth through 12th grade, and has had more than 5,000 graduates and counting.

One of those graduates, of course, was Isabel Alonso and she remained involved in the school even while pursuing her own higher education.   When she was just a sophomore in college, she started the athletics program at Champagnat, something the school had not been able to offer previously.  She helped build the program from the ground up to eventually become the competitive athletic program the school offers today, which includes state championships for their basketball and football teams, as well as successful baseball and track teams, among others.  But her reason behind engaging the school in a successful sports program was beyond just the athleticism and awards.

“Working in this community from a young age, I saw a tremendous need for children to rise above their means and circumstances,” Isabel says.  “The athletic programs helps to motivate students to want to continue their education, to stay in school, and to dream bigger.  The goal is to move them towards college scholarships and higher education so that they can create better futures for themselves.”

After successfully establishing Champagnat’s athletics program, Isabel eventually left to pursue her own degree in hospitality management and spent several years opening restaurants and working long hours that left her feeling exhausted and not quite fulfilled.  It was during one visit home with her parents that she felt an unshakeable calling to help Champagnat and the surrounding community as a whole.   Soon after, she quit her job and returned to South Florida to once again help her parents run the school that they had spent so many years of their life building.  Not long after she returned, however, her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and Isabel realized that perhaps that unshakeable feeling she had months earlier is what led her to be in the right place and the right time – not only to be with her family during a great time of need, but also to help keep the school afloat and continue her parents mission and life’s work.

Sadly, Isabel’s mother and Champagnat’s co-founder, Maria Alonso, passed away in 2010.  However, Isabel has kept her promise of continuing on her parents’ good work through Champagnat.  The school fulfills a great need in the community, where all too often at-risk youth are in danger of falling through the cracks.  Champagnat serves as another option for families, especially those with limited financial resources, by providing their children with a safe learning environment and a quality education designed to prepare them for future success.

More than 90 percent of the students at Champagnat are either on the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program for low-income families (like those provided by the AAA Scholarship Foundation), or the McKay Scholarship for students with disabilities.  The diverse student body of the school has fluctuated over the years depending on the influx of immigrants moving into the community.  Currently, about 30 percent of the students are African-American, and about 70 percent are Hispanic.

Isabel Alonso Champagnat Catholic School Spotlight July 2017Isabel and her team of dedicated teachers and staff work to create a family-like atmosphere at the school, providing students with individualized attention and a quality college preparatory education.  Isabel has seen countless success stories at her school, such as the timid teen that came to them from Columbia, unable to speak English and with a tremendous fear of attending school in a new country.  She overcame her struggles and is now attending college.  Or the young man that took advantage of Champagnat’s academic and athletic programs as a means to gain access to higher education at the University of Miami and eventually a career in professional basketball overseas.

In explaining why families need options for their children’s education, Isabel sums it up pretty simply.

“A child that has the tools to be successful is likely going to succeed in their environment,” she says.  “However, we must reach the ones that are struggling and help provide a way to turn their situation around.  Our goal is to educate and support them so that they can get on the path to be successful members of society.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students.  The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community.  More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty.  Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship.  Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and care about their future, look for viable options.  They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns, and the potential lifelong negative impact.  They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances, and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a tax credit (dollar-for-dollar in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Nevada, and up to 90 percent in Pennsylvania).  The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved Scholarship 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these Scholarship Tax Credit programs.  AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs.  For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or (888) 707-2465 ext. 730.

For a pdf of this school spotlight, click here.