Zachary Thompson
Bulloch Academy
Statesboro, GA

“Zach being able to attend Bulloch Academy has been one of the very few positive things that have happened for our family this year,” says Marne Thompson. After experiencing what felt like the hardest year of their lives, Marne is confident that being a recipient of an AAA Scholarship was the light at the end of their tunnel.

Marne and her husband Steve are the proud parents to their incredible son, Zach. In the Thompson household, Marne is the primary source of income. Steve has quite a few health issues preventing him from being able to maintain a regular work schedule, which has led to him having a difficult time maintaining a job. While it puts an emotional and financial strain on Steve and Marne to provide for their family, their primary motivation has always been that Zach has a fulfilling life, even if that means giving up a few things. When it was time for Zach to start Pre-K, the Thompson’s patiently waited to see if they had landed a spot at Bulloch Academy since there were limited openings available. Marne and Steve were both optimistic and nervous – the state of Georgia has a state-funded lottery program which allows children to attend Pre-K, but due to limited available spaces, there is no guarantee that a child will be able to attend. Luckily, a spot opened up two weeks before school began and Zach was chosen to attend.

The school was more than Steve and Marne could’ve ever wished for their son; the teachers were loving and attentive, and the students treated each other with respect, even at a young age. The high school level had a 100 percent graduation rate, with a track record of their graduates being accepted into one of their top three college choices. The Thompsons really wanted Zach to have the opportunity to attend Bulloch Academy through high school. However, Bulloch Academy is a private school, and the state only offered financial assistance to Pre-K students. With assistance from both sets of parents and another program, Marne and Steve were able to scrape together enough money for Zach to continue to attend Bulloch Academy after Pre-K was completed and the state-funded assistance was no longer available. Additional family support enabled him to continue his schooling at Bulloch Academy.

As he moved from Pre-K to Kindergarten and then first grade, Zach’s parents began to notice how he would process his emotions differently compared to other children his age as well as have difficulty controlling certain impulses such as speaking out of turn, touching items and humming or singing at inappropriate times. Thankfully they had a close relationship with Zach’s teacher, and they felt comfortable enough to ask her questions, such as how was he acting in class, was he behaving the same way the other students were, etc. After countless conversations, and seeking professional advice from his pediatrician, Zach was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Marne and Steve were insistent about being open and honest with their son regarding his diagnosis. They wanted him to know that this didn’t define who he was or give him any reason to behave a certain way. Having ADHD, it took Zach longer to process certain emotions, but with medication, and being able to be unapologetically open with his parents, Zach never felt as if he wasn’t “normal.” Some days were more difficult than others, and it was especially hard when Zach’s grandmother unexpectantly passed away. The two shared a special bond and Zach had a hard time processing the thought of his grandmother not being a phone call away anymore.

Several other situations happened around the same time – including changes in employment – so there was no longer additional financial assistance from their family to help cover the cost of tuition. “To remove Zach from the school he loves, and away from the friends that he has made, simply because of our family finances, would have been devastating for him,” says Marne. Marne spent weeks researching scholarship programs until she came across the AAA Scholarship Foundation. “Without the AAA Scholarship Foundation, his world would have been turned upside down.”

During 2017-18, Zach and the Thompson family experienced additional struggles. Multiple health issues for both Steve and Marne, two more grandparents passing away, a potentially stressful transition to middle school, and further financial struggles that were almost too much to bear. However, with the support and understanding of Zach’s teachers, his pediatrician, and the close relationship between Zach and his parents, he continues to thrive.

Now in the 6th grade at Bulloch Academy, Zach has truly transformed into the young man Marne and Steve always imagined he would be. While he has not always been a straight A student, this year he made honor roll and was selected to be a part of the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP), which helps gifted students assess the extent of their academic abilities with above-grade-level testing. Also, Zach was recognized on Honors Day with a citizenship award, a reading award, and Zach’s favorite, a music award! Aside from academics, Zach has an undeniable love for music that he inherited from his parents. Marne minored in music when she was in college, and Steve has always enjoyed listening to a variety of musical genres. She and Steve have taken Zach to multiple concerts to expose him to different artists and bands. Zach has tried just about every instrument and ultimately fell in love with the drums. Thankfully Bulloch Academy has an exceptional music program and Zach was able to learn the basics of multiple instruments. He is also taking drum lessons at a local music store. His teacher can’t help but gush over how wonderful of a student Zach is. He is enthusiastic to learn and every time he comes home after a lesson, his parents simultaneously tell him to “go make some noise!”

Being able to attend Bulloch Academy for his entire academic career thus far has alleviated so many potential problems. And since Zach has attended Bulloch Academy since Pre-K, he has made true, genuine friendships. He looks forward to seeing his friends every day and playing frisbee during P.E. He is confident in the classroom and pushes himself to be the best student he can be. Zach knows that while it may take him longer to understand certain tasks or emotions, he can do anything he puts his mind to.

“I have tearful moments every year when we receive the acceptance letter from AAA,” says Marne Thompson. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. I encourage you to reach out to friends, family and business partners to educate them about this wonderful foundation. All children deserve the right to receive a quality education regardless of his or her parent(s)’ income. To all of the AAA Scholarship donors that make this possible for my son, I 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 90.6 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 200 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.

Click here for a pdf of this spotlight.

Krystal, Paola, Genesis, and Juan Jr. Guerrero
Robert F. Munroe Day School
Quincy, FL
   
 

“I started working when I was 14 years old,” says Juan Guerrero. “I didn’t finish high school, so I work as hard as I can to give my children every opportunity possible. When we heard about the AAA Scholarship Foundation, we knew it would change our children’s lives as well as ours.  My wife and I knew it was going to give them the opportunity for a better life.”

 

Juan and Jelen Guerrero are the parents of four beautiful children – Krystal, Paola, Genesis, and Juan Jr. Juan works incessantly as a construction worker, while Jelen is a stay-at-home mom. The two are adamant about giving each of their children the opportunity to receive a quality education, especially since they were unable to finish high school themselves. “My parents needed help financially, so instead of finishing high school, I went straight to work,” Juan explained. Working in the scorching heat takes a toll on you, but as a father, Juan’s motivation is being able to give his children the chance to chase their dreams, regardless of how impossible they may seem. Unfortunately, as we all know, opportunities usually come with a price tag. While Juan and Jelen would love to send their children to a private school, they simply could not afford it. So, they made the most of the public school their children were zoned to attend.

 

Juan and Jelen’s children were grateful to be able to attend school in general, but it didn’t necessarily mean they were excelling the way they knew they could. Growing up with Spanish as their primary language, it was hard to adapt to a primarily English-speaking classroom, especially for Krystal. When Krystal was in the 3rd grade, she started to see first-hand how difficult the language barrier made learning. Juan and Jelen could see how this was impacting their daughter’s grades, as well as her overall attitude about school, so they decided to move her to another public school for the fourth grade. Krystal was optimistic that this would be the school she would be victorious at, but to her dismay, it was quite the opposite. When Krystal asked her teacher for help, instead of taking the time to show her step-by-step, they would tell her to “ask her classmates.” This only agitated Krystal. She knew how hard her parents worked to give her and her siblings a more promising life, and she didn’t want them to ever feel as if they had failed her. But asking her classmates for help only confused her, and she didn’t want to worry her parents since they had just transferred schools.

 

At such a young age, Krystal had the desire to learn and succeed but kept feeling held back. Being the eldest only added to the pressure; she felt responsible to make sure that her siblings were getting the help they needed with their homework. This put Krystal even further behind with her schoolwork. Her siblings looked up to her and mimicked her emotions, so when she was unhappy or not doing well in school, their experiences were the same. Juan and Jelen couldn’t stand to see their children so defeated and overwhelmed, so they decided to take matters into their own hands and search for scholarship opportunities that would allow all their children to attend a school that was ideal for them.

 

As Juan and Jelen began the search for a better-suited school for their children, they came across what seemed to be the perfect one – Robert F. Munroe Day School. This school had everything they were looking for: enthusiastic teachers, extracurricular activities, and above all, a love for learning. Another added benefit was that the faculty was extremely helpful with pointing families in the right direction to find and apply for scholarship programs. They never want a family’s financial situation to be the deciding factor in their choice for education. When the two were informed about the AAA Scholarship Foundation, Juan and Jelen immediately felt as if their luck was about change, and a few months later, when they received their packet from AAA congratulating them on qualifying for a scholarship, they knew it had.

 

Now with their children attending Robert F. Munroe Day School full time, it has been a true blessing for Juan and Jelen to see them longing to wake up in the morning and go to school. Juan can’t express enough how much this scholarship has helped his children academically. Prior to attending their parent-selected school, his children were doing their best just to get by. Now, they’re hungry to learn and not afraid to take on a challenge. “They have the opportunity to really be something at this school,” says Juan. “I can’t thank AAA enough for making this possible.”

 

“On my first day at my new school, I felt so welcomed because everyone was so friendly,” says Krystal. “In every class when I ask for help, my teachers explain it step-by-step until I get the hang of it, and they always go out of their way to ask if I need any help.” Not only is Krystal happy that she is receiving the attention that she needs in the classroom, but her younger siblings are entering an environment that will encourage them to learn and ask questions. “I am so happy that my baby brother will have a great education at a young age, and that my sisters will also get the extra help they need.” Krystal and her siblings have improved in numerous ways – they are no longer timid to ask questions in class and they encourage each other every day to be the best possible versions of themselves. All four of the Guerrero children are involved in extracurricular activities, such as volleyball, baseball, and theatre. Krystal is confident that this school is the stepping stone to her very bright future. She has high aspirations of attending the University of Florida and studying medicine in hopes of becoming a doctor one day. “With the help from the AAA Scholarship Foundation, I am positively sure I will reach my goals.”

 

“I just want to say that I am so grateful that my family has been chosen to get into a better school,” says Krystal. “This opportunity has impacted our lives now and forever. I will never forget what AAA and the people donating money have done for me and my family. I can never thank you enough and just know you’re changing lives.”

 

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 90.6 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 200 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 Spotlight, click here.

 

Warren Brinson, Taylor Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy
Savannah Christian Preparatory School
Savannah, GA
  
Raised in a household with limited economic means, Monik Brinson experienced first-hand how an educational setting can profoundly impact a child. When the day came for her to be a parent, Monik vowed that she would do whatever it took, and work as hard as she possibly could, to send her children to a school that would have a positive impact on their academic careers. After six years of being a part of the AAA Scholarship Foundation family, she has been able to do just that and more.

 
As a single mother, Monik Brinson works tirelessly to keep food on the table and to provide her children with the necessities – especially a good education. She never wanted the neighborhood they lived in to determine the type of education they should receive, particularly when it came to her son, Warren.

 
Even at a young age, she could tell that her son was gifted. Whether it was academics or athletics, he could do just about anything he set his mind to. As Warren was gearing up to attend middle school, Monik couldn’t help but be fearful of the crowd that he could unknowingly get caught up in. She knew she couldn’t protect her son from everything, but she could at least try. Monik didn’t know where to send her son, let alone how she was going to be able to afford it. Most of the schools that would help Warren acknowledge his academic and athletic gifts were private schools. As you can imagine, Monik was in a predicament.

 
One afternoon, Monik was chatting with a family member and they got onto the subject of Warren attending middle school. Monik was visibly concerned for her son – she knew how easy it was to be swayed by your peers. Given their current household income situation, it was simply not possible to send her son to a different school, regardless of how much she wanted to. That’s when she was informed about the AAA Scholarship Foundation. Monik had tons of questions, as any parent would, such as how does the program work, would their family qualify for a scholarship, and so on. Her relative encouraged her to stop focusing on the “what-ifs” and to just apply. So, she did exactly that. Weeks went by and then one day Monik received a sizable envelope in the mail, with the return address reading “AAA Scholarship Foundation.” As she ripped open the envelope, she couldn’t read past “Congra….” before she was jumping for joy.

 
When researching schools in their district, Monik came across one that seemed to stand out from the rest – Savannah Christian Prep. Monik planned a visit and was blown away by the school’s loving environment. Students were required to wear uniforms and Monik respected this policy believing that regardless of where or how your child was raised, everyone looked the same. It helped eliminate the idea that you should be treated a certain way based on your clothing. Another added benefit was that the school was made up of many nationalities and students treated each other with respect, regardless of the color of their skin. “These students and administrators don’t see color at this school, they just see love,” says Monik.

 
Adjusting to a new environment is inevitably difficult. While Warren was grateful to be attending a new school, he didn’t have the “easiest” transition period. Monik was giddy every time Warren would arrive home from school, however, Warren did not mimic her same excitement. Warren didn’t want to admit to it, but his fellow peers weren’t as welcoming as he’d hoped they’d be. He didn’t go into too much detail, but he did confide in his mother that he felt that he was being peer-pressured by his classmates. Monik had a zero tolerance for any form of bullying, so she immediately took matters into her own hands and went straight to the school to address the situation. Monik was pleasantly surprised by how apologetic they were. They assured her that it would never happen again. And thankfully, it didn’t! Warren was able to enjoy his parent-selected school and began to flourish both as a student and an athlete. Due to the countless hours of work he put into his academics and athletics, Warren was the only student selected out of Chatham County to attend the prestigious IMG Academy for football! Warren and Monik are both very aware that if it wasn’t for the AAA Scholarship Foundation, Warren never would’ve received a life-changing opportunity such as this one.

 
Because Monik saw such an incredible change in her son at Savannah Christian Prep, she wanted her two daughters, Caroline and Taylor, to share the same experience. The private school setting had a huge impact on Taylor specifically. Taylor had more of a challenging time in the classroom, but since the school offered both before- and after-school tutoring, she was able to receive one-on-one attention from her teachers which helped her make high honor roll! She enjoys art and science and even joined the basketball team where she was nominated for most valuable player in her first season. Monik’s youngest child, Caroline, also made high honor roll. Caroline loves to read, and Monik jokes that there must be “something in the water” because Caroline had never played soccer prior to joining the team but scored a total of four goals in her very first game! Monik is proud of everything that her children have accomplished, academically and athletically, but most importantly she just loves to see them happy.

 
“The AAA Scholarship Foundation has had a huge impact on my family,” says Monik Brinson. “I will do anything to help publicize this organization and help other families to receive scholarships. I really appreciate everything you’ve done and continue to do.”

 
 
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 90.6 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 200 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.

Click here for a pdf of this Student Spotlight.

Carlos Casillas, Andres Casillas, Jocelyn Ambriz
New Horizons Academy High School, Cornerstone Christian Academy
Las Vegas, NV
 

“I always tell my children how lucky they are to receive the AAA Scholarship,” says Linda Ambriz-Carranza. “If it wasn’t for the generous donors, they wouldn’t be able to attend the school of their choice. I tell them every day – make whoever is paying, whomever they may be, make them feel as proud as you make me feel.”

A few years ago, Linda, a single mother of two incredible boys, Andres and Carlos, decided to move from California to Nevada. Linda worked as a pre-school director, and coming from an education background, it was very important to her that her children attend a school where they felt comfortable and confident, especially since Nevada was unfamiliar territory to them. She learned early on that there was a small pool of schools to choose for her children in Nevada, which made the decision process a bit more difficult. Her oldest son, Carlos, was in the third grade at the time. Carlos has always been a diligent student, which is why Linda was even more surprised when she learned that his grades had dropped tremendously, resulting in him needing to repeat the third grade.

Linda racked her brain as to what could have caused this, and came to the revelation that the separation between her and her children’s father had more of an affect on her children than they let on. Linda was so focused on trying to be two parental figures, she hadn’t stopped to think about the emotional distress their separation had caused her children, especially Carlos. When Linda sat Carlos down and explained to him that the school recommended he repeat the third grade, she could see a shift in his overall demeanor. This only motivated Linda to find a school that would give her son his confidence back. Linda went on tour after tour, attended meeting after meeting, but each school had the same common denominator: too expensive. Linda simply couldn’t afford one school tuition, let alone two. It was a tough decision, but Linda decided to enroll her children in a smaller, less expensive school given their financial situation.

The boys seemed to be adapting well to their new school. Carlos’ grades were slowly improving, and Andres was working hard to maintain his grades as well. Because Carlos was older, he was able to take advantage of the extracurricular activities, specifically baseball. However, it took a turn for the worse when Linda was informed that Carlos had been bullied by his teammates during an away game. Linda had zero tolerance for bullying, and immediately pulled Carlos out of that school, which meant she also had to pull out Andres. Linda was put in a difficult situation. She desperately wanted her boys to attend the same school, but couldn’t seem to find one that would work for the both of them. On top of this, it was March and the school year was halfway over, which meant not many schools would take her two boys. Linda brought Andres and Carlos to the school she worked at, and expressed her concerns to a fellow administrator. The administrator replied, “Why don’t you enroll your children here? We will gladly take them.” Ecstatic, Linda was quickly reminded of the one thing that always seemed to hold her back: money. But when she looked into her children’s eyes, she was reminded of all the hurt and pain they had suffered in the past few months, even years. So, Linda got to work.

Linda researched every scholarship program available and applied to all of them. She received countless no’s, but never gave up. There was a moment when Linda was alone in her car, hoping that good news would soon come her way. She got out of her car and walked to the mailbox where she had an envelope waiting from the AAA Scholarship Foundation. She jumped up and down with glee for her family had qualified!

So much has happened since receiving the AAA Scholarship. Linda remarried, and brought a beautiful girl into the world named Jocelyn. Jocelyn attends Cornerstone Christian Academy alongside her brother, Andres. There, the two excel. Jocelyn is reading above her grade level, while Andres has joined student council and the flag football team. He also loves math and art class. Carlos graduated high school from New Horizons Academy a year early and was even accepted into the University of Nevada, Las Vegas! Prior to graduating, Carlos was school president, played on the basketball and soccer team, and in his spare time would help mentor students with learning disabilities. Linda can’t believe what her children have accomplished, and can’t express enough how proud she is of each of them.

As Carlos was preparing for graduation, Linda said to him “I wish you didn’t have to face the challenges you did growing up.” Instead of agreeing, Carlos said “maybe all of that had to happen to me, to our family, to make me work harder and never let anything stop me. I deserved to finish.” Carlos, as well as Andres and Jocelyn, are aware of all the sacrifices their mom has had to make to send them to the school of their choice. That is exactly why they take it upon themselves to work as hard as they possibly can, and prove to not only their mother, but to the donors of the AAA Scholarship Foundation that their donations are making a difference.

“I can never thank the AAA Scholarship Foundation enough,” says Linda Ambriz-Carranza. “We are extremely thankful for everyone at this organization.”

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.

Click here for a pdf of this Student Spotlight

Isabella and Robert Valdes
Monsignor Edward Pace High School, Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Hialeah, FL

Miracles happen every day – and for Belinda Valdes, one of those miracles was the day she was awarded AAA Scholarships for her two children, Isabella and Robert.

The Valdes family is passionate about giving back to their community. Even at a young age, Belinda wanted her children to know the importance of helping those in need, because you never know if one day you’ll be the one in need. So, every Sunday, Belinda, her husband Roberto, and their two children, Isabella and Robert, wake up at 5:00 A.M to make sandwiches and hand them out to people around their community. This is just one example of their kindness and thoughtfulness. The Valdes family is known for always lending a hand.

On April 20, 2016, Belinda went about her day like any other. To her disbelief, this would be the day that would change her life forever. That night, her husband and children were fast asleep when Belinda decided to take a shower before heading to bed. Before she could step into the shower, she suddenly felt dizzy and had an excruciating pain in her right eye. She knew something serious was happening and immediately yelled for her husband. Roberto awoke in a panic and rushed his wife to the hospital. It was there Belinda found out she was having a brain aneurysm.

Goodbyes are tricky. When you tell a loved one goodbye, it is usually with the intention of seeing them again. However, when Belinda was told to call her loved ones and give them her final goodbye, she wasn’t sure how to react. Was this really goodbye? She was feeling fine hours ago? The doctor’s words were beginning to blur together. According to her doctor, Belinda was experiencing a severe brain aneurysm and would most likely not make it out of surgery alive, and in the slight chance that she did, she would be in a coma for three months. There was so much to take into consideration – the most important being her 7-year-old and a 15-year-old waiting for her patiently at home. She needed to take care of them; she needed to watch them grow. There were still so many things Belinda wanted to do, places to see, people to help. But she needed this surgery, and regardless of the outcome, she knew in her heart that everything would be ok. She gave her children one final call, and her husband one last kiss, and was wheeled to the operating room.

When Belinda woke up 12 hours later, she was certain her face matched the same surprised expression on the nurse’s face standing beside her. The nurse asked her a set of questions – what’s your name, what’s the color of this blanket, etc. Belinda could answer all of them without hesitation. It was a true miracle, one most people never witness. Belinda had defied all odds, and continued to do so when she left the hospital after only 11 days instead of the required 2-3 months. As Belinda began to settle in at home, she spent the majority of her time with her children asking them questions such as were they getting enough sleep, did they have any homework that they needed to finish, etc. Belinda couldn’t help but cry when they told her that they hadn’t slept for 11 days – the entire time she was in the hospital, and that Isabella had tried her best to keep up with the bills and chores around the house. Robert then grabbed his mom’s hand and asked, “How are we going to afford school?” It was such a simple question, but Belinda couldn’t find the words. With her being in recovery and her husband currently unemployed, there was no possible way they’d be able to continue to send their children to the private schools they were already attending. Belinda desperately wanted to be strong for her children, but it seemed as if her luck was running out. That is, until she was approached by one of her friends who asked her how everything was going post-surgery. When Belinda informed her about the financial struggles their family was currently facing, the woman smiled and said “have you heard about the AAA Scholarship Foundation? You should apply and see if you qualify.” Belinda applied and when she received the news that they qualified, she broke down in tears.

“I have tears in my eyes because of your organization helping me and my family,” says Belinda Valdes. “Thank you for giving us this opportunity.”

Now in 2018, Belinda can watch her children thrive academically from the front row. Being a part of the AAA Scholarship Foundation has only motivated Isabella and Robert to do the best they possibly can in school, and to never take their education for granted. “I tell them every day that whatever they choose to do in life, you must always remember who helped you,” says Belinda. At 17-years-old, Isabella is in all Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors classes, and her love for helping others inspired her to plan to pursue medicine after high school in hopes of becoming a pediatrician. Isabella doesn’t want to go into the medical field for the money, but to be able to travel the world and help children and families that do not have access to medicine. At 10-years-old, Robert may be tiny but he has big dreams, such as becoming President of the United States one day! “I want to give back to AAA someday,” says Robert Valdes. “I was really young when my mom had to have surgery, and I didn’t know how we were going to be able to afford school. I now appreciate everything that AAA has given us, and hope someday I can help people just like they helped me.”

Fighting back her emotions, Belinda cannot express enough how grateful she is for the AAA Scholarship Foundation, and how life-changing it was for her family. “I don’t have the words,” she says. “Thank you for helping me put my children through school. You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, and you have to make the most of each day. I am very thankful for everyone that makes this organization possible.”

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 spotlight, click here.

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
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.

Alex 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.

Dominque 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 4^th 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 11^th 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.