There are moments in life that make you pause and realize just how far God has brought you.
This is one of those moments for me.
This past Mother’s Day weekend, my oldest son graduated from Georgia State University.
And while that is a major accomplishment on its own, what makes this moment so meaningful is not just that he is graduating, but what it represents.
He is the reason I became a single mother in college. The reason I know what it feels like to sit in a classroom, trying to focus while wondering how I was going to make it home, pay rent, or keep everything together. The reason I didn’t have the luxury of quitting, even when it would have been easier to walk away.
And he is the reason H.O.P.E., Inc. exists today.
What started as my personal struggle became a mission. What I once needed, I committed to building for others.
And now, years later, I get to watch that same child walk across the stage, graduating with no student loan debt and a real chance at life.
That’s the part that brings me to tears.
Because this is exactly what we tell our donors every day.
We tell them that when you support a parent, you change the trajectory of a child. We tell them that education doesn’t just impact one person, it impacts generations. We tell them that the sacrifice is worth it.
And now, I get to live that truth right in front of me.
Both of the boys I raised while in college are now thriving in college themselves, stepping into opportunities I never had.
And because of what was built through H.O.P.E., Inc., their story is not the only one.
To date, we have supported over 100 single parents and more than 300 children. What started with one child has now impacted hundreds.
If you have ever given to H.O.P.E., Inc., please know this:
You are not just helping someone stay in school. You are helping to create stories like this one.
And there are so many more still waiting to be written.
With gratitude,
Kenita
