Charlene

Charlene is a 50-year-old single mother to her 16-year-old son, living in Georgia. She is pursuing her bachelor’s in Nursing at Chamberlain University, driven by a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. To her, nursing embodies compassion, dedication, and resilience qualities she strives to demonstrate every day as both a student and a mother. 

“The HOPE Inc. program has truly been a blessing to me and my family during my time in nursing school. As a single mother, balancing the demands of school, work, and home life has not been easy, but the support I received from the HOPE program helped lighten my load in ways I will never forget.” 

Originally from California, Charlene moved to Georgia to be closer to her sister. She began her career at Georgia Piedmont Hospital, where she worked in OB/GYN for 19 years because of her love for helping others. In 2012, Charlene also enrolled in school to pursue nursing, but when her son was accepted into a performance program, her busy schedule made it difficult to balance everything. She paused her studies until 2019, when she resumed her education with renewed determination. 

Her long-term goal after graduation is to work in an area like NICU nursing or women's services, where she can continue making a difference. However, Charlene felt defeated when her financial aid ran out. Constantly applying for scholarships felt like a dead end, and the stress of covering tuition balances weighed heavily on her. 

Shortly after relocating from California to Georgia, she found herself torn between her career and her son's future in a demanding performing arts school. While pursuing her degree at Chamberlain University, she hit a financial breaking point. As a single mother juggling classes, work, and parenthood, rising costs had pushed her to the edge; she'd fallen behind on her mortgage and was at risk of losing her home. 

At the same time, a $4,000 tuition balance prevented her from registering for the next semester. Between late payments, tuition holds, and her son's school expenses, she felt defeated and uncertain about the future. Reaching out to H.O.P.E. was her last attempt to regain stability and keep her dream alive. She was determined to stay in school and build a better life for her family; she just needed a helping hand to bridge the gap between survival and success. 

H.O.P.E. Inc. provided Charlene with financial assistance that covered her monthly mortgage payments, giving her peace of mind that her home was secure. Beyond that, the program offered quarterly gas and grocery cards through QuikTrip and Kroger, which helped her keep her household running without constant worry. 

"The monthly mortgage assistance gave me peace of mind knowing that my home was secure, and the quarterly QuikTrip and Kroger gift cards helped me keep up with gas and groceries for my household. This support allowed me to focus more on my studies and clinicals instead of worrying about how to cover my bills each month." 

The support also included consistent check-ins, personal financial coaching, and resources to help Charlene not only succeed in school but also prepare for her career after graduation. 

"I am truly thankful for the encouragement and resources that were provided to me throughout the program. Kenita and Danielle were absolutely amazing. They consistently checked in, offered guidance, and made sure that we had the tools and support needed to succeed—not just in school, but also in preparing for our careers after graduation. Their belief in us and their dedication to seeing us succeed made a huge difference in my confidence and motivation to push forward, even on the hardest days." 

"I would definitely recommend the HOPE program to any single mother who is working hard to pursue her education and create a better life for her family. This program gave me the opportunity to focus on my future without the constant stress of financial burdens. I will always be grateful for the role the HOPE program played in helping me achieve my dream of becoming a nurse." – (Charlene, 2025 Graduate)