Arkansas Single Mum or dad Scholarship Fund (ASPSF), a nonprofit serving to single dad and mom rise out of poverty via entry to larger training, celebrated A Day of Hope with its third-annual awards banquet on Oct. 2 on the Metropolis Middle in Little Rock.
By way of sponsorships, donations, and tickets, the occasion raised over $109,000 for single dad and mom pursuing larger training throughout 69 counties in Arkansas, together with Bowie County, Texas. These proceeds will assist fund 68 full-time scholarships and guarantee recipients have the instruments and encouragement they should graduate.
Emcee Donna Terrell guided visitors via the A Day of Hope program.
Greater than 130 attendees gathered to honor single dad and mom’ accomplishments and the neighborhood companions who champion their success. The occasion featured the presentation of the newly established Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing ASPSF graduates who’ve accomplished their levels, pursued careers with family-supporting wages, and given again to this system.
“A Day of Hope demonstrated how training creates multigenerational change, reworking lives for each single dad and mom and their youngsters,” Jenn Morehead, ASPSF’s CEO stated. “We’re grateful for the assist that permits us the chance to rejoice these wonderful single dad and mom and applaud their exhausting work, whereas additionally recognizing our neighborhood companions who make it doable.”
Inaugural Distinguished Alumna Units the Tone
Tikima Simpkins of Sizzling Springs, a graduate of the College of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) and admissions specialist at Nationwide Park Faculty, acquired the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award.
A Day of Hope additionally acknowledged companions whose contributions to ASPSF have had a direct affect on the lives of single mothers and dads incomes faculty levels and certifications:
Arvest Financial institution accepts the 2025 Excellent Company Companion Award.
Tales that Impressed
Lisa Fischer, former radio persona and present host of the “Lisa Fischer Stated” podcast, delivered the keynote deal with about her experiences rising up because the daughter of a single mother. Fox 16 Information’ Donna Terrell, a former single mother, served as emcee.
“Meet the dad or mum who’s barely hanging on elevating youngsters on their very own to alter the tide for that era. For those who may assist a single dad or mum with something, I ask you to provide assist each financially and emotionally. The cash you give at this time provides scholarship cash to those single dad and mom and to provide them a hand the place my mom by no means had one,” Fischer stated. “Let’s give these single mothers and dads the assist they want with a view to keep away from a tragedy like mine. Let’s give them objective of their lives and equip them for his or her future.”
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Keynote speaker Lisa Fischer shares a household picture from her daughter’s wedding ceremony. She explored how she broke the cycle of single dad or mum poverty via exhausting work and love.
Scholarship recipient Takida Jester, a single mother of three from Little Rock who works at Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Protect whereas learning for a bachelor’s in well being care administration, shared how sudden challenges saved her from reaching her targets earlier, however the assist of ASPSF helps her attain them now.
“I started faculty proper after highschool, full of pleasure. However … sudden challenges saved interrupting my path and making it more durable to remain on observe. After I grew to become a single mother of three, my dedication deepened. I did not simply desire a diploma … I wished to complete what I assumed I could not and present my youngsters you’ll be able to nonetheless transfer ahead and overcome,” Jester stated. “This journey hasn’t been simple. There have been moments I questioned if it was even doable, moments when exhaustion and doubt have been louder than hope. However each step ahead, each task accomplished, each impediment overcome is a testomony to God’s grace and the assist of this scholarship.”
Alumna speaker Carrie Terry poses for a photograph together with her colleagues.
Alumna Carrie Terry, a 2021 graduate of UAFS, who serves as neighborhood outreach coordinator for OGE Vitality Corp., shared how the assist of ASPSF and inspiration from her grandmother, who was additionally a single dad or mum, helped her return to highschool after a 12-year break.
“My grandmother was a mannequin of grit and dedication, and ASPSF workers and volunteers provided unwavering encouragement,” Terry stated. “The monetary assist was a lifeline. It allowed me to buy a laptop computer so I may research. …. 5 years later, I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in organizational management, a minor in prison justice, and a certificates of proficiency in workforce management. It modified the course of my household’s future. Now, I get to provide again to my neighborhood, put money into training, and assist others succeed.”
Particular due to all of the sponsors of A Day of Hope, together with Presenting Sponsors Carol & Witt Stephens, Mary & Jim Wohlleb, The Rebsamen Fund, and Tiger Correctional Providers.
For details about scholarships, volunteer alternatives, and methods to be a lifeline for single dad and mom via donations, go to www.aspsf.org.
