A Life Changing Sponsorship

A few weeks ago we met with an impressive 16 year old from Escondido Charter High School who had recently been through a difficult period in his life. His father lost his job last spring and moved away from the family soon thereafter; and his mom who had previously turned to drugs and alcohol, died earlier this year of an overdose. As a result, this teenager has been homeless off and on for the past nine months with no source of income or guidance. Even with these hardships, and without a reliable place to call home, he was still able to maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA and excel at track and field.

When A Bridge for Kids met with him, he modestly requested three things: 1) gas money so he could afford the 45 minute commute and continue to attend Escondido Charter, 2) a new pair of track shoes (his old ones no longer fit) so he could continue to pursue his dream of running track in college and 3) tuition reimbursement for summer classes at a community college so he could continue to advance academically.

After sharing this teen’s story with our supporters we immediately found a generous donor, a doctor at Yale University, who agreed to sponsor him for the next 6 months. We then called some friends from another local organization, A Bridge to the Future who, after reviewing our teen’s accomplishments on the track, agreed to introduce him to Monique Henderson, a two-time US Olympic medalist in track and field. They have since agreed to train him through the upcoming track season and pay any out of pocket expenses he might incur.

A great example of how one simple act of kindness can evolve into a life-changing event. Will you be the next to change the life of someone in need?