Paying it Forward

There are many gifts given over the years, but how many times are those gifts taken for granted? Whether they are material goods or personal talents, everyone can make a real difference with even the smallest effort.

Celebrating 15 years of igniting hope providing educational opportunities, Simon Youth Foundation has worked to help at-risk youth earn a diploma graduating more than 10,000 students at Simon Youth Academies. Similarly, SYF has awarded more than $10 million in scholarships to those needing financial assistance to pursue their dreams through post-secondary education. Sharett Brooks of New Orleans, Louisiana earned a Simon Youth Community Scholarship to attend the Dillard University of New Orleans.

Sharett said this was something she will never forget.

“The scholarship was certainly a reward for my hard work in high school, but it was a true awakening for me,” Sharett said. “I want to be hope for someone like me who may not be able to afford college, so I will be doing all I can to help those in a similar situation to me.”

Sharett completed her first semester with a 3.7 GPA and volunteered more than 100 hours in the community with at-risk youth tutoring and mentoring. She took that experience with her when she studied abroad in Ghana, Africa. She wanted to learn more about their culture to become an organic fashion designer. She wants to create clothing that doesn’t deplete scarce resources or animals.

“I want to give back to communities who are in desperate need for the simplest of necessities. SYF gave me the chance and I’m going to seize it.”