“The Full Circle Foundation has helped me tremendously throughout my college experience. As a former foster care youth I lacked support when it came to my education. Not only has Full Circle supported my financially, they’ve also supported my journey through college. Through numerous phone calls and texts they’ve always been there when I needed additional support, especially after having my daughter. I’m not sure I’d still be in school without their support. ”

“When looking back to my time in college I think a lot of how I had a ton of motivation to get through, many people in my life kept me going and helped me stay on the right track. I had a lot of motivation to go to college and complete my degree, arguably the most motivation came from Susan and Jeff. I look back to when I applied for the scholarship and thought how far of a stretch it would be for a small-town kid like myself to get money to go to school. But one night in the fall of my senior year of high school, I get a call from a weird number, and I called them back and left a not so very excited voicemail. The number returned the call, and it was one heck of a wake-up call. Jeff was on the other end and was calling to tell me he was going to help me throughout college. I woke my mother up and we were both so excited.

The help of the Full Circle Foundation financially was obviously a big deal. In my experience, the relationship with Jeff and Susan is what kept me going. I think back to the meeting between Jeff and myself for breakfast in McDonalds and that was the starting point our relationship. That day we sat down and enjoyed a few sandwiches and coffee before he went and hunted. He told me his story and get me a few pointers on how to stay in school. I took his advice seriously and here we are. I had moments in school where I did not think I was going to make the GPA required but I figured instead of hiding it from Jeff I would call and tell him my problem. He said to me, and I quote “We are riding this out with you” and the relief that I felt was what I needed to push through. From that point I knew that I was more than just a check for them. They looked at me as a member of the family. To this day when Jeff comes to Winner my mother gets the pleasure to see him in the mornings at the gas stations and it always makes her day.

The impact that the Full Circle Foundation has had on my family is huge, it goes beyond school and the financial help that you receive but it’s the relationship that you gain with such great people that make the biggest deal. I want to thank Susan and Jeff for all their help and support without them I would not be a first-generation college graduate. They have given me the tools to help change the script and live a better life for myself. ”