YOU CAN HELP

The hope is that this AN ORGANIZATION

scholarship will THAT CARES EMPOWER, ADVANCE
help our youth as AND LIFT UP OUR YOUTH
they reach their
fullest potential WHAT IS THE GUARDIAN AD
and rise above their LITEM FOUNDATION?
circumstances. The Guardian ad Litem Foundation helps
support the Guardian ad Litem Program, which
serves as the exclusive advocate for abused,
neglected and abandoned children in Duval,
Clay and Nassau Counties. Volunteer Guardians
ad Litem (GALs) are court-appointed special
advocates whose job is to serve as the voice
of the child — a voice that is separate from the
HOW DOES FUNDING child’s family members, foster care providers,
AND DISBURSEMENT OF attorneys or social workers. In addition to
SCHOLARSHIPS WORK? advocating for these youth while in the system,
the Foundation recognizes the importance of
The Empowerment Scholarship is an
supporting children after they reach the age of
endowment to generate an annual return
majority.
that will be used to fund the scholarship
disbursements, along with any additional
donations received. The number of
recipients and the amount awarded is
contingent upon the availability of funds.
This scholarship will assist those who have
spent at least six months in licensed foster
care, out-of-home placement, or have been
appointed a court approved Guardian ad
Litem. This scholarship is not to be paid back
by any recipients.

BRIDGING THE GAP GALFIRSTCOAST.ORG

(904) 512-6084 TheEmpowermentScholarship.com
TO EDUCATION info@GALFirstCoast.org
 WHAT IS THE
WITH DONORS LIKE YOU EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP?
Youth who have been involved in the foster
care system face unique challenges and need
the support of our community. Although some
of these individuals qualify for tuition and fee
exemptions, there are many costs associated
with post-secondary education that are
not typically covered. Private colleges and
universities, vocational/trade and career schools,
books, computers, meal plans and transportation
are generally extra expenses that fall under the
responsibility of the student.
WHY YOUR DONATION MATTERS
For me, my adversity came from being
homeless... [during] this time, I grew very
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE close with my best friend and her family, and
they would often tell me that going to school
and getting an education would be my only
way out - for my future. I decided to take initiative
and focus on my life goals, because I wanted to be
the change in my family and also, lead by example.
I wanted to show those around me, that no matter
where you come from, or how hard life may have
been for you, what matters most is what you decide
to do with the life you were given. Keeping a positive
outlook on things, never giving up, not letting the
little things define me as a person and knowing that
someone is going to have to be there for my family,
loving them unconditionally is what fuels me. I now
have a mindset of self-motivation and determination.
Each and every one of these strategies is what kept
me going and reaching the top of my class even with
the hard hand I was delt in life.
- Scholarship Recipient
Florida State University Student
FOR QUESTIONS ON HOW TO GET
YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION
INVOLVED, PLEASE CONTACT
The Guardian ad Litem Foundation, with the
generous support of John and Margie Arrowsmith
in memory of their daughter, Krista, have
established The Empowerment Scholarship that
will help bridge the gap for these young adults.
Revenue raised through the endowment and
ongoing donations will be used to empower
these individuals as they navigate through
post-secondary education to rise above their
circumstances.
The challenges I have overcome extend far and
wide. I have been through so much in my 17 years of
life. I’ve been through quite a bit, from being abused
to a failed adoption to being a victim of sexual
assault multiple times and struggling with my mental
health. Giving up was never an option for me,
no matter how much I wanted to. Something
just kept telling me to hold on and that it
gets better. I remind myself that there is
more out there. More to do, more to see,
more to experience...
I graduated an entire year early, one month after my
17th birthday. I graduated with a 4.04 GPA on my last
report card... and got accepted into the top three
colleges that I applied to.
- Scholarship Recipient
University of South Florida Student
DONATE TODAY
TheEmpowermentScholarship.com
GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOUNDATION
info@TheEmpowermentScholarship.com
(904) 512-6084