Weve recently partnered with the Community Center of Northern Westchester to offer Good for Kids Opportunity Grants in support of the self-improvement goals of extraordinary local women who ultimately aim to help their community. Were so proud of our first grant recipient, Maria, a remarkable, hard-working mother of three. Maria's story of loss and determination is one we won't forget. Although she had to quit school in the firth grade to help her family in her home country of Columbia, she eventually moved to the US, learned to speak English, and earned a GED as well as a home health care certificate. She also put her son through college; her daughter is now planning her own college career.
GFK is delighted to help Maria now fulfill her dream of becoming a cosmetologist; she will earn her certification in Cosmetology at BOCES at the end of this school year. Maria hopes to give back by using her new skills to help residents of local, underserved nursing homes.
Through our Hanna Scholars Program, we have been proud of have honored the memory of one of our most dear and ardent founding members: Hanna Monte
Meet Maria: Our first Opportunity Grant recipient