Maria is a soft spoken young lady but, don’t let her quiet demeanor mislead you. Maria is determined to be successful. She has set goals for herself and knows exactly what she wants for her future! However, growing up in foster care, Maria didn’t have the support and guidance she needed to navigate life and meet these goals.
The Challenges
Because she moved around from school to school, Maria was behind and struggling in her classes. She knew an education was necessary to help her reach her goals and she was not going to quit. She enrolled in Jobcorp, where she earned her GED and trained in the office administration program. Maria wanted to continue her education and enroll in college, but knowing where to start and what to do was confusing and overwhelming, even more so without having someone to offer her a little guidance.
Connecting the Dots
Enter the Keys to Success program! Maria enrolled in KTS last September. Together, Maria and her career development specialist assessed her interests and skills and how they aligned to pursue her dream career. Through the KTS program, Maria finally received the extra support and guidance she needed to enroll in college.
We’re thrilled to say that in January, Maria began college where she is studying business. Congratulations, Maria…we know you are going to go far!
Change the Story
You can create positive change for youth aging out of foster care through the Foster Care Tax Credit Donation. You can receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on your Arizona state taxes, up to $500 for individuals and up to $1,000 for couples. And you can donate today and still apply it to the 2019 tax year!