Four years ago, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF) highlighted Emily, as she was just beginning her college journey. A participant in the Keys to Success program and a recipient of the AFFCF Post-Secondary Scholarship, she was a freshman at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University. Like many students, she felt nervous. But for Emily, the road to college came with added weight.
First Generation Scholar
Emily grew up in foster care and is the first in her family to attend college. With no family to ask about navigating campus life and no older siblings to lean on for advice about lectures or late-night study sessions, she struggled in her first semester, feeling isolated from others.
Now, as she prepares to graduate in May 2025 with a degree in Business Law and a certificate in Applied Business Data Analytics, Emily reflects on just how far she has come, and the people who helped her get there.
“Many people assume that just because someone is in foster care, that they are destined to fail,” Emily says. “While it is more of a challenge, children who grew up in the system face hardship early on, which allows them to get through many hard things life throws at them.”
The Power of Support
For Emily, the support from AFFCF made all the difference.
“With AFFCF, I have found a community of like-minded people who genuinely want me to succeed, and I can talk to them if I need it. There are so many resources, help with graduation costs, application fees and connections with other students that made me feel less isolated and more like I have people who understand me.”
Emily appreciates the community she has found.
“Everyone I have met through AFFCF, whether staff or other scholars, has always been very kind, understanding and easy to talk to,” she notes.
Looking Ahead
After graduation, Emily hopes to begin a full-time job in data analytics or supply chain management. And she’s not stopping there! She plans to return to school to earn her Masters of Business Administration.
Emily’s story is not just about academic success. It’s about breaking cycles, finding belonging and proving to herself, and others, that she is more than her past.
More than a Scholarship
Your donation to Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation does more than provide financial support to a college student with a foster care background. It helps them build a community of support to encourage them to persevere on their educational journey. Because AFFCF is a Qualifying Foster Care Organization (QFCO #10023), your donation is also eligible for the AZ Foster Care Tax Credit. That means you could earn a dollar-for-dollar credit on your Arizona state taxes.
Emily is just one of many students from foster care who are building a better future for themselves. You can give them the sense of community to help them keep going. Give today!