Ann's Story

Three years ago, the Children’s Law Center reached out to our supporters on behalf “Ann.” Today, she is a Daniels Fund Scholar, headed to Colorado State University!  Thank you for your support.

From 2008:

Ann is 15 and has been in foster care for seven months. Without divulging too much information, she has had a tough time. Despite significant setbacks and hurdles out of her control, she maintains a 4.0 in high school and is determined to go to college. She is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America Club and was recently selected to be one of six students from her high school to attend the Future Business Leaders of America Conference in Vail, CO this April. Outrageously, Ann’s Children’s Law Center attorney, Betsy, had to get a court order to ensure that she would be allowed to participate in this exciting opportunity.

A victory in the courtroom is not all it takes. The Children’s Law Center needed to raise $140 for Ann to attend the conference. Thanks to our friends at CH2M Hill, Ann did not have to miss this opportunity.

Ann continued to struggle while in foster care, but Betsy was by her side encouraging her to stay strong and keep her grades up. Eventually, Ann’s mother completed treatment, Ann returned home, and the case was closed. However, Ann and Betsy stayed in touch even after Betsy was no longer her GAL. When Ann applied for a Daniels Fund Scholarship, it was Betsy who wrote a letter of recommendation and Betsy was thrilled when Ann received the scholarship.

We thank the Daniels Fund for all they do for teens like Ann.The Daniels Fund Scholarship is not a “full ride,” but is supplemental to all other financial aid resources available to the student. By requiring students to apply for other readily available financial resources such as Pell Grants, the Daniels Fund is able to provide even more scholarships to deserving young people seeking to attend college.

In 2010, Colorado State University created the Fostering Success program, funded by the Daniels Fund, to assist students on campus who have aged out of the foster care system and no longer have families to support them or homes to return to during university breaks. Without financial, emotional and physical family support these students face significant obstacles as they attempt to live as average students on or off campus, succeed academically and earn a degree.