Philanthropy In Action
May 31, 2023
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President stated, “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my axe."
Today's blog focuses on the success stories of two of CFNEA's E2 Program students. Their success is an excellent example of what philanthropy in action looks like.
Our E2 Program students have invested the time and preparation to “sharpen their axe” by pursuing their associate degrees and certifications.
Recently CFNEA hosted the graduation exercise for E2 student Samantha Hill on May 9, 2023. Family, friends, and program partners gathered to celebrate Samantha’s graduation from Gadsden State Community College. Samantha completed her degree with a 4.0 GPA in her computer science major.
On May 10, 2023, E2 student Andrea Fitzpatrick was awarded a $500.00 scholarship from Family Success Center and a $500.00 scholarship for academic excellence from Gadsden State Community College for achieving honors in her electrical engineering major. Andrea is scheduled to graduate in December.
It is estimated that the average return on investment (ROI) for an associate's degree in high-demand fields has a starting salary of approximately $39,990 with lifetime earnings of $3.02 million. The E2 program is helping to change the economic trajectory of families in our region.
Philanthropy is at its best when it produces positive change now and for future generations. The positive impact and change in the lives of these two E2 students and families are great examples of philanthropy in action.
Pictured below left: Samantha Hill, E2 Program Graduate; center: Africa Roberts, E2 Life Coach; Andrea Fitzpatrick, E2 Program student; Fred Smith, CFNEA Director of Grants & Partnerships; right: Andrea Fitzpatrick , E2 Program Student
Lisa Morales, Director, East AlabamaWorks; Elizabeth Garcia, Gadsden Head Start; Laura Swann, Gadsden State Community College; Africa Roberts E2 Life Coach; Samantha Hill, E2 Program Graduate; Jennifer S. Maddox, CFNEA President & CEO; Fred Smith, CFNEA Director of Grants & Partnerships; Emma Hazelwood-Clapp, Family Sucess Center