MEET OUR FARTHER FOUNDATION CLASS OF 2019 SCHOLARS
Bennie is a high-achieving student at Kenwood Academy High School. He is the oldest of five siblings being raised by a hard-working single mother. Bennie was referred to us by his sponsors at the Kappa League Institute where he engages in college readiness programs. They recommend Bennie as an ambitious and zestful student. He is also active in his school’s Best Buddies program.
Bennie has chosen to participate in a cultural immersion program in Finland. Finland is a unique destination for Farther Foundation scholars, but Bennie says spending the summer in the happiest country in the world might provide a respite from the “caution” he has to employ living in his Chicago neighborhood.
Bennie described his participation in his high school Best Buddies program to us,
“I am a buddy with the Best Buddies International program, where I serve as a buddy to a peer with an intellectual or developmental disability. We enjoy lunches together, walks, and social events. I believe everyone should have the same school experience as others and enjoy friendships and clubs just like all students.”