About ten years ago, Farther Foundation founder and Executive Director, David Weindling, had a chance to talk about our mission and our students on Chicago Public Radio's Worldview show with host, Jerome McDonald.
Farther Foundation reaches more than twice as many students annually than we did back then, but the core of what we do, the impact on students, and our students’ stories remain largely the same.
We invite you to listen to that interview anew!
When our scholarship recipients return from their summer programs across the country and around the world, they share their experiences with us through essays and photo/video presentations. Our committees then come together to select our favorite submissions, share them with you, and award prizes to the winners!
Congratluations to our 2024 Alumni Award winners!
Farther Foundation scholarship recipients are a dynamic group of individuals, daring to take a bold step beyond the familiar and becoming positive examples in their communities. Many of them have become involved in charitable efforts to bolster the communities where they traveled or where they live, work, or go to school.
The Go Farther Alumni Award is a grant awarded by Farther Foundation in the name of our students to a charitable project or organization of the alumnus’ choosing.
Farther Foundation is proud to support our alumni’s efforts to pay back or pay forward some of the generosity they have received.
Antonio Chambers was part of our 2020 cohort that unfortunately was prevented from participating in their summer travel programs due to the COVID epidemic. Antonio was given the opportunity to use his scholarship toward future college tuition - which he has done at Morehouse College. At Morehouse, Antonio has become deeply involved in community service. Antonio’s Go Farther Alumni Award will go toward the Morehouse Bonner Holiday Giving and Community Support Initiative, which addresses food insecurity and assists low-income families during the holiday season. Antonio tells us, “My volunteer experience has shaped my understanding of community development and leadership, reinforcing my commitment to service and pursuing future work in urban planning and advocacy.”
Charmaine Dortch traveled to Argentina to participate in a program of cultural and language immersion as part of our 2016 student cohort. She has since received her BA in sociology from the University of Illinois and is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. Charmaine’s Alumni Award will support the work of College Possible where she currently serves as a high school coach. College Possible helps prepare under-resourced high school students for college admission and success. Charmaine shared, “Growing up in Englewood, Chicago, I faced many challenges similar to those of the students we serve. My goal is to be a mentor and guide, helping students see that college is a viable and valuable option. This grant will support both my efforts and the broader mission of College Possible, ensuring that more students have the opportunity to achieve their academic and career goals.”
When our scholarship recipients return from their summer programs across the country and around the world, they share their experiences with us through essays and photo/video presentations. Our committees then come together to select our favorite submissions, share them with you, and award prizes to the winners!
1st prize: Dayanara (in the rear of the raft) faced exhilarating physical challenges in Norway!
2nd prize: Yinnel learned about the culture of Thailand and visited an elephant sanctuary.
3rd prize: Sophia captured a stunning image while exploring Alaska.
Here are excerpts from our three favorite essays in 2023:
Dayanara:
“Three weeks of physical challenges began, we started off with exploring Oslo and white-water rafting in the Sjoa river, followed by a four-day backpacking expedition through snow, rain, and a terribly sprained ankle. The final day of backpacking came when the participants, already at our campsite, lined up and started cheering for me as I arrived an hour later, “we’re so proud of you Daya! You’ll do great things in life.” There was no bullying from any of the participants, my heart felt relieved. We continued on with mountain biking, rest days, more camping, kayaking, and finally exploring the beautiful city of Bergen.”
Mateo:
“My trip to Washington DC was highly transformative. As a recently naturalized US citizen, I saw history from a different view. Getting to study alongside some of the brightest students from around the world gave me confidence that I am just as qualified despite my distinct background. Furthermore, I grew academically through perseverance and learned much about government, both from the class and from the city. I am so grateful to the Farther Foundation for this opportunity to explore my education and go father!”
Yeili:
“Growing up my mom worked all the time and I never had my father present. I had no one to teach me how to ride a bike. So hearing that we were going to bike around Chiang Mai made me nervous. Everyone went biking and one of the leaders stayed there just to teach me how to ride a bike. Every time I almost fell I wanted to give up but I didn’t. With the help of the leader and his patience, I finally know how to ride a bike. A lesson I learned from that experience is to not give up when something doesn’t come out the first time. I was about to fall from the bike like fifty times but I didn’t give up. From every failed attempt I learned something new.”
Thank you for supporting our students reach their highest potential!
Thank you for your generous supporter. Covid is still on our minds, but students, families, program partners, and education travel providers are cautiously preparing to get back out into the world. We will introduce you to our 2022 cohort of intrepid scholarship recipients below, but first let me share a few other items of interest.
During Peace Corps Week, February 27 - March 5, we are celebrating the Peace Corps by asking some of its alumni to share stories from their experiences and advice for the students we serve.
With great advice and mentorship you can go far — add a scholarship and you can Go Farther! Donate now to our scholarship fund to give students a life-changing opportunity!
We are beginning to see a light at the end of the Covid tunnel, and hope this portends a return to a robust array of student educational travel opportunities in 2022. Meanwhile, Farther Foundation adapted our program strategy in 2021 to help our students where they are.
Farther Foundation is pleased to welcome Ed Cruickshank to our Board of Directors. Ed’s financial and management acumen will be an asset to the governance and functioning of our organization. Perhaps more importantly, his passion for our mission and dedication to service will help Farther Foundation continue to provide life-changing experiences for deserving students.
The ability to adjust and thrive in new or changing situations is a key outcome for students who earn a Go Farther scholarship. This year, more than any other, our students and our organization had to adjust.
One thing we all adjusted to was the Zoom meeting. This Fall, Go Farther alumnus, Juan, talked via Zoom with our Founder, David. In 2013, Juan was the recipient of a scholarship to travel to Costa Rica after his freshman year of high school. He shared with us the impact his travel experience had on his education and his life, including his recent college graduation and job search amidst the Covid pandemic.
The full conversation is available on our website, but the biggest takeaway is how Juan summed up the benefit of his Costa Rica experience. He learned that he, “didn’t want to be confined to one location anymore”. Juan said he carries that sentiment with him still, both literally and figuratively, as he keeps pushing forward and exploring the world and its possibilities.
Farther Foundation is adjusting our sails as well to help students in these confining and unpredictable times. Thirty students approved for travel scholarships in 2020 were unable to participate on their programs this past summer due to the pandemic. Given that 2021 looks just as uncertain, we are converting those travel scholarships to college scholarships to honor our commitment to these dedicated students and to encourage them to strive toward their highest potential.
We are also adjusting our program for 2021 to provide support to our program alumni who are currently in school, and to assist our program partners to help high school students become more aware of their college opportunities and to be better prepared to achieve them.
Your donation today makes life-changing experiences for students like Juan possible.
Impact: Persistence
The National Student Clearinghouse collects a lot of data. One statistic they track is college persistence – a measure of how many students return for their second year of college. The NSC reports persistence across many factors including, race, type of college, starting age of the student, part- or full-time status, etc. For all students, the persistence rate is 74%, and the rate for all the various permutations of subgroups and situations runs anywhere from 40% to 90% in the very highest performing sub-group identified.
Farther Foundation students who enroll in college (99%) persist at a rate of 91.3%. Furthermore, we track whether students are persisting every year through graduation, not just returning for their second year. The experiences afforded to students through Farther Foundation are key to helping students make a successful college choice and persist through graduation. See the Impact section of our website for more information about our students.
You can make a real impact in the lives of deserving students now!
A $2,500 DONATION NOW funds one average scholarship award and is often enough to allow a student to spend three weeks on a college campus or two weeks immersed in a foreign culture serving an impoverished community.
A $1,000 DONATION NOW makes the difference in allowing a student to participate in a life-changing experience.
A $500 DONATION NOW funds domestic airfare to transport a student to and from their summer college program or the point of departure for their program abroad.
A $250 DONATION NOW helps purchase hiking boots, a sleeping bag and a backpack for a student going on a wilderness adventure.
A $100 DONATION NOW covers vaccinations or passport and visa fees to allow a student to travel abroad.
A $50 DONATION NOW helps purchase luggage for a student who has never traveled before.
A DONATION NOW IN ANY AMOUNT Invests in the life of an eager and deserving student.
All donations during our year-end appeal go entirely toward student scholarships.
Our students greatly appreciate your generous contributions and you can count on them to take full advantage of the opportunities you provide.
Please make your contribution today.
Donations by check can be mailed to: Farther Foundation 223 S. Elmwood Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302
Click here https://www.fartherscholar.org/donate, to securely donate via credit/debit card or PayPal.
Donations can be made using Venmo at “Farther Foundation”
Send donations using mobile banking apps to info@fartherfoundation.org.
To make a contribution of stock/securities or other goods or services, please contact Farther Foundation Executive Director David Weindling at 708-497-7240 or info@fartherfoundation.org.
Thank you on behalf of the students and families that we serve.
The Board of Directors, Farther Foundation
David Weindling Susan J. White Maryanne Woo
Nicky Fish Melissa Coughlin Laura Swartzbaugh
Paula Rusca Zel Peterson
Farther Foundation is a 501(C)(3) charitable organization and all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
In 2013, Father Foundation awarded Juan Romo, a high school freshman, a scholarship to participate in an educational travel program in Costa Rica. We recently caught up with Juan via Skype to talk about his memories of that program, his experiences since the summer of 2013, and his recent college graduation and career plans in the midst of a pandemic.
The upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic, while just an inconvenience for some, is a crisis for many – especially those whose lives have less margin for disruption. As you continue to stand by our side, we continue to stand with the students we serve. Travel programs may be canceled this summer, but Farther Foundation’s work is not idled.
Farther Foundation is pleased to release our 2019 Annual Report. In it, you will meet Maya, one of our 2019 student travelers, who is now better prepared to take the next big step in her education. We also share a conversation we had with several of our alumni who have continued their education into graduate school. We reiterate the impact our program is having on our students, give you a heads up about events that are coming up later this year, and acknowledge our 2019 donors.
31 eager and deserving students will receive scholarships to travel across the country and around the world this summer. They will study on elite college campuses, explore wild ecosystems, immerse themselves in new languages and cultures and participate in service projects on five continents. Meet our students and hear a little of what they shared with us in their scholarship applications.
Farther Foundation is pleased to ring in 2019 with the addition of two new board members. We welcome Melissa Coughlin and Nicky Fish. Farther Foundation Board President, David Weindling said, “Both Melissa and Nicky bring a passion for our mission born from personal experiences with service and travel. Our board and organization will also benefit from their professional skills and competencies.”
