Color the Future 2024

The final scholar to introduce you to before Color the Future wraps up is Eva* (*pseudonym). Eva is also beginning her senior year and is so close to achieving her bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Strategic Communications. 

To give you a better idea of the well-rounded, kind, and brave human she is, we wanted to share her responses to a Q&A:

• What excites you heading into your senior year?
  I am excited to know the ins and outs of the business world. I have learned so much and can't wait to soak in as much as possible. My Organizational Behavior professor has been the absolute best so far. He is so caring and really gets his students to ponder the meaning of life and our purpose in the world. 
  
• What is bringing you joy right now?
  God brings me true joy first and foremost. Spending time with children and my loving fiance also brings me joy. Unfortunately, I don't have a favorite hobby due to being so busy. When I am not in school, I love to read and watch new exciting shows. I also love being outdoors and driving to new and fun places. 
  
• What has been a barrier your have overcome to be where you are today?
  I went through some very personal devastating health situations this past year that have been very hard for me. I don't know how I still managed to get good grades. I communicated with my professors and they were very understanding. This next year I am getting married and going on a honeymoon to Hawaii! God has blessed me tremendously. I am also excited to start saving to buy my first house.  Beauty for Ashes and all the resources I've been given have been life-changing for me. I am forever grateful. 

St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral is Eva's* lead advocate for her senior year, generously donating $300 toward her tuition needs and praying for her as she does one final push to reach her goal of a college degree. Before the campaign wraps up at midnight, you can join St. Paul's and give a gift that will empower Eva to achieve her goal and build a life of financial stability, safety, and healing after exploitation.

Color the Future ends at midnight tonight! We need you (and your friends and family) in order to cross the finish line and reach the $50K goal to support the 7 survivor scholars studying under the Beauty for Ashes Scholarship. Will you help us out by spreading the word?!

Naomi* (*pseudonym) is also starting her senior year, working toward her bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership. But she still needs our support to be funded for her final year at PLNU! 

When we asked her to share a bit about herself and a barrier she has overcome, she said:

• Educational fact: I really had an awesome professor last semester for strategic communications. His name was Professor Anthony Wagner. He was absolutely amazing and left a lasting impression
• Fun fact: It was really awesome to grow and see all the ways that I put limitations on myself. I have also learned to let go of control more and just let things be what they’re going to be and have fun with it.
• Barrier You've Overcome: I would say a barrier that I overcame was within myself. I realize that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. I’m very excited to graduate.

Mission Church of the Nazarene has kindly volunteered to be Naomi's* lead advocate! They have already fundraised $2K toward her scholarship need through a match donation with PLNU students, and they will also be praying for her throughout her senior year as she prepares to graduate. 

There are only a few hours left to give a gift to Color the Future and support Naomi* as she starts her senior year! If you haven't already invited a friend to join you in supporting the Beauty for Ashes scholars, now is a great time to spread the word. ✨

Desiree* (*pseudonym) is starting her senior year at PLNU under the Beauty for Ashes Scholarship, and we want to give her our full support so she can finish strong and complete her bachelor's degree in 2025! To give you a better idea of the incredible human being she is, we wanted to share some of her responses to a Q&A with our team:

• Educational Fact: My marketing professor involved the whole class in creating marketing plans for my nonprofit. I walked away with unique ideas I will implement when we formally launch. I am excited about the honors research program; I know it will be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I also know the work I’m doing is critical, and I know I have amazing people supporting me through this.
• Fun Fact: I read 4 books in 2 weeks and discovered my love for literature over the summer. 
• Barrier You've Overcome: When I lost my housing over the summer, I wasn’t sure if I could continue in my senior year. I also lost my car in an accident, further adding to the stress. Thankfully, with the relentless advocacy from the CJR, I was able to secure safe housing and reliable transportation so that I could finish school and graduate next year!

Normal Heights United (NHU) has faithfully committed to being Desiree's* lead advocate for her senior year, and they will be donating $1K toward her tuition needs and praying for her throughout her final year at PLNU. If you are in a position to give, please join NHU and surround Desiree* with your tangible financial support and prayers. 

There are only a few hours left to give what you can to Color the Future and support Desiree* in building a life of flourishing after exploitation! 

Angelie* (*pseudonym) just started her junior year under the Beauty for Ashes Scholarship! Throughout her time at PLNU, Angelie* has grown as a leader in her full-time job while also excelling in her organizational leadership courses. She has worked hard while wearing multiple hats so that she can graduate in Summer 2026, but she still needs her financial needs met to continue working toward her bachelor's degree. 

To support Angelie*, OB One Church has volunteered to be her lead advocate by generously donating $1K toward her tuition needs and committing to pray for her throughout the school year. In addition, an anonymous donor has kindly offered to donate $2,500 if we receive 10 donations of any amount toward Angelie's tuition needs... and we only need 4 more donations to meet the goal!
 
Will you Color the Future today and empower Angelie* to take college courses that will further advance her career so that she can continue to build a life free from exploitation?

Thanks to your generosity and a kind match donation from Jay & Erica Wurtzler, Cleo* is now FULLY FUNDED for first year at PLNU! Cleo* is pursuing her degree through the Accelerated Undergraduate Program (AUG) because it allows her to continue working while engaging in her classes. Cleo* is most looking forward to her Criminal Justice courses because she is really passionate about resourcing people who face systemic injustices.

Cleo* is studying under the Beauty for Ashes Scholarship with 6 other survivors of human trafficking! All 3 of the new scholars are fully funded for their first year at PLNU... but today is the last day to Color the Future and set the returning scholars up for success to finish their bachelor's degrees!  

You can support the 4 returning scholars –– Angelie*, Desiree*, Eva*, & Naomi* by spreading the word to your friends and donating what you can to Color the Future. The campaign ends at midnight tonight, and we are only $11K away from the goal! 

You stepped up to the challenge, and 25 of you donated by midnight last night to unlock the $8K gift from Neighbors Church! Because of your generosity and the advocacy of Neighbors Church, Adela* is now fully funded for her first year at PLNU, where she is pursuing her bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. 

In her free time, Adela enjoys writing poems and nonfiction stories about living in Mexico with her grandmother as a child. A few of her other loves include playing guitar, collecting records, and reading books (especially books written by one of her favorite authors, Paulo Coehlo).

Can you continue spreading the word about Color the Future so her fellow Beauty for Ashes scholar, Cleo*, can also be fully funded for her first year at PLNU? 🎨

Thalia* –– the first Beauty for Ashes survivor scholar –– is now fully funded for her first year at PLNU! 🎉

Thalia* is pursuing her bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership through the Accelerated Undergraduate Program, and she is on track to graduate in Summer 2026. 

Two other Beauty for Ashes scholars are also settling into their first semesters at PLNU, and they still need their tuition needs met. Give a gift to Color the Future or spread the word to a friend to guarantee that Adela* & Cleo* have their financial needs met for the '24/'25 school year! 🎨