Founded in 1887, The Ricks Institute in Liberia, West Africa, provides room, board, and a world-class education to K-12 students. Until the First Liberian Civil War (1989-1996), funding came from Southern Baptist missionaries. Without funding, Ricks Institute has continued to educate.

Lately, they have been struggling financially and as a result, teachers' pay is in arrears two months. I am Reverend Cottrel Carson, PhD, assistant pastor, First Baptist Church of Heth, Arkansas. At my own expense, I accepted the invitation to be keynote speaker at the Ricks Institute's 2025 commencement ceremony. I was astounded to see 12 of 57 graduates were honor students. I met teachers whose dedication to Ricks Institute and its students I saw, as they found other employment in order to continue teaching.

The amount I am seeking will pay salaries ($250 * 36 faculty) for one month.