Help Grose go to College
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My name is Mamie Fullmer. I am the mother of four boys in Austin, TX. Through my sons, I have gotten to know a lot of special young men that have enhanced our lives in countless ways. One of these extraordinary young men is Grose Kiel V.
Grose has the opportunity to attend the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX this fall to continue his education and play football. Playing Football in college has been a goal and dream of his since he was little. While he did receive generous funds from the school, Grose will still have to take out loans and find a way to cover extra expenses. Currently he does not receive financial support from his parents.
Let me tell you a little of his back story:
Grose was born in Lufkin, TX. As a young child, Grose and his younger brother would stay home while their mother was working, often by themselves. Grose did his best to take care of his little brother. He did not always know when or if his mom would return or what they would eat. Grose rose to the occasion, developed a level of independence not typical of a young child and did it all with a giant smile. His mom decided to move the family to Austin when Grose was in 7th grade to pursue a better job and opportunities that were not available in Lufkin. Grose attended 3 different middle schools in 7th and 8th grade, Dobie, Burnet and then Murchison where he met my son, Adam. His mom was working but they moved frequently and had trouble keeping up with all of the bills. Over the next several years they went through a series of apartments, hotels and sometimes had to sleep in his mom's car while she was at work. Instead of becoming angry or bitter, Grose decided to stay positive, be polite, smile and act like everything in his world was normal.
A network of families, coaches and teachers helped Grose find places to stay, food to eat and transportation for three and a half years. When Covid hit, everything got a lot harder. Grose could have returned to Lufkin and moved in with extended family but he was determined to finish high school at Anderson and graduate with his friends and teammates.
After the first day of football practice in August 2020, Grose showed up at our house. He and my son Adam have been friends since middle school playing football and basketball together. Grose's family was living at a hotel again far from the school and he asked if he could stay with us. We had an extra room, told him to move in and added him to the family group chat. He and Adam went to practice early every morning and then came home to do online school each day.
I started helping Grose with his school work since he was "learning virtually". He had a lot of credits to makeup from past years and needs every class he is taking in order to graduate. Right now, he is on track to complete all of his class work. I would love to say that giving him a stable place to stay changed everything but that wouldn't be truthful. He is a bright, capable student who still struggles with time management and completing his work. He has spent so many years surviving that sometimes the school work does not feel as important as it should be. I will never know the full depth of his experiences but I do know that he carries burdens that he isn't ready to share.
(Thanksgiving Turkey Trot)
He has a great opportunity to attend college AND play football which has always been his dream. Four of our current Anderson Football coaches are alumni of the football program at UMHB. My dream for Grose is that he will live into the example set by these coaches. They are remarkable men of faith, amazing husbands and fathers, give 100% to their students and athletes and believe in community service and giving back. Knowing all of this about the community at UMHB, the amazing alumni they have produced and knowing Grose, I feel this is the perfect environment for him. Therefore, I am doing all I can to ensure he can meet his goals. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has been very generous with his financial aid package. Grose is hoping to get a part-time job soon and start saving some money. Until last month he did not know his SSN or have a photo ID so he has never been able to get a job. (We also have a drivers test scheduled for next month--another huge milestone!)
(His first official state issued ID)
The majority of his financial aid is grants and scholarships, but about $9,500 per year will be loans he will have to eventually repay. Additionally, with no family contribution, he will need about $10,000 a year for living expenses.
Will you consider helping Grose? The funds will be managed in an account by me and disbursed by me directly to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to cover costs above and beyond the financial assistance he has received, as well as costs directly related to college, such as books, transportation expenses, etc. I am committed to managing these funds during his college years
and your generosity will do so much to lessen the financial burden he will bear upon graduation!
(Football Banquet)
Thank you in advance for ANY donation that you can give towards Grose's education.
“In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa
Grose has the opportunity to attend the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX this fall to continue his education and play football. Playing Football in college has been a goal and dream of his since he was little. While he did receive generous funds from the school, Grose will still have to take out loans and find a way to cover extra expenses. Currently he does not receive financial support from his parents.
Let me tell you a little of his back story:
Grose was born in Lufkin, TX. As a young child, Grose and his younger brother would stay home while their mother was working, often by themselves. Grose did his best to take care of his little brother. He did not always know when or if his mom would return or what they would eat. Grose rose to the occasion, developed a level of independence not typical of a young child and did it all with a giant smile. His mom decided to move the family to Austin when Grose was in 7th grade to pursue a better job and opportunities that were not available in Lufkin. Grose attended 3 different middle schools in 7th and 8th grade, Dobie, Burnet and then Murchison where he met my son, Adam. His mom was working but they moved frequently and had trouble keeping up with all of the bills. Over the next several years they went through a series of apartments, hotels and sometimes had to sleep in his mom's car while she was at work. Instead of becoming angry or bitter, Grose decided to stay positive, be polite, smile and act like everything in his world was normal.
A network of families, coaches and teachers helped Grose find places to stay, food to eat and transportation for three and a half years. When Covid hit, everything got a lot harder. Grose could have returned to Lufkin and moved in with extended family but he was determined to finish high school at Anderson and graduate with his friends and teammates.
After the first day of football practice in August 2020, Grose showed up at our house. He and my son Adam have been friends since middle school playing football and basketball together. Grose's family was living at a hotel again far from the school and he asked if he could stay with us. We had an extra room, told him to move in and added him to the family group chat. He and Adam went to practice early every morning and then came home to do online school each day.
I started helping Grose with his school work since he was "learning virtually". He had a lot of credits to makeup from past years and needs every class he is taking in order to graduate. Right now, he is on track to complete all of his class work. I would love to say that giving him a stable place to stay changed everything but that wouldn't be truthful. He is a bright, capable student who still struggles with time management and completing his work. He has spent so many years surviving that sometimes the school work does not feel as important as it should be. I will never know the full depth of his experiences but I do know that he carries burdens that he isn't ready to share.
(Thanksgiving Turkey Trot)He has a great opportunity to attend college AND play football which has always been his dream. Four of our current Anderson Football coaches are alumni of the football program at UMHB. My dream for Grose is that he will live into the example set by these coaches. They are remarkable men of faith, amazing husbands and fathers, give 100% to their students and athletes and believe in community service and giving back. Knowing all of this about the community at UMHB, the amazing alumni they have produced and knowing Grose, I feel this is the perfect environment for him. Therefore, I am doing all I can to ensure he can meet his goals. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has been very generous with his financial aid package. Grose is hoping to get a part-time job soon and start saving some money. Until last month he did not know his SSN or have a photo ID so he has never been able to get a job. (We also have a drivers test scheduled for next month--another huge milestone!)
(His first official state issued ID)The majority of his financial aid is grants and scholarships, but about $9,500 per year will be loans he will have to eventually repay. Additionally, with no family contribution, he will need about $10,000 a year for living expenses.
Will you consider helping Grose? The funds will be managed in an account by me and disbursed by me directly to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to cover costs above and beyond the financial assistance he has received, as well as costs directly related to college, such as books, transportation expenses, etc. I am committed to managing these funds during his college years
and your generosity will do so much to lessen the financial burden he will bear upon graduation!
(Football Banquet)Thank you in advance for ANY donation that you can give towards Grose's education.
“In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa
Organizer
Mamie Fullmer
Organizer
Austin, TX
