Zachaeus Waters Education Fund

Update 11/12/23, after 3 weeks Zachaeus got his 1st Reading & Math Certicate!

Seeking Support for Zachaeus Waters Education

Join us in Making a Difference

Hello everyone, I hope this post finds you all well! I wanted to share an incredible story about my stepson, Zachaeus Waters, who has shown immense resilience & determination despite facing some challenges. Zachaeus lives with emotional & learning disabilities & a Traumatic Brain Injury inflicted when his mother was shot & killed in Asheville, NC in 2016 at Jones Park now called Candace Pickens Park, named after his mother. A few weeks ago, Ty Russell TV from WLOS ABC 13 interviewed my fiancé Daquan Waters & I about Zachaeus' journey.

Zachaeus, now a thriving 10-year-old, has overcome a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after being shot on his third birthday, causing him to lose his left eye. Sadly, his mother did not survive the incident. Despite the hardships he has faced, Zachaeus remains one of the happiest and most caring children you will ever meet! 

To ensure Zachaeus continues to thrive academically, we recently set up an Education Fund in partnership with the Huntington Learning Center. However, we have encountered a challenge – we were informed that the FL FES-UA scholarship can no longer be used for the 1:1 tutoring he needs. 

Zachaeus requires a total of 182 hours of 1:1 tutoring by August 2024 to reach a 4th grade level in reading and math which cost around $65 a hour. He is enrolled in a public school, where he receives speech therapy, and has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in place but needs more assistance ongoing.

Now, we kindly reach out to our amazing network for assistance. If you are able and willing, we humbly ask for your support in making a donation to help our son achieve his dreams. Every contribution, no matter the size, will have a profound impact on his future.

Your act of kindness will forever be appreciated and will make a significant difference in Zachaeus' life. ❤️ Together, we can empower him to unlock endless possibilities through education. ✨ 

For those interested, you can watch the full interview with WLOS News 13 here: WLOS News 13 Interview with Ty Russell

Additionally, you can read a news article about Zachaeus' miraculous recovery a month after the incident: WLOS News 3-year-old boy making miracle recovery

Please feel free to share this post with your network if you feel inclined to do so. The more people we reach, the greater the chances of helping Zachaeus achieve his dreams! 

Thank you all for your incredible love, support, and consideration. 

With gratitude, 

Daquan Waters & Brittany Smith 

#ZachaeusWatersEducationFund #SupportEducation #EmpowerTheFuture