Russell is going to Baylor!
Donation protected
My name is Cathy Painter, I am a College & Career Counselor at Anderson High School in Austin, Texas
I would like to take a moment of your time to share a story about a special student that I am working with at Anderson who has applied and been admitted to Baylor next fall. I've known Russell since he was a freshman, but was not aware of his situation until this year, which I'll share later. He played football with my son, and though they were not close, I always noted that he was kind, respectful, and responsible in the classroom and on the field. After two injuries to the knee, Russell's football career was over, but he didn't miss a practice, meeting, or game. He wanted and needed to be part of something bigger than himself and he found that outlet in football. Anderson's football team wasn't anything special - we didn't have a winning record, our team experienced coaching turnovers - but Russell was a loyal teammate and he knew the lessons he could learn from the team environment and the positive influence of coaches that care.
I got to know Russell better his senior year when he started applying to colleges and inquiring with our office about the process. Then I read an essay he wrote for one of his applications. Russell doesn't know who his dad is. His mom has been in jail several times, suffers from drug addiction, is homeless and lives under a bridge in south Austin. He lives with his 93 year old grandmother who has dementia and doesn't know who Russell is. Russell and his middle brother take care of her best they can. They feed, clothe, and bathe her. Russell says in his essay that "sometimes she gets very confused and will wake me up in the middle of the night asking to go home. I just tell her to go to bed, and that I’ll take her in the morning. By then, she forgets and continues another day of drinking coffee and watching old western movies. " Russell has called 911 'countless times' to save her life when she has wandered around the house in the middle of the night aimlessly for hours and falls down from exhaustion. He works as a waiter at night so he has money for personal expenses. Last year, Russell walked into his grandmother's home to find his oldest brother dead with a gunshot to the head - he had committed suicide. He is remarkably mature and accepting of his situation; he has come to the realization that his mother's circumstances will not change until she changes them so he is at peace - he goes to see her every Sunday morning and it "makes her day".
Despite the odds, Russell has a 3.6 and continues to thrive and looks forward to what college has to offer him. He applied and has been accepted to several colleges in and out of state. He had never been to Waco, so I took him a few weeks ago for an official campus and residence hall tour and he fell in love with Baylor! On our ride home, he told me he'd live in his car and eat pb&j if it meant he could go to Baylor.
Knowing Russell, the community of Waco, the proximity to his home should his family need him, the Christian environment, and smaller school 'feel' are perfect for him to thrive. Therefore, I am doing all I can to ensure he can meet his goals. Baylor has been so very generous with his financial aid package - we are working to lessen the gap and have applied for several scholarships, opening a bank account so he can save his wages, and planning a budget to ensure he can adequately meet his planned expenses. He is also taking summer courses at our local community college so he can get his core classes out of the way at a lower cost.
The majority of his financial aid is scholarships, but about $7,500 per year will be loans he will have to eventually repay. Additionally, he will be approximately $7,000-$10,000 short in covering total expected cost of attendance, which he will continue to attempt to cover with employment while he is in college.
Will you consider helping Russell? The funds will be managed in an account by me and disbursed by me directly to Baylor University 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!
Thank you in advance for any donation - God is doing great things in Russell's life and your help will go far in ensuring he meets his goals!
I would like to take a moment of your time to share a story about a special student that I am working with at Anderson who has applied and been admitted to Baylor next fall. I've known Russell since he was a freshman, but was not aware of his situation until this year, which I'll share later. He played football with my son, and though they were not close, I always noted that he was kind, respectful, and responsible in the classroom and on the field. After two injuries to the knee, Russell's football career was over, but he didn't miss a practice, meeting, or game. He wanted and needed to be part of something bigger than himself and he found that outlet in football. Anderson's football team wasn't anything special - we didn't have a winning record, our team experienced coaching turnovers - but Russell was a loyal teammate and he knew the lessons he could learn from the team environment and the positive influence of coaches that care.
I got to know Russell better his senior year when he started applying to colleges and inquiring with our office about the process. Then I read an essay he wrote for one of his applications. Russell doesn't know who his dad is. His mom has been in jail several times, suffers from drug addiction, is homeless and lives under a bridge in south Austin. He lives with his 93 year old grandmother who has dementia and doesn't know who Russell is. Russell and his middle brother take care of her best they can. They feed, clothe, and bathe her. Russell says in his essay that "sometimes she gets very confused and will wake me up in the middle of the night asking to go home. I just tell her to go to bed, and that I’ll take her in the morning. By then, she forgets and continues another day of drinking coffee and watching old western movies. " Russell has called 911 'countless times' to save her life when she has wandered around the house in the middle of the night aimlessly for hours and falls down from exhaustion. He works as a waiter at night so he has money for personal expenses. Last year, Russell walked into his grandmother's home to find his oldest brother dead with a gunshot to the head - he had committed suicide. He is remarkably mature and accepting of his situation; he has come to the realization that his mother's circumstances will not change until she changes them so he is at peace - he goes to see her every Sunday morning and it "makes her day".
Despite the odds, Russell has a 3.6 and continues to thrive and looks forward to what college has to offer him. He applied and has been accepted to several colleges in and out of state. He had never been to Waco, so I took him a few weeks ago for an official campus and residence hall tour and he fell in love with Baylor! On our ride home, he told me he'd live in his car and eat pb&j if it meant he could go to Baylor.
Knowing Russell, the community of Waco, the proximity to his home should his family need him, the Christian environment, and smaller school 'feel' are perfect for him to thrive. Therefore, I am doing all I can to ensure he can meet his goals. Baylor has been so very generous with his financial aid package - we are working to lessen the gap and have applied for several scholarships, opening a bank account so he can save his wages, and planning a budget to ensure he can adequately meet his planned expenses. He is also taking summer courses at our local community college so he can get his core classes out of the way at a lower cost.
The majority of his financial aid is scholarships, but about $7,500 per year will be loans he will have to eventually repay. Additionally, he will be approximately $7,000-$10,000 short in covering total expected cost of attendance, which he will continue to attempt to cover with employment while he is in college.
Will you consider helping Russell? The funds will be managed in an account by me and disbursed by me directly to Baylor University 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!
Thank you in advance for any donation - God is doing great things in Russell's life and your help will go far in ensuring he meets his goals!
Organizer
Cathy Irvin Painter
Organizer
Austin, TX
