Bootstraps

Angie

The way my son was impacted the most is that he could see clearly. He was so bogged down that he was willing to just give up his dreams rather than deal with college debt. When we got the letter that he earned the scholarship, we sat there stunned. Then I cried, took a walk, and called everyone we knew to celebrate.

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Bootstraps taught me to believe in myself, to believe in the hard work that I put in and everything I accomplished. Now I believe that I’m capable of everything I want to achieve.

Bootstraps

Knowing I had the backing of my entire community was so empowering for me. The feeling of not being alone, of having resources. Especially when you grow up in a small community, you see the people out there who care about you and want you to chase your dreams.

Bootstraps

Bootstraps taught me to reach for opportunity. I have a little boy, and I want to teach him the same thing. I don't want him to be afraid to try hard things.

Bootstraps

I’m so thankful for the strangers – people I’ve never met – who gave their money for me to go to school. These scholarships are important because they keep you on track toward your goals. I wish more people knew how readily available this kind of help is in the community.

Bootstraps

I felt proud of my kids when they graduated from college because they decided at that point that they would give back to Bootstraps. They had reached their goals because their community invested in them, and they wanted to turn around and make a difference for somebody else.

Bootstraps

Bootstraps

My oldest wanted to go to college, and we were looking at the finances. We would sit at the kitchen table and crunch numbers and get so stressed. It didn’t seem possible. As a parent, we want our kids to be all they can be, and Bootstraps helped my kids do that. I’ll always be grateful they did.

Bootstraps

Grace is the student who stands out in my mind. I met her while I was working at a summer camp for individuals with disabilities. While I was there, I found out that I got a job as a teacher, and Grace celebrated with me. Just a few months later, I saw that she had received the Bootstraps scholarship. She was accepted to college, and this time, I got to celebrate with her.

Bootstraps

It took me joining Bootstraps to really understand how the financial support impacts these students. Hearing their stories puts into perspective just how great the need is and how much these scholarships affect the trajectory of their lives. They're able to move one step closer to their dreams.

Bootstraps

My son had a good friend in high school, Matt, who lost both of his parents. He wanted to stay here to finish his senior year, so he moved in with us. He was never the academic type, but he wanted to set a good example for his younger siblings, so he would come home every day and be the first to finish all of his homework. He ended up applying for college and earning a Bootstraps scholarship. Now he's working for the State of Oregon at his dream job.

Bootstraps

It warms your heart to see how excited these students are to find out they’ve been awarded a scholarship. It gives them hope and a reason to believe in their future.

Bootstraps

Education is a doorway to opportunity. I never thought much of myself as an applicant, so it was a pretty proud moment when I found out I was awarded the scholarship. For me, it was an avenue for independence and a foundation for starting my family.

Bootstraps

My kids worked hard. They had jobs and got good grades and played sports, but there was still the weight of not being able to afford to take the next step in their education. There are a lot of kids trying really hard with really big dreams that can’t figure out how to make it happen. Bootstraps will come in and help them figure that out. It's life changing.

Bootstraps

It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to see these students get their scholarships. Without Bootstraps, college wouldn't have been an option. It brings so much joy.

Bootstraps

I’ve lived in this community for almost 36 years, and I’ve gotten to know a lot of the students. There’s truly a financial need, and our scholarships provide a real opportunity for these students to reach their educational dreams. Every one of our scholarships is provided by the community, and it's empowering for our local kids to know their community stands behind them.

Bootstraps