Well, I just completed judging my portion (over 40) of the nearly 1500 total applications, which The LIFE Foundation received this year from college age kids applying for over $100,000 of scholarship funds.
Each year, LIFE solicits applications for its LIFE LESSON’S Scholarship Program – the applicants submit stories about how one or both of their parents died with no life insurance in place (or not enough life insurance.)
The judging is absolutely gut-wrenching. Every story is unique and emotional, but they all contain certain core elements:
– disrupted families
– dreams denied
– inability to stay in the family home
– surviving parents taking on more than one job to make ends meet
– siblings often being split up to live with family
– reliance upon good neighbors and family for support
– realization that after the funeral is over, everyone else’s life continues
– sometimes there is addiction and pain among other family members
– kids having to work way too early in life to help support their family
– kids missing out on “growing up” and normal school activities
– abrupt changes in plans
– relocation to other cities to be near family
– grandparents, aunts and uncles being put in positions they didn’t seek
– kids saying “if my mom or dad only knew the problem this caused”
– realization that life will never be what they had hoped and dreamed for
– kids saying “I’ll never leave my family is this type situation”
– kids saying “if only an agent had talked my dad into buying more”
– the burden of long-term debt due to mounting student loans
Folks – it doesn’t have to be this way. While LIFE is pleased to be able to give a few of these deserving kids an opportunity for some financial assistance, it would be a whole lot better if there were no kids who needed our help.
Last month, ASI provided a young lady from Dyersburg, TN with a $500 scholarship. Her mom, unfortunately, died way too early. We are trying to help a local student several times throughout the year. If you want to partner with ASI, give me a call.
My charge to you: Pick up the phone RIGHT NOW and make an appointment with someone you know that has TOO LITTLE or NO life insurance. You don’t want to have to watch their kids apply for handouts and scholarships. Do it NOW. It’s our professional obligation.
