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Helping Women Become Nurses
The Second Chance Foundation is a 501(c)3 founded by Kay Walters who supports the work of the nurses of tomorrow while lifting single mothers and battered women through college scholarships.
“Sometimes, those giant leaps for womankind are best achieved a step at a time, one single mother at a time, one student at a time, one degree at a time,” Kay said.
The Foundation gives deserving women an opportunity for an independent life, stability, and growth for themselves and for their children. Without this opportunity, many of the recipients would remain in poverty. But Kay believes all challenges can be overcome through education, cooperation, and kindness.
The soul of the program is in the mentoring provided by Kay, her friends and supporters who find the resources to ensure guidance for women who are starting over and attending college while raising children.
“If you want to save a family from poverty, ignorance and despair, educate and support the mother in any way you can,” Kay said. “You will not only change that family for the better, but future generations to come.”
All donations to The Second Chance Foundation are tax deductible. The Second Chance Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit.
Statistics on Single Mothers and Battered Women
Stories of struggle transform before Kay Walters’ eyes into lives of prosperity and dreams come true for women who are provided financial help to attend college.
Kay, keeps every letter, and then, personally corresponds and continues as a mentor to the women whose lives she’s helped to change.
But, Kay’s work is not done. There is more to do through The Second Chance Scholarship Foundation.
According to the 2017 Florida County Health Rankings, 39% of all Florida households are led by single mothers. The national average according to the Census is that 26.3% of all families are lead by single mothers.
There were 1,805,000 children living in single parent homes in 2016.
In 2017, 46.9% of all live births in Florida were to single mothers according to the Florida Department of Health, Division of Public Health Statistics & Performance Management.
The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Abuse states 105,668 crimes of domestic violence were reported to Florida law enforcement agencies in 2016, and that 22-25% of all women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives.
Florida’s certified domestic violence centers provided 600,621 nights of emergency shelter to 16,362 survivors of domestic violence and their children. But many victims of domestic violence never report abuse due to shame and fear.
How Does Second Chance Help?
Kay Walters answers the ongoing demand from potential nursing students for scholarships who apply through the Valencia College website.
Students apply and the selection committee chooses candidates based on financial need and circumstance.
Central Florida has a shortage of approximately sixty thousand nurses. Many Florida Hospitals are forced to recruit nurses from other states to meet staffing needs. Second Chance Foundation is helping to meet this need in community hospitals by offering nursing scholarships to local students.
To date, Kay has held annual events and fundraisers for The Second Chance Scholarship Foundation to raise scholarship money and to recognize students and thank donors for their patronage to recognize the kindness and generosity that has kept the scholarship fund in tact.
Kay said she feels like one of those fortunate people who got onto the path she was meant to be on. Her struggle to educate herself as a young mother who never finished high school lead her to educators who gave her the grace of a second chance.
Because someone took a chance on her by providing her a nursing scholarship, Kay pursued a lifetime of public service and now supports other women in pursuing their dreams.
The goal is to provide more scholarships to more single mothers and battered women to change the future of the families. The Second Chance Scholarship Foundation will continue with your help.
How Can You Help The Foundation?
Your donations are needed to continue this program, which was founded in 2004. Founder Kay Walters is asking for your help by donating any amount to The Second Chance Foundation to give more scholarships to more single mothers and battered women.
“It’s a work of love and compassion,” Kay said. “I truly believe that people are shaped by their environments and their innate desire to achieve.”
“I can’t thank donors enough for their support and generosity over the years. Now, we invite others to join us to help build this foundation so that we can send more women to college and improve the lives of Florida families.