Hello friends! It’s almost time for Moms & Mimosas and we are so excited! We will be popping the first bottle of champagne at 10am on August 26, so mark your calendars! Enjoy brunch worthy sips and snacks PLUS shopping, of course! We are partnering with Tapestry of Hope, a wonderful charity that works with underserved kids in the area! Recently, we had a little Q&A with one of the founders, Renee Sullins!
What’s the mission of Tapestry of Hope (TOH)?
“ We help underserved/disadvantaged teens get into and through college through mentoring and networking. I think of myself as a “24/7 college counselor/mentor/second mom.”
How long have you been doing this and how many students have you helped?
“ We are going into our 10th year this fall; 4th year in Austin County. I would estimate that I’ve personally worked with close to 400 students in some capacity. Our students come from low-income families and are the first-generation to go to college."
In what ways do you help the students?
“My personal mantra is to do pretty much whatever I can to prepare them to get into college, and to set them up with the tools and resources for success in college and in life. Rarely a day goes by that I do not get a text(s) from a high school or college student I mentor that needs help."
So, what are some things that you’ve done to help students over the years?
“ It’s not all about academic preparation…it’s about random things: like finding them free used furniture for their college apartments, paying for a post office box so they can get mail from home, paying for tutoring, providing a car that was donated to TOH, paying for MCAT/GRE exams, finding them summer internships and professional shadowing opportunities, and connecting them to others who can help them in their career choice.”
With donated funds raised by this event, what are some of the ways you can use these funds?
“ Depending on the amount of the donation, we have Bellville Seniors this Fall who will only get a few fee-waivers to apply to multiple colleges. After those are used, the application fees can be $45 or more each. We also may encourage them to take the SAT exam several times to improve their scores which can be costly. Also, although our students generally receive financial aid in the form of government grants, that money does not go towards college textbooks, which can be as much as $500+ a semester. Some of our students do not have laptops to take to college as well. As you can see, we have many needs. “
How can people find out more about Tapestry of Hope?
“ Check out our website www.tapestryofhope.org and read about our history/services offered, as well as see pictures and read testimonials of some of our students.” All donations are tax-deductible.