The North Star Bridge Journey

Income Greater Than Expenses = Opportunity for Success

2011-02-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

   DG continues to amaze me. Financial aid has arrived less the small deduction for text books. She has opened a checking account, talking about clearing some old debt, and paying the non-profit back. I told her it is time to sit and talk through her finances for the semester. Her classes, like those of many others, have a strong computer-based component.  She still needs a laptop and internet connection. The library does not always offer an available computer and internet connection. Anyone have an old laptop to donate?

   Making sure she does not have to worry about her finances for the spring semester makes focusing on college and work easier. We'll talk with her and see how to make this semester a success.

   Visit us at www.northstarbridge.org. We'd love to hear from you!

Your Donations Really Help!

2011-02-14T09:54:00.001-07:00

Your donations bridged DG into college and a stable job. She checked in via e-mail over the weekend. These are her words.

"Things are going great. Still waiting on the FA (financial aid) info. I'm going to be paying you back and getting a laptop. Also, I am looking into getting internet at my apt to make homework a little easier. My psych 101 teacher has us turn in all assignments online. Work is going great. I got my license so I am able to stay here and work for as long as I want to. I am really happy about that. Having a stable job took a lot of stress away!"

Visit us on www.northstarbirdge.org or Facebook. Please consider donating and bridging someone to success.

President's Scholar

2011-01-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

     We have the pleasure of helping a President's Scholar this semester! Two years ago, she was enrolled in college on the President's Scholarship. Her health required her to drop out. Unfortunately, the college required her to pay remit the scholarship value prior to returning to college. In this economy employment was only seasonal and home life forced her to sleep on a friend's couch. There was no way to save the money to be eligible ot return to college and live each day.
     A donor decided to remit the scholarship value so she could return to college. Seasonal employment is beginning to look like permanent employment and spring classes are in full swing. Financial aid is funding her education.
     Life is better. She has committed to herself to make an "A" in every class as she pursues her education. This one will go far. I see a Nobel Prize in her future!

Another Self-Sufficient College Student

2011-01-31T14:28:00.001-07:00

Sometimes success is achieved quickly. Our Veterinarian Technician student is already self-sufficient. A difficult three-month period of time required limited financial assistance to get her to a more stable situation. She has a new studio apartment away from a difficult situation, is enrolled in the work/study program, has been approved for financial aid, and is enjoying her spring class schedule.
She has been bridge to a successful path that will let her reach her north star. Please share these great stories with your friends and consider donating at http://www.northstarbridge.org/. You could make a difference in the life of someone else.We take no money for salaries or facilities. We buy a few brochures and keep the web site running ourselves. When you donate, only the students benefit.

Read one student's North Star Bridge Journey

2010-12-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

I have recently heard from one of our current students who has allowed me to share his story!
I posted it on our website at:

http://www.thenorthstarbridgeproject.org/Josh.html

Have a blessed Christmas season from Lee and Sue Glascoe
North Star Bridge Project

New Veterinarian Technician Student has Joined the Bridge Program

2010-11-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

   The Bridge Program is working! One has graduated in the 98th percentile as a dental hygienist and another has been financially independent for most of 2010! Two others are rapidly completing their degrees with outstanding grades! I am so happy for them and thankful their paths have crossed mine. I've been blessed!
   We are happy to say that the North Star Bridge Project has another student in the Bridge Program. She is studying to be a veterinarian technician.She has been living life on her own since age 14 and could use a little financial assistance and a caring hand to help her reach her north star. Life has been unkind and she has no family in Arizona. If you have any items to donate to help furnish a studio apartment, call us at 602-492-6727 or email us at northstarbridge@gmail.com. We may need them in the coming months. It would make a GREAT holiday gift to someone in need.
   The students that we help are gifted, but poverty, abuse, broken homes, and abandonment are some of the issues that have placed them in this situation. They have strong characters but the life handed to them takes effort to change. A donated item or small financial gift will make a difference in their lives. If you can relate to a struggling, intelligent, young woman looking to make a life that she can call her own, please consider donating at www.northstarbridge.org. All donations are tax-deductible. We need your support. I guarantee you, too, will be blessed as we keep you posted on their progress.

Our First Graduate of NSBP!

2010-06-14T17:14:00.001-07:00

We had our first graduate of The North Star Bridge Project this spring! We are so proud of her!!
Read her story on our website at: http://www.thenorthstarbridgeproject.org/FirstGraduateofNSBP.html

goDaddy is having issues at the moment, so here is the story:

This is her story (written by KR):

As a young adult, I knew I wanted to work in a respectable field like the medical field. I knew I wanted to work with people and make positive changes in their lives. In the fall of 1999 I decided I wanted to make a career move into Dental Hygiene, so I began by slowly chipping away at my pre-requisites. One of the requirements was to work as an assistant for a number of hours prior to applying to the dental hygiene program; I chose to employ myself at an orthodontist office. I very quickly learned that I was extremely good with patients and quickly established rapport with them; I knew this was the right route for me.

Well as we all know things don’t always pan out as we plan, I got side tracked by a handsome devil that is now my husband. Shortly after we got married we welcomed our first daughter into the world, then two and a half years later we welcomed our second daughter. My career and my academic future got put on hold, because children and money were a priority at that time. I continued to work at the office I had originally planned on staying at for only a short time, and I eventually worked my way up and became a leader for the office. One day I was sitting at my desk at work thinking how nice it would be to go back to school. I felt like I needed to grow, yet here I was working for someone else making them successful. What about the success of my family? That was it. I wanted to pursue dental hygiene again, for me and my family.

Now there I was thirty four and back in the saddle. I have to say that I believe things do happen for a reason. At the age of twenty six I don’t think I would have been able to handle the demands of the dental hygiene program. I believe that as a mother I have flourished in so many ways mentally and physically and I believe this is where I pulled my strength from and was able to start a new chapter in my life. I wanted to be able to provide the life my children, husband and I deserve. I sit and look at my children while they sleep and wonder what they will think of me when they get older. I just wanted to do something for them, so that they would be proud of me and know I do everything for them. My husband and I knew it would be difficult financially for me to attend school, being that I would not be able to work while immersing myself in my studies, but we figured financial aid would help me through my journey.

The first semester was quite difficult for me because it had been such a long time since I had to study for exams, so quite frankly I had forgotten how to do so. I don’t give up easy, I found myself going to Mesa Community College Red Mountain Campus early in the morning to read, write notes and study. Class started around 1pm, followed by clinic from 5:00-9:00pm, this was Monday – Friday for the first semester. It made for a very long day and semester. The second semester was just as grueling, minus Friday.

By the time summer had come our finances were already in shambles, but we knew that we couldn't’t turn back now. Since I had pretty much been Missing In Action, breathing, sleeping, eating dental hygiene my husband and I thought it was best that I stay home with our girls during my short summer break and attempt to play catch-up. It was a short break, in July we started our local anesthesia course and shortly after that I delved right back into our second year as seniors. Things were so tight financially and the financial aid got even slimmer. I started to worry so much about how we were going to provide for the girls that I started to become ill. My body was so worn down from the stress that I was constantly coming down with colds, and the flu, you name it I came down with it. Worst of all my grades started to dwindle and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of overwhelming doubt. I started having nightmares, panic attacks and had to be medicated. You see, the dental hygiene program requires that you continue to maintain a 77% on all your academics. If you fail to do so you are dropped from the program; just to give you an idea how tough it was a 92% is a B. All I could think about was our financial situation. I started feeling guilty for leaving my job, I felt like I had caused this by going back to school. I honestly felt like dropping out of school was my only option to help the family survive. All I ever wanted was for my children to grow up in a home where education in valued, and for them to grow up seeing their mother as a strong female role model.

I just didn't know what to do anymore so I scheduled a meeting with one on my instructors and informed her of my situation. She had learned of this foundation that was for situations like this. The foundation was the North Star Bridge Foundation. I called the number given to me and was promptly reached by Sue Glascoe, and shortly after that our lives took a turn for the better. Sue and Lee Glascoe are warm, caring individuals who value education. I believe they are angles who took us under their wings; they mentored us, cared for us and loved us like family. Without them and their innovative idea I don’t know what our outcome may have panned out to be. They helped create this wonderful outreach for families who are in dire need of financial help, and enable them to grow to their full potential. The help which we received from the foundation allowed me to focus on school.

With in a few weeks I was able to turn my grades around, I went from almost failing out of the program to finishing strong with three A’s and three B’s. I went on to graduate the Dental Hygiene Program with honors. The foundation assisted our finances by paying for three of our monthly utilities, my dental hygiene national board, dental hygiene clinical board, local anesthesia written board, and local anesthesia clinical board. By taking the pressure of finances off of my shoulders, I felt like I could breathe and concentrate on what I had set out to accomplish. I applied for my dental hygiene license, and am proud to say that I am now a Registered Dental Hygienist. I hope in the future I have the ability to donate to the foundation so that I may allow someone to reach their dream.

Thank you for all of your support! Our first year has been amazing!!

Sue Glascoe
President and co-Founder
North Star Bridge Project

We have a glass artist coming!

2010-04-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

We are really excited about our first fundraiser this Friday, April 16! It has turned from being a wine tasting into being a wonderful art show as well! Our newest member to join our fundraiser is a glass artist. She created the window above in her house!
She makes beautiful works of art! Here are some samples of her hand made work.

We are so blessed to have so many creative people in our lives who are willing to share their time and talents with our non-profit to help students!
Hope you can join us!

Another artist for our North Star Bridge fundraiser!

2010-04-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

Kelly Houle is a natural history artist, poet, and children's book author/illustrator who lives in Fountain Hills, Arizona. She is a former science teacher, and currently tutors students in math, science, and writing when she isn't in her "drawing room" or caring for her two-year-old son.

Kelly is coming to our first annual fundraising event at The Kokopelli Bistro & Winery on April 16th and bringing her original artwork with her. She has graciously offered to donate a portion of her proceeds to The North Star Bridge Project! Thank you so much, Kelly!

"Allen's Hummingbird Family," Kelly M. Houle, 2009, watercolor on Arches Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper.

This original watercolor, along with the Giglee prints she has left, will be on sale that evening.

Our First Fundraiser!

2010-03-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

We are excited to have our first fundraiser coming up in a couple weeks!

Join us at the Kokopelli Bistro & Winery on Friday, April 16th for live music, wine tasting and fantastic food!

We will also have several artists on hand selling their amazing works and donating a portion of their sales to The North Star Bridge Project.

Boston artist, Diana Gaikazova, has allowed us to sell her heart pendants on an ongoing basis, with 20% of all sales going directly to helping our students! We will have quite a few of her beautiful hearts on hand that evening!

Mark your calendars! We would love to see you there!

Still growing!

2010-02-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

Today we interviewed a nursing student for our program. He brought his wife and baby daughter and it was a wonderful meeting. We should be able to get back to him later this week and let him know the final decision.

Earlier this week we interviewed someone for our executive director position! We are still in discussion with board about the interview and her resume. Hopefully we will have an answer on this front during the week as well. It has been a very exciting week!

Valentine's Day Fundraiser for North Star Bridge!

2010-01-31T18:38:00.001-07:00

I am so blessed to have such wonderful, creative and generous friends! The amazing Diana Gaikazova has graciously sent me some of her beautiful heart pendants to sell as a fundrasier for our non-profit. 20% of all proceeds will benefit The North Star Bridge Project!

Valentine's Day is right around the corner!!

Starting the new year out right!

2010-01-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Today we were contacted by 2 potential North Star students! The word is spreading and we are so excited to have you beside us on our journey!

Don't forget to sign our guestbook and take some time to look around our website:
www.northstarbridge.org

We hope 2010 will bring many blessings for you and your loved ones!
Sue and Lee Glascoe
North Star Bridge Project

Meet one of our families!

2009-12-19T20:57:00.000-07:00

Tonight we enjoyed the company of the newest family to our program.

They shared a meal with us in our home, and their girls enjoyed playing with our boys and our dog (the cats were hiding). We gave the girls the gifts that were donated by you, and they were very excited!

Our youngest son was especially entertaining, as seen in these photos. He had the girls giggling ALL night long!!! They should all sleep well tonight! :)

Their girls have such wonderful hearts and contagious laughs!

Our student has her board exam coming up in January, and we were pleased to tell her that, with your help, we are able to pay for her board exam in full. She was so relieved and excited that she was crying! It is such a joy to be able to tell someone they can follow their dream!

Her husband enjoyed watching his family have a wonderful time. It was a sense of peace for him, knowing his family will make it through this difficult time.

We feel so blessed by all of you to be able to help families like this create a bridge to their North Star!

Thank you all so much! Have a very Merry Christmas and an incredibly blessed New Year!

Our Beginnings

2009-12-14T09:52:00.001-07:00

Last spring I had a student named Michael in one of my math classes. He always sat in the back and kept pretty much to himself. He was a good student; he always did his homework and came to class every day. Then things started changing.

I noticed he began missing assignments and skipping class. He started asking me to extend due dates for him. I took him aside one day and asked him what was going on. He was very honest with me and went on to tell me many of the things that he wrote down in the story he shared on our North Star Bridge website. My heart was broken for him and the life he has led. He was not a quitter, though, and he made that very clear. I went home that night and talked to my husband Lee, to see if we could help Michael find an apartment and help him with some of the bills that would come with living on his own. I told Lee that Michael had no parents to care for him, and was being asked to move out of the friend's house he was living in temporarily, after his uncle left him.

Lee did not hesitate to assure me that we would do whatever we could to help this student.

I spoke with Michael and offered our help. He had a difficult time accepting it, but was motivated enough to stay in school that he was willing to work with us. The next several weeks were really transforming for me and my family. Michael had taken the other homeless boys from the house with him to the apartment he moved into. We took them to Costco and filled their freezer. We gathered some furniture and household items from our house and took it over for them. They had nothing to start with, but an empty apartment.

One day, after taking Michael to Costco, Lee looked at me and said, "We should start a non-profit and do this for more students!". I was so deeply touched that my husband would want to help my students on such a personal and important level! It was my turn to not hesitate in responding "YES!!"

...as Peter H. Reynolds, our VP and our inspiration, would say, "The Beginning!"

Join us on our North Star journey

2009-12-09T19:35:00.003-07:00

We have decided to share our journey beyond facebook and twitter, by adding a blog. We will post our struggles and our triumphs so you can walk the journey with us as we follow our North Star.