Every year, Spark of Hope reminds us why our mission matters most, to empower single parents to build a better for themselves and their children through education, encouragement, and community. This year, the room fell silent as two courageous women, Tasha Benz and Gloria, took the stage to share their journeys. Both are current SPSFNWA recipients whose stories illuminate what hope, determination, and support can accomplish.
Tasha’s Journey: Choosing Hope Over Fear
“When I decided to leave, I wondered how I would do this,” Tasha shared. “How would I raise my son and provide for him, not only physically but emotionally and psychologically?”
Her words carried the weight of a mother’s promise. After leaving an abusive marriage, Tasha chose courage over fear and began rebuilding her life from the ground up. With encouragement from her support system, she moved to Arkansas, enrolled at John Brown University, and became a recipient of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA.
“The scholarship has provided me with a fresh hope that this dream can one day be a reality,” she said. “They are part of my village.”
Through SPSFNWA, Tasha found more than financial aid; she found community. Programs like Pedal It Forward, counseling services, the dry pantry, and even free oil changes helped her focus on her education while healing from her past.
Tasha now studies consulting with an emphasis in play therapy and dreams of opening a day shelter for mothers escaping domestic violence, a place she plans to call No-Prob-Momma.
“I’m proud of myself because I choose life,” she said. “I still believe and I still have hope. My heart hasn’t become hard like it could have.”
Gloria’s Journey: Thriving Through Adversity
When Gloria stood before the crowd, she began with a familiar question:
“People ask me, ‘How do you do this every day?’ being a single mom, student, and athlete all at once.”
Her answer was honest and raw. “Sometimes I don’t even know what answer they’re looking for because it’s hard.”
Gloria’s story is one of perseverance. Diagnosed as legally blind with a rare condition called keratoconus, she was forced to leave high school before graduating. But years later, determined to finish what she started, she earned her diploma through an adult education program, enrolled at NWACC, and applied for the Single Parent Scholarship Fund.
Her first semester? A 4.0 GPA!
“The challenges people warned me about didn’t faze me,” she said. “I think it was because I knew what I wanted.”
Now pursuing a career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Gloria’s dream is to help others feel seen and supported, just as SPSFNWA has done for her.
“The scholarship helps me pay bills, buy diapers, and cover school costs,” she shared. “But it’s more than that. It’s the community, the encouragement, and the belief that I can thrive, not just survive.”
The Ripple Effect of Support
Both women represent the heart of SPSFNWA’s mission: when single parents receive support, entire families and communities are transformed!
From tutoring, counseling, and pantry supplies, every service helps recipients focus on what truly matters: earning their degrees, healing, and building stable, hopeful futures for their children.
Tasha and Gloria’s stories remind us that every donation, volunteer hour, and shared word of encouragement creates a ripple of impact that stretches far beyond the classroom.
As Gloria beautifully said,
“Even if we never meet, you’re impacting lives. You’ve impacted mine.”
And as Tasha closed,
“Thank you is only a drop in the bucket compared to the fruit of your giving.”
