Yesterday October 30th, 2025 was special.
I photographed the Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation event. It reminded me why I love this work.
Fresh Start gives money to Delaware women who want to go back to school. Women who thought they missed their chance. Women with jobs and kids and bills. Women who just need someone to believe in them.
Since 1996, they’ve given out 1.85 million dollars. That’s a lot of second chances.
The speaker was Kristine Blake. She got a Fresh Start scholarship. Now she’s a counselor helping kids. She told her story. How school changed everything for her. How doors opened that she didn’t know existed.
Big names came. Dr. Jill Biden. University of Delaware President Dr. Laura Carlson. Former First Lady of Delaware Tracey Quillen Carney. Paula Swain from Incyte. Temeka Easter Rice led the discussion.
Lisa-Marie Jackson runs Fresh Start. She said something I keep thinking about. When women get educated, families change. Kids see mom studying. They think school matters. Women get better jobs. Families do better. One scholarship touches a lot of people.
People bought raffle tickets. Made donations. Supporting women they’ll never meet. That’s pretty cool.
I photograph lots of events. This one felt different. People weren’t there to be seen. They came because they care about helping women succeed.
Delaware’s small. When we help each other, it matters. Fresh Start proves it. Almost 30 years of proof.
Want to help? Check their website Fresh Start Foundation. They need money. Volunteers. People who believe women deserve a fresh start. This reminded me. Good things happen when we show up for each other.