Paying it forward
Kettering Senior Marc Alexander of Pontiac, Mich., had accumulated more than $130,000 in debt during his college career and had just 12 classes to go when he decided he couldn’t finish his degree. With the credit crunch and pressure on the private loan industry, combined with the financial struggles that his family has endured, he could not find a credit-worthy co-signer to help him secure a $16,000 loan that would help him complete his education. As a result, Alexander could not complete the remaining 12 classes he needed to receive his degree.
According to “The Flint Journal,” which wrote a story about Alexander’s situation, a recent blog blip about his crises resulted in several people coming forward and asking how they could help. Alexander, who is president and CEO of Youth of Tomorrow (http://yoft.org), an organization he founded that helps gear young people toward careers through hands-on experiences, hopes to take his education and help kids who don’t have much opportunity succeed in life. He started Youth of Tomorrow after observing kids in his hometown of Pontiac struggle because the local recreation center closed. Today, the nonprofit organization has more than 175 participants and partners with several organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint.
Fortunately, an anonymous donor sent Alexander a letter with a $16,000 cashier’s check with the following note:
Dear Mr. Alexander,
Enclosed is a cashier’s check for $16,000. This is a gift to pay for your classes next term at Kettering. We hope that at some time in your successful future you may find someone in need and “pay this gift forward.”
Sincerely,
Flint friends who are grateful for Kettering University and its outstanding graduates.
When he received this note, Alexander taped the note next to his desk at work.
“Anytime I get down, I look at it and smile,” he said. “Someone gave me a chance and I’m not going to ruin that,” he added.
Once he graduates, Alexander hopes to expand his organization into the Detroit area. And he and his fiancée Angela Tremble are already planning to start a scholarship with the goal of offering 16 scholarships at $16,000 per person.To request an issue of Kettering Perspective, contact us at
Kettering Perspective, Office of PR & Communications, 1700 West Third Avenue, Room 4-934 CC, Flint MI 48504.
810 762-9538 voice; 810 762-7435 fax; gerwin@kettering.edu