Meet Sawyer! He is a devoted 14-year-old DC sports fan who loves dogs and riding bikes. He can be slow to warm up in a group, but once he does, his smile is like a ray of sunshine.

Early Instability and Self-Doubt

When Sawyer was just a baby, he was removed from his mother’s care. She was not able get away from her violent partner or create a safe place for them to be together as a family. Sawyer’s first years of life were marked by near constant moving. Initially, he was placed with family members, but he never stayed long anywhere.  He lived in some homes for months, some just weeks, and others only days.

After many years of instability, Sawyer began to think that drifting was just a part of life. He believed that he didn’t deserve any better,  that he wasn’t very smart, and that he would never amount to anything much. He tried not to let that bother him but secretly, it did.

Finding a Supportive Home

Everything changed in 2023 when Sawyer turned 12. His case was transferred to the team implementing NCCF’s Family Focused Initiative and he met his new foster parents Ben and Cora. They were not related to Sawyer but they were experienced NCCF foster parents.

Ben and Cora got to work immediately with the NCCF team on stabilizing Sawyer’s home life. They reviewed his academic progress with the help of NCCF’s education specialists and quickly realized that Sawyer, a bright, articulate, and eager boy, was not performing to his natural potential. Initial testing in reading and math indicated he was performing well below his grade level in both areas.

Unlocking His Academic Potential

To support Sawyer, Ben and Cora enrolled him in their neighborhood school. In addition, NCCF leveraged the TNK program and a generous donor to immediately enroll Sawyer in an intensive tutoring program. Within six months, Sawyer was back on grade level. By the end of that year, he was above grade level. He finished eighth grade with a cumulative 3.8 grade point average, or GPA, and was elected class president.

A Bright and Grounded Future

Today, Sawyer is a freshman in a prestigious Prince George’s County Scholars Program. He successfully competed for one of only 50 slots in the dual-degree program that allows students to earn college credits while in high school. Sawyer’s plans for college are more than just a dream; they are within his grasp.

Every day since he came to NCCF, Sawyer has been on a new trajectory, moving forward. No more drifting. No more believing he isn’t good enough. No more underperforming.  Sawyer knows what he’s capable of and has a team cheering him on.