Past Award Winners

Our 2022 Live Your Dream Winners!

Gianiree Pinares

We are pleased to award a $2000 Live Your Dream Award to Gianiree Pinares. Gianiree is pursuing an Associate’s degree in Nursing from Montgomery College. She has one child (less than 2 at the time of award) and provides support for her mother. She has worked hard to overcome an abusive past and is also giving back to her community. Our LYD committee was impressed with Gianiree’s outstanding references, including one who shared that Gianiree was recognized in the Identity Annual Report, a Montgomery County organization with a mission in pursuit of a just, equitable and inclusive society by creating opportunities for our Latino population and other historically underserved youth to realize their highest potential. Gianiree was recognized for her Identity internship with the Montgomery County Food Council which provides food assistance. She was also asked to join the Food Council’s Community Advisory Board which led to her providing testimony in front of the Maryland General Assembly. Gianiree is an excellent role model for her child and community and is determined to achieve her potential and accomplish her dreams of being a good mother, a professional nurse, and an active contributing member of her community. She is grateful for all the support she has received and wants to give back.

Torie C.

We are pleased to award a $1000 Live Your Dream Award to Torie C. Torie is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from American Public University (100% online). She has four children with ages of 8, 3, 2, and less than 1 at the time of the award. Our LYD committee was impressed with Torie’s dedication to getting a degree with four small children at home and is doing well with a 3.44 GPA. Torie is motivated to be a role model for her children, and they are very proud of her. Education is very important in her household, and she is motivated to show her children that goals can be accomplished no matter how long it takes to achieve them. Torie’s references stress her perseverance to keep pushing no matter how challenging things get. And she does so with a smile on her face and motivates others to do the same.

Norica

We are pleased to award a $1000 Live Your Dream Award to Norica. Norica is pursuing an Associate’s degree in Biology at Montgomery College and then plans to transfer to the Universities at Shady Grove to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology while simultaneously prepping to enter a Master’s degree program. She has one child. Norica wishes to become a Physician’s Assistant and her references discuss how she helps in the community, is consistently a hard worker, and is very persistent when it comes to pursuing her dreams. Her references also commend her for entrepreneurial spirit and continuing to perfect her skills as a baker which she does to earn additional income. Norica’s ultimate goal is to work in healthcare and make a difference in the community and within the healthcare field overall.

Our 2021 Live Your Dream Winners!

Award Photo - Emarie

Emarie

We are pleased to award our $1500 Live Your Dream Award to Emarie. Emarie is pursuing an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Development at Frederick Community College. She is raising two daughters, ages 3 and 7, and has overcome the challenges associated with a back injury, domestic violence, and mental health. Upon recently losing her mother, Emarie is even more determined to stay focused, be a good mother, have a positive influence on others, and pursue higher education with hopes of one day becoming a teacher and owning a home. Our LYD committee was impressed with Emarie’s references, including a 9th grade teacher who supported and inspired her to keep pushing forward for a better situation. The committee was also moved by her generous spirit when sharing food given to her by her church family with another family in need. When a teacher, Emarie is excited to give her students hope and inspiration to achieve their dreams.

Award Photo - Maria Calvio

Maria Calvio

We are pleased to award our $1000 Live Your Dream Award to Maria Calvio. Maria is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Graphic Design at George Mason University. She is raising an 8-year old daughter and has overcome the challenges associated with homelessness as part of an 18 month transitional housing program for single mothers. This program taught Maria the value of budgeting and she is now able to rent a home for her and her daughter. Maria’s references were both very complimentary about how she has been able to balance school, work, and family and is a wonderful example of a mother. Maria continues to struggle with stable housing for her and her daughter and is thankful for this scholarship to help with a variety of expenses. Maria is inspired by women owned businesses and hopes to one day work as a visual editor/graphic designer for one of these companies.

Our 2020 Live Your Dream Winners!

Ana V graduation picture

Ana Villaueva

We are pleased to award our $2000 Live Your Dream Award to Ana Villanueva. Ana will also be receiving a $1500 Live Your Dream Award from the Central East Coast Region! This remarkable young woman impressed the entire committee. Ana has showed incredible resilience and a drive to succeed. At age 23, she is a divorced mother to two children, ages 9 and 7. She received her Associate's degree in teaching in May of 2018 and is now pursuing a Bachelor's degree in teaching at Towson University. Ana's interest in teaching was sparked by one special teacher in 7th grade. Ana is now interested in being that special teacher for others.


Tamira Grigsby

We are pleased to award our $1500 Live Your Dream Award to Tamira Grigsby. We were all touched by Tamira's dream to become a chef and her passion for cooking. This motivated 21-year old young woman has a 5-year old daughter and was able to earn her high school diploma in 2019 even though she faced many obstacles— family and economic problems as well as a myriad of personal struggles including substance abuse. This award will enable Tamira to get one step closer to seeing her dream come true—earning her Culinary Arts degree and becoming a chef.

Raina M LYD

Raina McCray

Raina, age 31, is the winner of our $1000 Live Your Dream Award. This ambitious woman is a single mother of four handsome sons! She has been in school on and off for 9 years never giving up on her goal to obtain her degree. In 2016, she found herself in a hospital bed fighting for her life after a major stroke. We were all very impressed that after rehab she did not give up on her dream of finishing her Bachelor's Degree in HealthCare Management. A major obstacle in her way of obtaining her degree is making the final payment to the university so that her earned credits will be released and she will be one step closer to seeing her dream come true.

Our 2022 Betty King Award Winner!

award, prize, ribbon-155595.jpg

Betty King education award winner
S.K.

S.K. is our 2022 recipient of the Betty King Education Award.  S.K. is pursuing a path towards Microsoft certifications, changing careers from the nonprofit sector to a career in Information systems.  Starting as a Systems Administrator with these certifications will allow her to transition into higher level positions to ensure a more hopeful future for her and her child.  She is a victim of domestic abuse, having relocated to escaper her abuser.  The LYD committee was moved by her story which was very well written, explaining how she has persevered to move forward.  In addition, she has a well thought out and specific plan which she conveyed to help her achieve her goals.  She concluded with “The Live Your Dream Award would be life changing, have an amazing impact on me and my child’s life, and set us on the trajectory for success.”  S.K. already has a bachelor’s degree and the $500 Betty King Education Award would help her pay for the certifications that she needs to achieve her goals.

 

Our 2021 Betty King Award Winner!

Betty King education award winner
Robin Carrio

Robin is ultimately pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Building Construction, starting with a 2 year degree from Northern Virginia Community College and then transferring to a four year institution.  She is raising three children, ages 2, 4 and 10, and has demonstrated resilience in fighting her way back from a dumb decision which resulted in a felony conviction when 18.  She has also overcome many challenges as a single parent, including raising a daughter with special needs.  Both of Robin’s references commented about her determination with managing a full-time job, continuing to advance in her job opportunities, and always being willing to learn and create more efficient ways to accomplish things.  Her desire to keep going is an inspiration to others who have similar obstacles to success.  Robin’s dream is to complete her degree and obtain a career with better paying positions to afford a better lifestyle for her and her children. 

Our 2020 Betty King Award Winner!

Sakinah

Betty King education award winner
Sakinah Butler

This resilient 27-year old single mother of  two, has overcome many obstacles including  being homeless and jobless. She fought her way  out of poverty and hunger to give her family a  better life.  After five years of being homeless,  she obtained a job and found housing in a shelter. After eight months in the shelter she found a transitional housing program. Once settled in, she made the decision to obtain her high school diploma. We were all very impressed that she received her high school diploma in March of 2019. We applaud her dream to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Psychology from Liberty University where she is pursuing a career as a forensic psychologist. She would also like to help those with mental health issues.