07/27/2026
Long post alert... but hear me out. I promise it's worth it...
People often think the FAST Fund is simply an organization that writes checks. The truth is, that's probably the smallest part of what we do. The real work happens between the checks (Don't get me wrong... we still need your donations to write those checks. 😂 This isn't Hogwarts.)
All jokes aside...
It happens in the conversations, the advocacy, the partnerships, and the countless hours spent walking alongside students who are determined to change their lives but just need someone in their corner.
This weekend reminded me why.
This story actually started several months ago when one of our MATC faculty members called and said, "Bria, a student of mine's needs some help. Her name is Latonya. She's a full-time Early Childhood Education student, works full time, and is raising six children."
Before I ever met her, her instructor had already told me how determined she was. They were right.
She wasn't waiting for someone to save her. She was already doing everything she could to move her family forward. When we met, she and her children were living week to week in hotels while she searched for stable housing. Every paycheck went toward keeping a roof over their heads while she continued working toward her degree.
For months we worked together. We made calls, connected with landlords, leaned on community partners, celebrated small wins, and kept going every time another obstacle showed up.
Finally...she found a home. Her family is scheduled to move in on August 1st. I thought we had made it....Then late Friday morning my phone rang.
Her car had been repossessed. The money she had saved to get her family through the next two weeks was suddenly gone because she needed transportation to get to work, school, and her children where they needed to be. She didn't know what else to do.
I told Latonya to give me a hour or so and I will call her back. My first call was to, Deb Heffner at Community Advocates. Within minutes, Deb and her team were making calls, working their network, and helping us secure temporary housing until move-in day.
That's the power advocacy and partnership.
Then today...on a Sunday...my phone rang again.
It was Latonya. She was calling to say thank you.
We spent nearly an hour talking not about housing or funding but about life. Two mothers. Two college students from different seasons of life. I shared a little of my own journey through housing insecurity while earning my degree and reminded her that sometimes the hardest seasons come right before the breakthrough.
When I hung up, I couldn't stop thinking about how many people had become part of her story.
An instructor who believed in her.
Community Advocates.
The FAST Fund.
Friends willing to answer the phone.
People often ask what the FAST Fund does. This is what we do.
Yes, we provide emergency financial assistance.
But more importantly, we bring people together. We advocate. We connect resources. We build partnerships. We refuse to let students face impossible situations alone.
To Deb Heffner and the entire Community Advocates team...thank you for reminding me what compassion in action looks like.
And to every donor, volunteer, faculty member, and community partner... this is your impact.
🌿 Join us on August 15th 4pm-7pm for the FAST Fund's 5th Annual Garden Party & Silent Auction. Together, we're helping families find stability, hope, and the opportunity to build a better future.
🌱FAST Fund's 5th Annual Garden Party Join us for an evening in the garden as we celebrate community, connection, and the students who make it all worthwhile. Every dollar raised goes directly toward emergency financial assistance for MATC students facing unexpected hardships — keeping them in s...
