“I’m August Hatter. I’m gonna do what I have to do.” These words from this week’s tenacious Life in the Spotlight could not ring truer. August Hatter is a student at Purdue North Central working towards a degree in social work. She is also the founder of A Will for Welfare, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to students coming from families supported by welfare. A young woman with big dreams, August is truly a wonderful source of inspiration in the community and well deserving of this week’s Life in the Spotlight.
Growing up, August understood what it was like to be supported by welfare and worry about affording college. She graduated from Winamac High School a 21st Century Scholar with academic honors, technical honors, and her CNA in order for her to attend college. Even still, she had to borrow a lot of money and couldn’t find the time to work throughout high school to help pay for her future education.
“I got to thinking about how much it takes to do everything I do and realized not everyone has that same ability,” she said, and that’s where her idea for A Will for Welfare first took root.
While August worked six jobs her freshman year, served as a study buddy for elementary school students, participated in Valparaiso University’s social work organization, joined multiple honor societies, and took part in Day of Caring, she simultaneously got to work on her dreams of A Will for Welfare. By January, August had talked to more than fifty people to get her nonprofit organization started, had the organization incorporated by the state, established a board, had their 5123 approved and set up a Paypal account. The organization held fundraisers in order to raise money for scholarships soon after. At the first fundraiser so many people came together to help that August was blown away.
When the organization had grown enough in order to supply their first scholarship, the event was a powerfully moving one for August. Natalie, the scholarship recipient, was given a check towards her continuing education at Don Roberts Beauty School and set up with the means to access professional advice and career counseling in order to help her on her way through school. August was overwhelmed by the emotion that day.
“It was the most powerful thing I’ve ever felt,” she exclaimed, reminiscing about the tears and the hugs shared among Natalie’s family that day.
It may sound surprising at first, to hear that August’s hope is for her organization to die some day. In ten years, she hopes to supply students from every state with scholarships. Her belief is that when enough people have access to a technical education no one will have to depend on welfare to make it by. The death of her organization would be a representation of progress and prosperity in our country.
“There are people that have it worse than I do, and I don’t want that to exist,” she said.
She hopes to aid in saving youth from a life of welfare and the hardships that life places on them.
“Everyone has the chance to give kids the life they deserve,” she stated. It would seem August is doing more than her fair share in taking that chance.
For those interested in becoming involved with A Will for Welfare, August urges you to head to the “Make a Difference” tab at awillforwelfare.org. Anyone is able to volunteer for events through email or donate to the organization through Paypal or Fund Me. Those between the ages of 14 to 19 looking to apply for scholarships can simply head to their high school guidance counselor, as August personally sent a copy of the application to every single counselor in the state of Indiana. Applications are available online through the organization’s website as well.
Though she has been faced with obstacles in the creation and continuation of A Will for Welfare, August sticks fast to her goals for the organization.
“Find a way to do what you need to do,” she advises. “Seek help in friends. Don’t give up. Anything can happen if you set your mind to it.”
August also finds inspiration in her family. “If we can come from the lowest of lows to do what we’ve done I don’t need a better source of inspiration.”
She finds hope and further inspiration in seeing the expressions on people’s faces when they hear of the work A Will for Welfare does.
“Giving the younger generation hope is giving the older generation hope. It’s a chain reaction.”
It’s not difficult to see the power of the chain reaction August has started. Her organization is making a real difference in many people’s lives, and this young woman is making positive waves in her community.