I’ve been thinking a lot of my new year’s resolution to make a difference in the lives of at least 12 individuals/organizations this year.

What could I, one person, who definitely is NOT a Bill Gates family member, do to help someone, something that could change them or make a difference in their live?

I’ve been tossing around an idea in my head for the past several weeks, actually months, ever since I saw a story about a senior citizen who gives money to students in her disadvantage and extremely poor neighborhood who stay in school and makes good grades. It’s not a lot of money, $5 or so, but to those kids, it is a start. It encourages them to continue to do well in school and for the children in her neighborhood, it means a lot to have someone believe in them.

Why can’t I do that or something similar? I love education and truly believe it is the ticket to become whatever one wants to become. So, I’ve been thinking of starting a scholarship fund. Something that would encourage children and their parents to continue to work hard to obtain the necessary skills to be successful in college, and thus, in life.

I’d like to follow a class of students from kindergarten through high school. K2C. For every year they stay in school, work hard and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, I would deposit a $100 into an account for them. At the end of their secondary education, they could each have at least $1,200 in their account. It’s not a lot, I know, but for the kids in my area, it’s definitely a good start to beginning their college career.

There’s definitely a lot to work out but I’m thinking this is doable and could be a great social experiment as well. It would be great to follow each child as they grow up and develop into young people. Meetings with parents, students, as well as mentoring would also be in the plan

So, what do you think? Is it a good idea? Would receiving money for good grades inspire you?