Fortunately, one of Kristine’s sponsors suggested that she connect with the Climb Foundation. She didn’t know much about this foundation, but she filled out the application and soon after had a scholarship in hand.

“When I received an answer from Tara at Climb Foundation that I would be receiving the scholarship I was so happy,” Kristina said. “They are like the air to help us breathe again and motivate you to stand back up and go forward. They help you fly to overcome your challenges.”

Long before helping others breathe, Tara’s mother Karen, one of the founders, chose to return to school. Tara was about 11 years old then, and it was a challenge for the family. “She had four children. I wasn’t resentful because it was important for her. She was so independent and wanted to finish what she had started,” she said.

Tara was pregnant with her second child when she earner her undergraduate degree. Once she had four children, she decided to return to school for her master’s degree. “Education has prepared me to take care of my family,” Tara said. “Having school and skills helped me feel that I was learning and contributing.”

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For years, Karen’s dream was to help people — particularly women — go back to school. One day in 2019, Karen attended one of her grandkids’ baseball games. The two of them discussed Karen’s long-time dream of helping people.

They decided to start by opening a bank account and soliciting donations, although they didn’t know what to call their plan. After a bit of brainstorming, they decided to do something with a climbing theme. Tara and her family loved to hike the mountains. Then it came to them — why not call it the Climb Foundation?

“We saw climbing as a visual, a way to climb up and out of challenges, a constant progression forward improving and accomplishing goals one step at a time,” Karen said.

Karen and her husband Steve were serving in a church calling in Provo, and they knew international students needed financial help. These students are the first beneficiaries of the Climb Foundation.

Climb Foundation’s mission is simple, yet powerful: “to assist women with the education, finances, and skills they need to be successful.”

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Developing their mission was easy. The goal wasn’t necessarily just to help people earn a college degree, they wanted to help women to receive second chances.

“We felt that career progression had to be the priority,” Karen said. “We had talked to several women who had no long-term plans, but we knew that a little education could help someone become better.”

Finding and screening applicants can be challenging. For Climb Foundation, most of the past and current student/applicants have been referrals and word of mouth from family, friends, and others, and they want to help more people.

One such word-of mouth recipient was Carli, a recently divorced single mother of two. She spent 10 years teaching junior high and high school P.E. and wanted to improve her financial life. When Carli talked to her cousin about her situation, she suggested Carli talk to Climb Foundation.

She did, and now Carli is enrolled in her first class at National University. Her goal is to obtain an administration credential and master’s degree in Administration in Education. She knows it will be challengingm but worth it.

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“Being a single mom in desperation, I initially had to obtain government help to take care of my kids,” Carli said. “I knew I needed more education to earn a higher salary, but I didn’t have the funds to do so. The only way to go forward was through Climb Foundation. I know I can go to the next level and become successful.”

Applicants are encouraged to apply on http://Climbfoundation.org. It is a fairly robust process that asks applicants to provide a budget showing demonstrated need, tell how they overcame challenges in their lives, and explain what challenges prevent them from achieving their long-term goals.

A human resource professional, Tara is usually the one who talks to the applicants. “Many applicants have an idea what they want to do,” Tara said. “I try to brainstorm with them to help them discover what they want to do and how that goal aligns with our overall goals.”

After a two-week review, and a discussion with the board about each applicant and their goals, there may be follow-up conversations. Then, they decide who they will be helping each semester and work with the higher education institution for payment.

One of the biggest hurdles Climb Foundation has faced is getting the word out and receiving more applications. They also continue to seek donors to help fulfill their mission. Climb Foundation has a formula to be successful.

“We believe in hard work, lifelong learning, and sharing success with each other,” Karen and Tara said. “We know how to help people improve their skills, achieve their goals and fulfill their dreams.”

Climb Foundation strives to help people fulfill their dreams.

“My dream was getting a college degree,” Karen said. “It took me 17 years to earn it. When I finished, I knew I could do hard things even while raising children, and I wanted to help others just like me.”

Tara’s return to school was similar, and had a similar outcome. “For me, I looked to my mother and what it did for her. Plus, my returning to school for my graduate degree gave me empowerment and personal confidence.”

The future of Climb Foundation is bright. “We want to help more people,” said both Karen and Tara, “But we also need to develop more robust structures and seek additional donors to help more women. We just want other women to accomplish their dreams and goals just like we did. Education gives you opportunity and relieves some of those life challenges.”