Foundation for Rural Service

We know the FRS Youth Tour is a special experience for the high school students and chaperones who participate, but letters like this one from an NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association member company that sent a student remind us of the impact the program makes — even when the students return to their homes. (The student’s has been deleted for privacy reasons and the sender of the letter gave permission to share.) “I feel compelled to pass along how important this tour was to the student we sent. Her grandmother stopped me on the street the other day and couldn’t stop talking about what a different person [Student] is after the FRS Youth Tour. Please understand [Student] isn’t exactly what you would call a “main stream” student. To put it bluntly, because of the nature of a small town, she’s sometimes treated as a bit of an outsider. Well, that all changed after the FRS Youth Tour. Not only does she have a sense of confidence that she’s never had before, but she now accepts there are a whole lot more people like her out in the world than she could’ve possibly imagined. Her Grandmother also saw her smiling in pictures from the tour and couldn’t believe [Student] actually got up and danced during the dance. All of which happens very rarely, if at all, in [Student’s] life. Again, thank you so much for your tremendous efforts in making such a special program a reality. I’m not overstating anything when I say that you changed at least one life again this year.” Messages like this one are why FRS programs are so important and why supporting FRS truly makes a difference.

Yesterday we said thank you and goodbye to 130 high school students and chaperones from 25 states across the country who had been in Washington, DC for the FRS Youth Tour. We were busy! Touring the Capitol, meeting their Member of Congress, hearing from two commissioners and other leaders at the Federal Communications Commission, exploring Mt. Vernon and Smithsonian Museums, watching the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and seeing a hilarious whodunit performance at the Kennedy Center. Whew! Over these last days we watched students who arrived a little overwhelmed (many had never been on a plane before) transform into excited, curious, funny, and kind young people. They asked questions and truly understand the important role broadband plays in their lives. These are the kids who rely on NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association members to further their education by making online classes possible and staying connected to the rest of the world for social, medical, and business needs. These kids get it. Many thanks to those NTCA members who made it possible for students and chaperones in their community to attend Youth Tour. Thanks to the 28 chaperones who helped guide the students along the way. We truly could not have done it without their help! Thanks to the generous donors to the Tim Owens Memorial Fund who made our trip to the Kennedy Center possible. Thanks to NTCA staff volunteers who helped greet the students and chaperones at the airport and who also helped later during our day on Capitol Hill. And finally, thanks to Lorna Gilmore and Maurelle Pollard for all their organizing, coordinating, and planning that made this Youth Tour so successful. Without their skills and smarts— and humor—Youth Tour would never happen. #frsyouthtour #frsrocks #lovefrs

We love what Andy Smith wrote about being on the FRS Board and the very successful 30th Anniversary Gala at RTIME. Thank you Andy and CoBank!

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association members, the April 1st deadline to register your students and/or chaperones to participate in this summer's Youth Tour is quickly approaching. Please consider giving a deserving high school student in your community this unique educational experience in Washington, DC. Also, to celebrate our 30th anniversary, FRS wants to have representation from 30 different states for Youth Tour. We're currently at 25 states, so we need five more. Are you in Nevada, California, Illinois, Michigan, Vermont, or Maine? Send a student on Youth Tour! https://lnkd.in/e3jZipCF

We are so proud of all the ways FRS programs benefit people and organizations in rural communities. Our 30th Anniversary Gala and auction last week at NTCA’s RTIME was a special night to celebrate all the ways we partner with NTCA members. Thank you, Haley Helmin, for sharing your story!

The deadline is quickly approaching! FRS will award at least 50 scholarships and $150,000 in 2024. Applications for the FRS scholarships are due by 11:59 p.m. (eastern time) on Friday, February 16 -- that's just over a week away. Please send graduating high school students to https://lnkd.in/eQ934qQE. The application requires the student to identify the NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association member that provides their broadband or telephone service.

Congratulations to Wabash Communications CO-OP and the DTR Outpatient Substance Abuse Program in Effingham, IL. It’s an honor to help support important programs like this in rural communities.

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association members, we need your help! Please spread the word and help us find as many people as possible who have been part of FRS. Thank you.

If you received a scholarship or grant, attended Youth Tour, or are a former FRS or FRED Board Member, FRS wants to hear from you! In 2024, FRS will celebrate 30 years of partnering with NTCA member companies to sustain and enhance the quality of life for people and organizations in rural communities. Help us find people and organizations that have benefited from an FRS Scholarship, Community Grant, or Youth Tour. Scan the QR code or click the link to let us know about your experience with FRS and update us on what you are doing now. https://lnkd.in/gfF89Rih

Earlier this month we announced the recipients of this year’s FRS Community Grants. These organizations are doing great work and we are honored to help them continue their success. https://lnkd.in/g9qhyJMz