Burnett, who plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in business entrepreneurship and later obtain a commercial real estate license, is grateful to have another chance to go to school.

“I thought I missed that ship,” she said. “So, no, I wasn’t going to go back.”

Violet Pina, one of the students who has earned the Hope Chicago scholarship, plans to attend the University of Illinois Chicago. Desiree Guzman and Marion Reed, who also received the scholarship, will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“I know it’s not going to be easy,” Reed said, CBS News reports. “You’ve got to be strong-minded, even if you feel like at your lowest. Like, ‘Girl, you going to school for free. Get yourself together.’ So that’s what I’m going to be doing.”

Kadens is encouraging other entrepreneurs to follow in his footsteps.

“This is my life’s work,” he said. “This is what I’m going to spend the rest of my days doing because I believe that I was put on this earth to enable other people to get the same opportunity and access that I have.”

Hope Chicago

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