Background: As many of you know, my older brother Brad has the opportunity to attend Shepherds College starting in August. When he graduated from Franklin High School in 2010, we thought that was the end of his educational journey. Over the last year or so, we were blessed to find out about an amazing opportunity for Brad at Shepherds College. The past year has been a hard one for Brad, but we feel that God led Brad to Shepherds College at just the right time to unlock his abilities and to allow him to fully flourish. The Need: Given Brad’s circumstances and the options available at the time, no college fund was set up for Brad. Paying for college is always a challenge, but the cost is particularly high for Shepherds College because of the specific focus and care they give to their students. Tuition and boarding comes to $41,200/year after scholarships. There will be additional costs along the way, but we are hoping to raise enough to pay for his tuition and boarding. Many of our friends and family members have asked how they can help, so we created this LFEBridge to promote Brad’s journey and to allow his friends and family to support him along the way. Why Shepherds College?: Shepherds College is a fully accredited Christian college in Wisconsin that is specifically designed for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Shepherds College offers exactly what Brad needs. They offer 3 job paths and Brad will most likely pursue horticulture due to his past work experience and desire to be outside. In addition to classroom learning, Shepherds also prioritizes independent living skills. Their goal for all graduates is that they can find a job (they have an 82% gainful employment which is exceptionally high for this demographic) and live as independently as possible. These are specific goals that we have for Brad as well. In addition to their focus on jobs and independent living, Shepherds College is a Christian institution. Knowing how much Brad is loved and valued by his church community, it brings us great peace knowing that Brad will attend church and chapel services with his classmates during his time there. We are also excited that Brad will get to continue to participate in Special Olympics in Wisconsin. How to Help: If you are reading this, you have likely seen the way that Brad has impacted others throughout his life. Brad has a way of uplifting others in every community he encounters. We feel like now is the perfect time for those communities to uplift Brad and empower him to pursue this new challenge. We are so thankful for everyone that has loved Brad and will continue to love him during this new chapter. The primary goal of this LFEBridge is to spread awareness of Brad’s new journey and to gain spiritual and financial support. The easiest way to give financially is to give using this LFEBridge. If you prefer to write a check, you can make it out to “Gary Bradford Shrader, Jr. Special Needs Trust” and mail it to my parents. Please note that no funds can be given directly to Brad and that donations are not tax-deductible. Please join us in praying for Brad’s journey with Shepherds College. He will be adjusting to a new state, place, schedule, community, and much more. This can overwhelm anyone, but will be specifically challenging for Brad. We believe that your prayers will help guide and strengthen him as he adjusts to life at college. Other Info: All donations will go to Brad’s Special Needs Trust and will be used exclusively for his education and care. You can find out more about Shepherds College by checking out their website . Thank you in advance for praying, donating, and supporting Brad’s journey at Shepherds College. We are so thankful for how Brad has been loved and nurtured throughout his life and look forward to how he will grow during this time as a result of your generous support. -Bryan Shrader on behalf of Brad and the Shrader Family
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