Benoit, 17 years old, NJ

Wish submitted by:

Benoit has shown great strength and determination while going through the foster care system. Even though he's faced many challenges, he has stayed focused on his goals and is committed to building a better future for himself. Because of his hard work, he got accepted into several universities, like Kean University, Temple University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Jersey City University, The College of New Jersey, and Rider University. He decided to go to Rutgers University, where he will study in the Engineering and Arts & Sciences programs. Besides his studies, Benoit is an active member of his school community. He takes part in clubs, including the Gay-Straight Alliance, where he fights for equality and respect for all students. His efforts have made a real difference to those around him. Now that he is living in a stable and supportive home, Benoit continues to grow with the help of caregivers who care about his success. His journey shows how important perseverance, strength, and support can be, and he is on track to achieve great things in the next chapter of his life.

Benoit has spent much of his young life showing up for others. Now, as he prepares to begin an exciting new chapter at Rutgers University, we are hoping someone will show up for him. This fall, Benoit will attend Rutgers University to study engineering, an incredible accomplishment made even more special by his acceptance into the school’s Engineers of the Future program. He has worked hard to earn this opportunity and is excited to pursue an education that can open doors to a meaningful and successful future. But Benoit’s accomplishments extend far beyond the classroom. He has consistently demonstrated a commitment to serving others. From raising money for Paws 4 You animal shelter through a lemonade stand and volunteering with the Tour de Westfield, to advocating for LGBTQ+ student inclusion through his school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, Benoit has continually looked for ways to make his community better. When families faced uncertainty during a government shutdown, Benoit helped organize a school-wide food drive for SNAP recipients and personally donated two weeks’ worth of food to a Mommy & Me shelter in Elizabeth. He has also found the courage to use his voice publicly to advocate for members of his community. What stands out most about Benoit is that his compassion rarely stops at words. When he sees a need, he looks for a way to help. Today, Benoit is the one facing a need. Despite everything he has accomplished, a remaining $7,000 tuition balance stands between Benoit and beginning this next chapter at Rutgers. We understand that $7,000 is an extraordinary wish, but fulfilling it would provide an equally extraordinary opportunity: helping a promising young engineering student continue along a path he has worked incredibly hard to reach. For years, Benoit has raised funds, collected food, volunteered his time, advocated for others, and shown up when his community needed him. This is an opportunity for a community to show up for Benoit. Helping cover his remaining tuition would mean far more than paying a college bill. It would give Benoit the opportunity to walk onto the Rutgers campus focused on becoming an engineer rather than wondering whether finances will prevent him from getting there. It would remind a young man who has spent so much time helping others that sometimes, when you put good into the world, the world finds a way to give some of that good back. We hope you will consider making this extraordinary wish possible and helping Benoit take the next step toward becoming one of our engineers of the future.