ABOUT US
OUR
VISION
Equipping Young Leaders to Change the World!
We are a Christian organization who understands that children living in Chicago’s underserved urban communities possess incredible compassion, gifts, and talents. These children are a precious national resource but often do not have the opportunity to reach their full potential due to the effects of urban poverty and limited access to higher educational opportunities.
Many of our Chicago inner city children grow up in stressful conditions. Yet even in these conditions, there are particular students who stand out as diamonds in the rough.
We seek out these diamonds, the future leaders and agents of change in their Chicago communities, while they are still in elementary school. We utilize the lenses of the teachers, who are the heroes working tirelessly day in and day out to serve the children in these communities. Teachers recognize the students in their classes who show leadership and are exceptionally compassionate. These students are intelligent, patient, hardworking, kind, and exhibit self-control. They are the future leaders of the world. Their teachers see this potential played out everyday.
Through this MEF program, we desire to honor and serve our Lord, Jesus Christ with our actions. Not just words.
"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18 ESV)
That's why we say, let's NOT JUST TALK.
We train our scholars themselves to be the change agents that will open up their hearts to serve others and be leaders in their communities.
All donations and sponsorships are directly used to grow college savings accounts for our scholars, provide leadership/educational training, college preparatory programming, and provide motivational incentives for MEF Scholars.
Our hope is that everyone involved in this program: ambassador teachers, nominees, scholars, families, sponsors and donors will take part in positively transforming the most under-resourced inner-city communities of Chicago.
OUR
MISSION
Monster Education Foundation seeks, identifies, and equips young Leaders of Change to pursue higher education and make a lasting difference in the community.
The SCHOLARSHIP
MEF establishes a college savings fund for each Monster Scholar starting 6th grade. Funds are contributed quarterly and grow for 6 years until the scholar graduates from high school. Upon acceptance to an accredited post-secondary educational institution, the matured scholarship is divided evenly and awarded at the beginning of each school year in college/university/post-secondary educational institutions. (*if scholars' educational goals differ in number of years, MEF adjusts award amounts accordingly to pay out the total funds saved for each student)
AChievement bonuses
Each year, Monster Scholars have the opportunity to make extra deposits into their college savings account by completing the following Achievement Bonus opportunities:
1. Completing an individual community service project. (ISP)
2. Participating in MEF group community service projects. (GSP)
3. Submitting report cards (Better grades means bigger bonuses!)
4. Many other opportunities to grow their savings accounts
INdividual
community service
GROUP
community service
Homelessness
Environment
Community/Police relations
Bullying
Inspiring the next generation
Serving those with special needs...
There are just a few of the causes our Monster Scholars
are DOING something about.
scholar selection process
PHASE 1: Our Ambassador Teachers select up to three student nominees from their class that they feel have the following qualities:
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College-bound.
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Compassionate.
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Ambition.
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Leaders in their community.
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Peacemakers.
PHASE 2: Students respond to the following essay prompt:
“What qualities do you think make a servant leader? Describe how you are currently a servant leader in your school or community.
How do you envision your future?”
After submitting their response, each nominee is awarded a $25 gift card. From the pool of nominees, MEF chooses finalists by selecting the essays that best exhibit the desire to make a positive and lasting influence within her/his community.
PHASE 3: Students respond to the following essay prompt:
"How could you use $50 to positively impact your community today?"
MEF awards each finalists an additional $25 gift card for completing this phase of the selection process.
From the pool of finalists, MEF selects its MONSTER SCHOLARS who have best exemplified the desire and strategy to successfully bring about positive change in her/his community.