A New Hope
by Dori Gerber
Nearly seven years ago, Pam, Miles, Nat, and Ella Saffran faced devastation. The patriarch of their family, Dr. Alan J. Saffran, a beloved local physician, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. After his death, the family relied on their faith and their community to provide support and comfort during their grief. It was also during that time the family first connected with New Hope for Kids.
In addition to granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses, the nonprofit organization also supports kids and families grieving the death of a loved one. New Hope for Kids offered the Saffran children comfort during the most challenging time in their lives. Now, as young adults, they, along with their mother Pam, wanted to give back to the organization that helped them to cope with their tragedy.
This year, The Saffrans have partnered with New Hope for Kids to award college scholarships to local students who also experienced the death of a parent and demonstrated perseverance in the face of that adversity. The Dr. Alan J. Saffran Scholarship was created in memory of Dr. Saffran and celebrates the importance he placed on the benefits of a good education. In its inaugural year, the scholarship received nine applications and gave out four $2,000 scholarships. The other five students won $100 each as an Award of Distinction.
“Losing a parent turns a child’s entire world upside down,” says Pam. “It strains a family’s income and can erase college dreams. And all of that is only exacerbated by the current economy and the COVID-19 pandemic. I know that education can be a game-changer for any child. My children have been fortunate to continue their education, and we want to pay that forward so others can do the same.”
The four students who were awarded Dr. Alan J. Saffran Scholarships have gone through unspeakable losses, but their determination to strive for a successful future stood out to the Saffrans and staff from New Hope for Kids as they selected the winners.
Let’s meet the inaugural recipients of the Dr. Alan J. Saffran Scholarships:
Brigitte Anderson, a summa cum laude Olympia High School graduate. She is currently a sophomore majoring in music at Florida State University. Her father died of cancer when she was 10.
“My family gets by financially, but with only one income, my brother and I will never be able to get through college without financial help.”
Gavin Clark, a magna cum laude Lyman High School graduate. He currently attends Florida State University and hopes to become a teacher. He lost his mother when he was young, and his father was killed in 2017 in a workplace shooting. Gavin and his sister live with family friends who serve as guardians.
“My mother’s death shook our whole family,” Gavin says. “My dad held me and my younger sister together in the years after. He even served as a grief counselor at New Hope for Kids. When he died suddenly in 2017, it hurt more than anything I could have imagined.”
Joshua Wojteczko, a Boone High School grad with a 4.73 GPA. He’s attending the University of Central Florida to study engineering.
“When I was seven my life changed overnight,” Joshua says. “My father committed suicide, leaving a hole in my life that has been difficult to overcome. The team of counselors at New Hope for Kids helped me to become more adjusted to my new norm.”
Jamie Potts, a Winter Springs High School graduate with a 4.2 GPA. She began study at Seminole State College this fall.
“I lost my father to suicide when I was five years old,” says Jamie. “My mom is such an amazing, strong woman. She is a great role model and teaches me that it is never too late to go back to school, as she has done after 30 years.”