Outraged by the Columbine shooting in April of 1999, Lynn Bryant chose to take a positive stand for children. As a tribute to her adored grandmother, Bryant established the Nancy Ferro Learning For Life Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides academic tutoring and character education for elementary school children. After completing her album, she presided over the installation of a Learning For Life program at the St. Pius X Elementary School in Nashville and gave a private concert for the school’s 200 children, their parents and teachers.

As early as elementary school, children learn habits and attitudes, which shape their character – for better or for worse – that determine how they will enter adulthood. Violent episodes, unthinkable a few short years ago, are becoming all too common. Teachers and counselors can often identify at-risk children facing serious trouble ahead educationally and behaviorally. Many lack basic skills to master the core subject areas. Others often go home to dismal circumstances and return to school unprepared and lacking confidence in their own abilities. Month follows week, the gap widens, opportunities fade, frustration mounts.

Early intervention, however can give them a fighting chance. A child with a safe and enriching after school environment can survive and thrive. But our schools simply do not have the funds to provide programs to help the children who desperately need attention. The Nancy Ferro Learning for Life Foundation helps schools help children. We give at risk youngsters opportunities to survive…to grow…to succeed. We work at the grassroots level – each school, each child at a time – finding out what is needed, what works and then helping make it happen. We fund programs that provide teachers, counselors and materials needed to tutor these children while fostering the importance of character and compassion. To date, through this program, the children are improving grades. More importantly, they are learning skills that build character, self-esteem and empathy toward others. These skills lead to personal growth and success far beyond the classroom.

About Nancy Ferro: At age twelve, Nancy Ferro lost her mother and assumed the responsibility for raising five siblings. Though circumstances prevented her from continuing her own formal schooling, this hard-working woman educated herself while teaching her siblings, children and grandchildren the importance of faith, integrity, and compassion. She taught by example, giving unconditional love to those around her. Her vision and foresight shaped all whom she touched for nearly eighty years. As she spent her life helping children grow in wisdom and maturity, so this Foundation begun in her memory continues her life-giving work.

For contributions:
2817 West End Avenue, Suite 126-280
Nashville, TN 37203