Darlena Moore grew up in the beautiful city of Asheville in the North Carolina mountains. The devastation that Hurricane Helene left behind has been tragic for her and her family, as well as heartbreaking. She is continuing to help in the recovery there in any way that she can. But at the same time, she is on her own personal mission. Darlena and her siblings were born into poverty and lost their mother at a very young age. They were separated and Darlena ended up in a very dangerous situation—a home that included alcoholics, violence, pedophiles, and emotional and physical cruelty. One day, she climbed out a bathroom window and ran away with nothing but the clothes on her back. After several placements, Darlena finally ended up in a nurturing foster home. The couple that took her in, the Gilberts, not only cared for her, but they helped her follow her dream of going to college. To honor the opportunity she was given, Darlena created a nonprofit scholarship fund that specifically helps children in the foster care system in North Carolina pay for college. Initially, she funded it by making homemade “mountain girl” granola until she could get donors. Now, Darlena is making granola for hurricane survivors as well as making the dreams of other foster children come true.

 

19-year-old Denay Cuffey thought she was going down to the Hope Center at Pullen to grab some things for her dorm. Instead, she was surprised with a check for 1,500 dollars from the Gilbert Scholarship to pay to help pay for her third year at North Carolina Central University.

UNCW is supporting foster youth through their college journey with the support of Gilbert Scholarship Inc and others. Feature in an article in the Spring 2023 issue of UNCW Magazine, Darlena Moore and Gilbert Scholarship Inc. are making a difference in the lives of young adults who grew up in foster care.

In 2016, Moore began volunteering for Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she encountered the program Fostering Bright Futures. “They bring in foster youth from the community and nurture all aspects of their life and help them through the college process,” Moore says. “It spurred all kinds of memories, and I started thinking I needed to do more.” 

From a young age, Memorie Bullard was raised by her loving grandmother, whom she described as her “angel,” until her recent passing in 2020. Afterwards, Bullard was placed in the foster care system while completing her senior year at Lakewood High School (LHS).