Blog / Honoring Our Calling: Advancing the Mission of Shepherds College
It is an honor to assume the role of President of Shepherds Foundation, Inc. (SFI). Our purpose at SFI is to fuel and fund the mission of Shepherds College® (SC). I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue working under the leadership of Dr. Tracy Terrill, President of Shepherds College, contributing to a mission that has profoundly shaped my life for the past 15 years and has transformed the lives of hundreds of students with intellectual disabilities with hopes of extending our reach to thousands more in the years to come.
My journey with Shepherds College began in 2009, during the second year of the college's existence. As a member of the Student Life staff, I witnessed firsthand the remarkable transformations occurring in our students. Convinced of SC's impact, I transitioned to admissions, traveling nationwide to share our mission. During this time, I recognized the tremendous need faced by countless families and the limited options available to them. In 2018, I took on the role of Vice President of Expansion, focusing on extending our reach. SC’s vision for expansion responds to this overwhelming need and reflects our unique position to meet it. Rooted in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, our vision aligns with God's heart for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), ensuring that each person’s God-given potential is valued and nurtured. We aspire to be a "ten-talent" organization—multiplying the gifts God has entrusted to us in service to others. In July, I transitioned into the role of President of SFI.
In this capacity, I have the privilege of leading a dedicated team of hardworking, mission-driven people committed to funding and promoting our mission and vision through various efforts. This includes fundraising with individuals, churches, foundations, and corporations, as well as implementing marketing and communications strategies to engage students and ministry partners. For all of us, Shepherds College is more than a job—it is a calling to a powerful purpose.
Supporting the Mission Through Fundraising and Expansion
At SFI, we are committed to supporting the operational needs of Shepherds College in several ways, all aimed at empowering students with IDD to realize their God-given potential and live out the purpose for which they were created. Our key objectives include:
- Scholarships: Shepherds College is dedicated to providing a one-of-a-kind, world-class educational training program that honors God and His value for people with IDD. To achieve this, we invest not only in our students but also in our programs and staff, ensuring we deliver an exceptional educational experience. Families of individuals with special needs often face unique economic challenges, and we strive to bridge that gap through needs-based scholarships.
- Expansion Through Partnership: We actively seek partners who share our passion for creating transformative opportunities for students with IDD to help us expand the reach of Shepherds College. Whether establishing new locations or forming impactful collaborations, our goal is to extend the life-changing work of SC to many more communities.
- Campus Improvements and Capital Projects: To maintain an environment where our students can thrive, we continually invest in campus improvements. Our top priorities include building a new student center, modernizing and remodeling Clark Apartments, expanding student housing capacity, and addressing critical infrastructure needs, such as replacing roofs and other facility upgrades. These improvements are essential not only for attracting and retaining students but also for demonstrating our commitment to providing an environment that nurtures learning and growth.
- Securing the Future: Growing Our Endowment: Looking to the future, we aspire to build an endowment that will generate $1,000,000 in annual earnings. This goal will help secure the long-term sustainability of Shepherds College, ensuring that future generations of students will continue to benefit from the opportunities we provide.
Our vision aligns with God's heart for individuals with disabilities, ensuring each person's God-given potential is valued and nurtured.
If you are inspired by SC’s mission and vision and feel compelled to partner in any of these four areas, I invite you to reach out to me at bcanright@shepherdscollege.edu. Alternatively, if you know someone who would be moved by our work, please share our mission with them. Together, we can make a lasting impact in the lives of these incredible students.
As I look ahead, I am filled with anticipation for how God will continue to shape Shepherds College to serve this community. In my role as President of SFI, I am seeking partners compelled by this vision—those who want to join us in multiplying our impact. Together, we can build a world where individuals with intellectual disabilities have opportunities that reflect God’s love and purpose for each person.
Thank you for your prayers, support, and partnership as we move forward in faith.
Published in Volume 7, Issue 3 of SOAR Magazine.