The founding family of Brave Enough To Fail was fortunate to be featured in the November issue of New Milford Living magazine. The article is below.
Special thanks to
Dan Olsen, publisher of New Milford Living Magazine
Janet Taub of Planet Photography
David Dunleavey
Learn more about Brave Enough To Fail
New Milford based nonprofit, Brave Enough To Fail has just wrapped up a very successful Boss Academy class for the great students at Danbury Youth Services.
Boss Academy equips students with motivation, tools, and techniques to literally take charge of their own destiny and be the boss of their dreams. Students learn how to set big goals, get out of their comfort zone, strategize for success, and develop perseverance to not give up on themselves.
Students also get firsthand career information and success tips from entrepreneurs and professionals like Fox News radio anchor Ann Karrick and Beardsley Zoo Education Director Jim Knox who spoke via ZOOM.
Danbury Youth Services Program Director, Michelli Anatolio said, “The students learned so much and they really loved the class, for many of them it was their favorite part of the week.”
The six-week course was provided as a summer program and made possible through the generosity of several businesses and foundations who stepped forward as sponsors, including
The Japajag Foundation.
Brave Enough To Fail is a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit that combines motivational programming, educational resources, and financial aid to help students succeed in school and beyond.
For more information on becoming a sponsor, supporter, or to bring these programs to your students, vist our website.
https://www.braveenoughtofail.org/
Or contact us via email info@braveenoughtofail.org
The Kiwanis Club Foundation of Greater Danbury and Brave Enough To Fail teamed up once again to award a $1,000 scholarship to a local senior.
Allison Dubois, the valedictorian of her graduating class, at Faith Preparatory in New Milford will be studying Biophysical Science at Regent University in Virginia.
Foster Crawford, Secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Danbury said,
“It is our pleasure to work alongside Brave Enough To Fail in providing scholarships to deserving students who are advancing their education and have shown leadership and compassion along the way.”
Brave Enough To Fail is an educational nonprofit that provides motivational programs and scholarships to students.
https://www.braveenoughtofail.org/
Kiwanis Club of Greater Danbury is a nonprofit community service organization geared toward meeting community needs and fostering good will.
https://danbury-ct.kiwanisone.org/(S(Q35QMN55ULNRSHJFESWR3Y55))/
The Savings Bank of Danbury Foundation has awarded a $1,000 grant to Brave Enough To Fail. The funds will help provide motivational programs and scholarships to local students.
Savings Bank of Danbury President and CEO Martin Morgado says,
“We are proud to support Brave Enough To Fail in its commitment to give students in the greater Danbury community, inspiration and information to guide them toward increased engagement in their education.”
Brave Enough To Fail, is a student-focused nonprofit that provides free motivational programs, scholarships, and SEL-based (Social Emotional Learning) courses to middle and high school students. All services are provided at no cost to schools or students. We are closing the achievement gap by inspiring students to achieve their dreams.
All funding comes from individual donations, sponsorships, and grants.
Brave Enough To Fail is urgently raising funds to provide much needed programs to help students in Greater Danbury, Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, and Waterbury.
You can help today by making a donation to our fundraiser. Please click here GIVE NOW
To learn how your business can sponsor these life-changing programs to students in your area, send an email with the word “Sponsor” in the subject. info@braveenoughtofail.org
Brave Enough To Fail welcomes new board of directors member Don Fertman
Don Fertman
Don Fertman began his career with the Subway restaurant chain in 1979. Don subsequently went on to work his way up the Subway company ladder as publications writer and editor, company photographer, public relations manager, franchise sales manager, and director of development prior to achieving the status of chief development officer in 2010. Moreover, Fertman appeared incognito as “John Wilson” working at several Subway restaurants on the hit CBS reality TV series Undercover Boss and Epic Boss in 2010 and 2013.
Don brings a high level of expertise, visibility and fundraising power to BETF.
Brave Enough To Fail is a nonprofit that provides SEL-based student motivational programs and scholarships to middle and high schools.
For more information and to learn how you can support Brave Enough To Fail’s mission to inspire students email us info@braveenoughtofail.org
Or visit us www.braveenoughtofail.org
Brave Enough To Fail welcomes new board of directors member David Glass
Dave Glass is current director of scripted and unscripted campaigns for the Branded Programming and Influencer division of ViacomCBS.
His duties include creative direction, strategic development, and the generation of ideas and executions for all campaigns at $500K and above. Clients include Hershey’s, Traveler’s Insurance, and NFL Game Pass. His work currently appears on MTV, VH1, and CMT
Dave’s expertise along with his personal qualities of self-motivation, dedication, and perseverance make him a powerful addition team at Brave Enough to Fail.
Brave Enough To Fail is a nonprofit that provides SEL-based student motivational programs and scholarships to middle and high schools.
For more information and to learn how you can support Brave Enough To Fail’s mission to inspire students email us info@braveenoughtofail.org
Or visit us www.braveenoughtofail.org
Pro Property Management of Brookfield has stepped forward as the first local business to sponsor Brave Enough To Fail’s Boss Academy.
The 12-week course is now being provided to students at Faith Preparatory School in New Milford.
Adrianne Angel, co-owner of Pro Property Management says,
“As a small family owned company, Pro Property Management enjoys the opportunity to support multiple community based programs . When we heard about the Brave Enough to Fail program we immediately knew it aligned perfectly with our passion for giving back. Muhammad Ali said it best, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” We look forward to partnering with the Boss Academy so together we can help future generations achieve their dreams.”
Brave Enough To Fail’s Boss Academy equips students with practical and actionable tools, including goal-setting, strategic planning, and effective communication to achieve success in school and beyond.
Boss Academy also helps students develop in the five SEL core areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
Brave Enough To Fail’s mission is to close the achievement gap between lower-income students and their more affluent peers by cultivating a new generation of leaders creators, and achievers.
Some people just want to see you succeed. Case in point, an anonymous donor has sown a $15,000 seed into Brave Enough To Fail’s online fundraiser, to help the nonprofit grow to the next level. The person does not want their name released or any form of personal recognition. They just want to help Brave Enough To Fail inspire more students to succeed. They are also hoping that their action will inspire others to give as well.
A collaboration of people working together to help our students in these trying times.
New Milford based, Brave Enough To Fail, is a student-focused nonprofit that provides free motivational programs, scholarships, and SEL-based courses to middle and high school students nationwide.
Wayne Winsley, founder and CEO commented,
“Our mission is closing the achievement gap for low-income students and cultivating a new generation of leaders, creators, & achievers. Between the COVID-19 closures and the social unrest in our nation, students in lower-income and minority schools need all the encouragement they can get!”
Donations go directly toward funding scholarships, the Boss Academy elective or after school course, and other motivational programs.
Brave Enough To Fail, lets students know that their dreams matter and their education is key to making those dreams come true.
Over the past five years Brave Enough To Fail has reached over 15,000 students and awarded $50,000 in scholarships to students attending college or trade school. Brave Enough To Fail scholars have a 90% college graduation rate!
The “Boss of your dream” presentation motivates and inspires students with the courage to pursue their dreams.
BETF’s Boss Academy is a 12 week SEL-based course, available as an elective or after-school program, that equips students with the tools needed to achieve their dreams.
The up to $5,000 in scholarships at each school served provides financial aid to make those dreams happen.
You can help Brave Enough To Fail reach their goal of $250,000 by making a donation here.
Everyone has a dream – a dream to be a dancer, a dream to be an artist, or a dream to be anything they can fulfill in life. Some people may be apprehensive to follow their dreams due to current circumstances and believing that their dreams may be ruined because of it – not to Wayne Winsley. Now, who is Wayne Winsley? Wayne Winsley, is a former radio broadcaster, and speaker for Monster Worldwide’s Making it Count Program in 2010, where he spoke at over 200 high schools nationwide. Wayne focused on one main goal – to motivate and guide young individuals to pursue their aspirations.
While working for the Making It Count Program, Wayne realized something very crucial: educators were desperate for programs that would help more students become engaged and invested in their own education. But the schools that need it and would benefit from such programs, have no funds to put towards them. Therefore, Wayne decided to be a helping hand, and did it for a personal reason too.
At 14 years old, Wayne faced a variety of issues. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was raised by his great grandmother until she was unable to take care of him. Eventually, Wayne was transferred into the child welfare system, became an orphan, and was also placed in Boys Town – an organization designed to nurture abused or neglected teenage boys and develop them into responsible men. During these tough times, Wayne failed the eight grade and when his second year came around, he quit attending school. He had no interest in going back for a while, leading him on a path toward prison or the cemetery.
“If you added up the days that I went to school that year without skipping any classes, it would probably add up to about two weeks,” Wayne mentioned.
There was a conversation he had overheard from a friend and his friend’s father one day. They discussed the importance of succession,“Always strive for excellence. I don’t care what you do, just be excellent at something because excellence will overcome poverty, prejudice, and adversity every time.” Because of this statement, Wayne began to change his ways and returned to school to finish what he started. That choice changed the trajectory of his life. Wayne is living proof that a positive message can transform you and your life. He has dedicated himself to delivering that message to as many young people as possible. As a result, the Brave Enough to Fail Program was born.
In 2015, Wayne launched Brave Enough to Fail (BETF) as a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit providing free motivational speeches and scholarships to high schools and high school students at no cost. This program is the first organization to combine motivational messaging, ongoing support, and financial aid in one package to help students succeed in school and beyond. For the past four years, BETF has reached over 15,000 students ranging from New York to Washington state, having scholarship winners attending a dozen different colleges and trade schools nationwide. Schools across the country are now discovering the BETF program, valuing its potential impact and requesting it for other students. 26 states have reached out to seek this program for their school districts. The demand has been expected to increase exponentially as educators are seeking tools to assist their students to re-engage after the COVID-19 closures.
“I see our organization as something similar to Amazon in 1995. It’s this thing that hasn’t been done before and many don’t understand what it is yet, but as it grows more people will realize what it is and what it’s doing and want to be a part of it,” Wayne said.
BETF has been growing and will continue to grow over time. Most recently, the educational leadership of Bridgeport, Connecticut requested the program for all high schools in the city for the upcoming school year. From the hard work Wayne has put into making this program possible, he is glad to see a positive outcome from it. Despite the obstacles he experienced, Wayne found a strategy to overcome his failures and now uses it as a major platform for his success in guiding young individuals to a better path.
After all, there is a fundamental law of success that says, “Solve a problem or fill a need.” You can do either or to fulfill someone’s dream.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit everyone hard, especially nonprofits. With the majority of funding being shifted to much-needed immediate relief efforts, organizations focused in other vital areas have had to take a back seat.
New Milford based Brave Enough To Fail is no exception. BETF is a student focused nonprofit that provides free motivational programming and scholarships to high schools
But because of COVID-19 they lost their major grant funding that was earmarked to fund scholarships for this year.
So Brave Enough To Fail is asking local companies to please help by sponsoring a scholarship or donating anything they can toward the effort.
The Adolf Krueger Plumbing and Heating Company in Bethel was the first to step up and answer the call with a very generous donation of $1,000 to cover one scholarship.
Jillian Krueger talked about why they support Brave enough To Fail.
We support Brave Enough To Fail because reaching children in their formative years is vital but often overlooked. This is when their sense of self worth has the most impact on their decision making and their lives. If people have the confidence and courage to believe they can accomplish their dreams that makes all the difference and that is part of what BETF gives them. I wish I had been exposed to this program when I was growing up because all who are, are blessed.
Wayne Winsley, BETF founder and CEO said, “When things get tough you have to get creative. Most of our Brave Enough To Fail scholarship winners are first-generation college students from Greater Danbury who would be the first in their families to earn a degree.
They are depending on these vital scholarships to help them pursue their dreams and higher education.
So we reached out to the local business community for help. Adolph Krueger Company immediately stepped up and said yes. I can’t thank them enough for that!”
Brave Enough To Fail is seeking to raise $10,000 to cover scholarships for students this year.
If you or your company would like to help, contact Wayne Winsley wayne@braveenoughtofail.org or donate directly here
Brave Enough to Fail 