Mission

To provide scholarships, mentoring and leadership training for select foster care and orphaned students...raising up leaders of influence.

Vision

We envision thousands of foster care and orphaned students transformed into successful leaders, thriving professionally and impacting communities around the world.

History

What does it mean to "Age Out?" At the age of 18, foster kids are removed from the system (age-out) and sent out into the "real world." After being expelled from the system that served as their surrogate family, the new adults are suddenly faced with an uncertain future. Loneliness and despair often ensue due to their not being prepared to make it on their own. This is in stark contrast to students that grow up in traditional families. They enjoy the support of their family as they transition into being on their own during the college years. Not so for "aged-out" foster care students.

The International Student Foundation (ISF) is an organization committed to changing lives through education, mentoring and leadership training. Its mission is to transform orphaned or former foster care students into tomorrow's leaders by providing leadership mentoring as well as tuition assistance through scholarships during the recipient's college journey. The ISF Team is dedicated to making a difference in the life of each student that we sponsor. But then, this is no ordinary scholarship. Recipients of an ISF scholarship not only receive tuition assistance to the college of their choice, but they also receive personal mentoring and leadership training. When assigned a mentor, each student recipient receives a commitment of time and attention devoted purely to their individual growth and leadership development. ISF has only been in existence for 10 years, but their early efforts are bearing fruit.



Founders

Ben Carroll is Chairman of The Cambridge Group, a professional investment advisor and registered principal. He earned his Masters of Science in Human Relations and Management from Abilene Christian University, and has taught at Southern Methodist University, LeTourneau University, and through the Texas community college system at Brookhaven, Eastfield, and Collin County Community Colleges.

Dee Carroll currently serves as an Executive VP with the Cambridge Legacy Group, Inc. Prior to joining Ben at CLG, Dee managed a turn-around for an assisted living center owned by her church in Plano, Texas and prior to this managed and owned an executive suite business, Suite Success, Inc. in DFW for 18 years. Dee received both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education, Business and Career Development from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Dee, along with her husband, Ben, have founded the International Student Foundation to provide scholarships to assist many of the orphaned students who age out of the foster care program at age 18 and end up homeless on the streets.

Board of Directors

  • Ben & Deanna Carroll
  • Bill & Pat Daniel
  • Keith & Debbie Finley
  • Buster & Gloria Godbee
  • Steve & Sue Goodner
  • John & Christi Perfetto

Founding Directors

  • Jeff & Toni Bulla
  • Steve & Sue Goodner
  • Randal & Cathleen Howard
  • Greg & Jody Wilk

Executive Director

  • Courtney Carroll

Staff

  • Renee LeClair