12 Aug First Surge365 Scholarships Awarded in Baltimore

When the decision was made to hold the first International Surge365 Convention in Baltimore, it was made of course, before all of the turmoil and unrest that has since taken place in the “City of Neighborhoods.” Despite the many problems facing this beautiful city, it was always a firm decision to make Baltimore the Convention destination.

Surge365 is about hope, dreams and opportunity… and holding the Convention in Baltimore would afford our Surge Business Associates the chance to be involved in a community-building event that would leave a lasting impact. The number of SBAs who signed up to participate was staggering – hundreds of Convention goers wanted to do more than come to Convention to be informed and inspired – they wanted to make a difference!

After contacting the Mayor’s office to find a place where our enthusiastic SBAs could serve, it was determined we were too large a team to participate in a single event. Our plans and focus would need to change.  A task force was created to come up with ideas on what we could do, as a company, to leave a lasting impact – and the answer was the Surge365 Scholarship Award. Created and designed as a gift to individuals who are selected by civic leaders, the scholarship includes a two-year Surge365 Membership, a Surge Business Associate account, and access to the Wealth Builder Academy.

Rev. Sean Fields of Baltimore, MD has kindly assisted us in selecting worthy scholarship participants. After coming to the realization that his life choices placed him at risk, he reinvented himself in a positive and productive way. He started working with at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system and also began mentoring both young and older men. He even found the time to fulfill a lifelong dream to become a firefighter! Over the past twenty years, Sean has had the opportunity to directly impact the lives of more than 500 young men.

In 2009, Sean and his wife Larinda founded It Takes A Village, a non-profit organization offering mentoring opportunities, a supper program for students, support groups for families and individuals, mental health assistance, referrals for housing assistance, direction for rehabilitation of homes, as well as other resources for families to help meet their basic living needs. No longer a firefighter due to an injury acquired during a fire call, he now devotes 100% of his time to the youth of Baltimore.

Surge365 Scholarship recipients were chosen based on Sean’s criteria of faith-based, family-oriented people with a desire
to better their current situation, along with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to become a business owner, eager to interact and talk to others. They also had to dream of someday traveling the world. (Rev. Fields enjoys traveling and is excited about the possibilities Surge365 offers, both as a Member and an SBA. He plans to share the business opportunity with everyone he meets, as well as take advantage of the travel membership).

Rev. Fields says, “The positive response from all the Surge membership at the Convention was just further evidence as well as confirmation that this scholarship was the right direction for Surge365. Given the proper attention and commitment from their team, the recipients should experience great success coupled with their unlimited imagination and excitement. This opportunity in Baltimore should serve as an excellent testimony and blessing for every city Surge365 visits, now and in the future.”

Congratulations to the first recipients of the Surge365 Scholarship Award!
Ayanna Barmore, Donna Brown, Russell Bunn Sr., Russell Bunn Jr.,
Latia Canty, Rhonda Gibson, Donnetta Johnson, Robin Jones,
Melissa Kelly, Jada Norris, Jazmond Spell, and Crystal St. Hilaire