Story

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Future Bright Foundation, Inc. started out when the founder Shieke (Brown) Sharpe realized she has overcome the adversities of growing up in the rural community of Berry Hill (Gobay), a place filled with love, laughter, and struggle.

As a little girl, Shieke fetched water from the river, slept head to tail with her cousins on one bed, and often went to school without many of the basic supplies other children took for granted. Yet, she carried an unshakable dream to change the trajectory of her life and someday give back to the children who would come after her.

Her journey was not easy. She witnessed poverty, political violence, and family hardship. But through faith, education, and perseverance, Shieke rose above her circumstances, migrating to the United States, becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), college professor, business owner, and advocate for women and children.

Years later, standing on the other side of those struggles, Shieke felt a calling to reach back to ensure that no child in Berry Hill feels forgotten or limited by their circumstances. From that vision, Future Bright Foundation was born.

Today, the foundation provides educational support, back-to-school drives, mentorship, and community outreach programs that empower children to dream big, stay in school, and believe in their potential. What began as a small act of giving has grown into a movement of hope, lighting the path for the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and dreamers from Berry Hill and beyond.

At Future Bright Foundation, we believe every child deserves the chance to see a brighter future because Shieke once was one of them.