Recently John Brightwell - Service Manager with Innovative Service Solutions, returned from his annual mission trip to El Tanque, Nicaragua -- excited about the results of the scholarship program he started there seven years ago through the First Baptist Church of Dover.

John collects donations throughout the year for his Bright & Well Futures Foundation, then spends a week with other parishioners building a church in El Tanque, where they provide basic necessities and some niceties for the plantation children. The plantations and plantation schools are owned by the Japanese, however books and clothing must be provided by others.

Last year, they proudly graduated their first student from high school -- she is now enrolled in college. This year, the scholarship awarded each child a choice of gifts worth $100. The stories of the children are poignant -- one very small boy (shown in the picture), who was walking more than two miles each way to attend school, asked only for a bicycle. Even more moving was the story John told of a little girl who asked for a bed that she and her sister could share -- they had been sleeping on the dirt floor of their hut and had to roll up the bedding every night to keep it clean and dry.

For additional information, please contact John at [email protected]. If you would like to make a donation, please send checks to the Bright & Well Futures Foundation c/o First Baptist Church of Dover, 3223 N Gallagher Road, Dover FL 33527.

This amazing scholarship program is a perfect example of how hard-working people in our own industry can make a positive difference in the world!