Make a Difference in the life of a child

As a non-profit, your help is critical in making Kids’ Chance of New Jersey a successful organization.

 Donate Today

​Brenda Vidals

My name is Brenda Vidals and I am 20 years old. In the fall, I will be a junior at Rutgers University in New Brunswick as a Biology major. My goal is to become a health care member to help people live better lives.

​On the night of March 29th of 2011, my father was on his way to his second job in Philadelphia. My uncle waited for him to arrive that night at the factory, but something strange was happening. My father was late and he was not picking up his cellphone. This was very rare of him to do that. So, my uncle decided to call my mother and ask if she was contacting my father.

My name is Brenda Vidals and I am 18 years old. In the fall, I will be attending Rutgers University in New Brunswick as a Biology major. My goal is to become a doctor to help people live better lives. Currently, I am a senior at the Camden County Technical School. For my senior year, I attend classes at Camden County College to receive college course credits.

On the night of March 29th of 2011, my father was on his way to his second job in Philadelphia. My uncle waited for him to arrive that night at the factory, but something strange was happening. My father was late and he was not picking up his cellphone.

That night, my mother was also left wondering why my father was not picking up anyone’s phone calls. She tried and tried but no answer and no one knew about his whereabouts during that time. The moment my mother received that devastating phone call, I woke up from my couch bed in the trailer home we used to live in. Her scream and plea to deny the truth will forever be encrusted in my mind. He was involved in a deadly car accident while on his way to work. That night, my life was put into a different perspective.

At the time my father worked full-time as he was the main provider in our home; my mother also worked but not enough to support the home by herself. My mother’s life became harder as time progressed after my father’s death. After being unjustly fired from her previous job of almost 12 years, she was left devastated and in indignation. Luckily, she found a job soon after but she was paid less than what she used to earn. We always try to make ends meet in order for us to have meals every day and to have a place to sleep at night. Although there is still an empty void in our hearts, we are doing great as a family. I want to continue doing great to make my father proud. I want him to see me achieve my goals and grow up into a wonderful person. Wherever I am, I know he will always be with me.

The Rothenberg, Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod / Richard & JoAnn Rubenstein and KCNJ Scholarship means that I will get to accomplish a goal I’ve had since I was a little girl. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. I want to achieve this goal because it would allow me to make a change in the society I live in; and, also it would make my parents and family proud of me. This scholarship will also lift the burden of having to pay college tuition with loans. Thank you, once again, for helping me complete another year of university!