Betsy Justice is on a quest to expand her non-profit organization, LoveLight, Inc., and she’s willing to walk for miles to achieve her goal.

LoveLight and the Association for International Students in Education at Kent State are sponsoring “Walk for Children” to raise money for LoveLight’s programs, Justice said. The 10-K (6.2 mile) walk will begin at 2 p.m Sunday at the Kent State Commons. Participants are encouraged to gather donations and pledges for the event, Justice said.

Justice, doctoral student in educational psychology and part-time instructor at Kent State, established LoveLight, Inc., in 1995 to help educate disadvantaged children in Kent.

“We want to help those who are disadvantaged to move toward achieving their potential. We’ve been focusing on children within the context of the family, the neighborhood and the community,” Justice said.

Raphael Kelani, president of the Association for International Students in Education, said it is important for educators to support programs such as “Walk for Children.”

“We are in education, so we are working for the children. We think it’s always a good thing to raise money to help students and help children,” Kelani said.

Justice said a LoveLight, Inc., tutoring program known as “study buddies” reaches out to children by providing them with academic assistance from Kent State students. LoveLight, Inc., also has a summer program that provides lower income children with lunches, Justice said.

Justice said fundraisers such as “Walk for Children” can take LoveLight, Inc., to the next level.

“I’m hoping to expand those programs into an actual center that would be open five days a week,” Justice said. “This year we hope to have a center where Kent State students can help the children with academics as well as other skills.”

Justice said she is also writing a grant proposal to the Ohio Department of Education with hopes of acquiring additional funding.

Justice is recruiting volunteers for “Walk for Children” and other LoveLight, Inc., programs. For additional information, please contact Justice by phone at (330) 673-5839 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Pledge sheets for participants of “Walk for Children” are available in room 215 in White Hall.

Contact College of Education, Health and Human Services reporter Nate Ulrich at [email protected].