Freedom from Abuse Through Education

Helping women and children break cycles of abuse and poverty by opening doors to education and opportunity.

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Our Mission

Freedom Begins with Education

At Education for Freedom Foundation, we believe education is the key to freedom. Too often, survivors of abuse face barriers that keep them trapped in cycles of poverty, fear, and instability. We’re here to change that.

Through educational advancement grants for women and literacy programs for children, we provide the support and resources needed to create lasting independence and brighter futures.

Education Grants

Our Programs

Grants That Transform Lives

Education Grants

Scholarships for women overcoming abuse or other difficult circumstances who are pursuing technical training or higher education.

Reading Grants

Coming Spring 2026. Support for children in hardship, including access to books, tutoring, and enrichment programs that build a strong foundation in literacy. 

Guided by Purpose

Our Goals and Objectives

We measure our impact through clear, purposeful goals that guide every grant, partnership, and program we create.

1

Empower Women Through Education

Empower single mothers, abused women, and women in adverse situations by facilitating advanced educational opportunities in Utah’s targeted industries.

  • Award scholarships for tuition and books at technical schools focused on healthcare, technology, education, manufacturing, and business.
  • Require recipients to maintain at least a C average and complete their programs of study.
  • Achieve statewide reach, prioritizing scholarships for women in rural and underserved communities.

2

Strengthen Literacy and Resilience in Children

Promote literacy and resilience among children facing adversity and those needing additional support.

  • Distribute age-appropriate books to children, nurturing a lifelong love of reading and learning.
  • Launch targeted grants for tutoring, summer camps, and enrichment programming, with a primary focus on the new Reading Center in Washington County.
  • Directly support Utah’s goal to reach 70% reading proficiency among third graders by 2027.

3

Build Sustainable, Measurable Impact

Ensure sustainable growth and measurable impact.
  • Expand fundraising and leverage matching funds for broader reach and deeper impact.
  • Dedicate all grant and matched funds to scholarships, reading grants, and direct program delivery.

Why It Matters

The Reality Women and Children Face

  • 1 in 3 women worldwide will experience abuse in their lifetime.
  • Education reduces vulnerability and increases long-term financial stability and safety.
  • Children thrive when mothers thrive, breaking intergenerational cycles of limited opportunity across generations.
  • Reading at grade level by 3rd grade lays the foundation for future academic success.

We believe freedom begins when women and children have access to the education they deserve. Education empowers people to build resilience, overcome challenges, and envision a future beyond immediate hardships.

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Our Commitment

Sustainability for Generations to Come

This Foundation is not a temporary project but a long-term commitment. Funded by an endowment, it represents the legacy of founder Cinthanie R. Crenshaw and ensures that the mission to empower women and children through education will continue for generations to come.

Stories of Hope

From Survival to Success

EXAMPLE: “When I left my marriage, I had nothing. No savings, no degree, and two children looking up at me. I thought I would never escape the cycle. The grant from the Education for Freedom Foundation gave me the chance to go back to school. Today, I’m working as a medical assistant, supporting my family, and finally building a safe future for my kids.”
EXAMPLE: “When I left my marriage, I had nothing. No savings, no degree, and two children looking up at me. I thought I would never escape the cycle. The grant from the Education for Freedom Foundation gave me the chance to go back to school. Today, I’m working as a medical assistant, supporting my family, and finally building a safe future for my kids.”

Stories like this remind us why our work matters: education is more than learning, it’s the path to freedom.

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Be Part of the Change

The Foundation officially launched in September 2025, with the first wave of grants awarded in Spring 2026. Together, we can build a future where every woman and child has the chance to learn, grow, and live free.

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Rachel Dalton

VP of Education Grants

Advocate for Educational Opportunity and Community Service

Rachel Dalton’s passion for education and service permeates her work and community engagement. As Vice President of Education Grants, she leads the Foundation’s efforts to provide survivors of abuse with educational opportunities—opening new pathways for women to rebuild and achieve their goals.

Her longstanding volunteer roles within her local school district reflect a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives. Rachel’s commitment to supporting students, teachers, and families speaks to her integrity, compassion, and spirit of service.

Rachel brings professional expertise as a loan processor to our mission of expanding educational opportunities. Her keen attention to detail, financial acumen, and commitment to fairness—skills honed in her day job—ensure our grant programs are efficient, transparent, and impactful.

By guiding grant initiatives and advocating for access, Rachel directly advances the Foundation’s mission—empowering women and children in adverse situations to find renewal, healing, and hope through the gift of learning.

Emily Sparks

VP of Reading Grants

Innovator in Literacy and Differentiated Instruction

With 13 years of teaching excellence, Emily Sparks is an educator whose commitment to student growth and learning shines through every endeavor. She holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Instructional Design and Technology, complemented by endorsements in Reading, STEM, Technology, and ESL.

Emily’s training in the Science of Reading and LETRS equips her with evidence-based strategies that make her one of the state’s top-scoring reading teachers. Her expertise in phonics-based methods and literacy instruction nurtures strong foundational skills and reading confidence in young learners—an essential element in the Foundation’s mission to foster academic success and independence.

Emily’s dedication to differentiated instruction and support for diverse learners ensures that every student, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to thrive. Her innovative approach and mastery of best practices make her an invaluable asset to the Board, guiding efforts to expand reading support and cultivate lifelong curiosity.

Laura Hesson

Secretary & VP of Communications

Champion for Educational Equity and Community Empowerment

Laura Hesson’s career is defined by over two decades of unwavering service to education and advocacy. With a lifelong love of learning and a belief in its transformational power, Laura has shaped equitable opportunities for underserved and at-risk women and children.

Her 18-year tenure as an elected official on her local school board attests to her leadership and vision—developing policy, overseeing budgets, and championing equity initiatives to ensure that every child, regardless of background, receives a quality education. Her strategic planning and engagement have left an indelible mark on her community, earning respect from peers, families, and educators.

Laura’s experience working with PTAs at every level for over 20 years further amplifies her impact. From parent engagement to community programs and student advocacy, Laura has fostered meaningful connections and empowered families.

Professionally, Laura brings organizational leadership and executive support experience, alongside a background in marketing to promote causes and forge genuine community bonds. Her blend of heart, strategy, and administrative expertise makes her uniquely qualified to help the Foundation create safe spaces where education becomes a pathway to hope, healing, and opportunity.

Cinthanie R. Crenshaw

Founder & Executive Director

Visionary Leader, Compassionate Advocate

For over three decades, Cinthanie R. Barton Crenshaw has devoted her life to service—evolving from business owner to community leader, volunteer, and most importantly, mother and grandmother. As a survivor of abuse, Cinthanie transformed her personal journey into a source of hope for others, founding the Education for Freedom Foundation to provide survivors with educational grants and the chance to attend technical colleges on scholarships.

Her philosophy is simple but profound: through education, freedom is possible—not only for women rebuilding their lives, but for generations yet to come. Her vision extends to fostering early literacy through reading tutoring, nurturing a love of learning from the start.

Cinthanie’s qualifications reflect both academic achievement and real-world experience. With a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (minor in Communication) from Utah Tech University and ongoing graduate study in Non-Profit Leadership and Management at Arizona State University, she pairs theoretical understanding with hands-on expertise. Her entrepreneurial journey spans 30+ years, managing businesses and properties across Utah and Nevada, while her volunteer service includes roles as foster mother, PTA leader, CASA advocate for at-risk youth, and support for organizations such as Boy Scouts of America and Utah Foster Care Foundation.

Cinthanie’s deep community involvement—including service as Secretary/Treasurer for her local Republican district and HOA management committee—illustrates her tireless dedication. Now living in the peaceful woods of Utah, she embodies the foundation’s mission every day, guided by a steadfast commitment to helping others achieve renewal and freedom through learning.