About Fors Humanitas

Every movement begins with a single moment. For Dr. Bettina Lee, that moment came in the early 2000s when a young girl named Tara looked at her math teacher and asked a simple question: "Will you be my Fairy Godmother?"

It was more than an innocent request—it was a plea for someone to believe in her.  Dr. Bettina Lee, affectionately known as Dr. B, said, "I'd love to be your Fairy Godmother".

What began as a promise to mentor one student soon became a lifelong calling. Dr. B discovered that when children have someone who believes in them, encourages them, and helps them navigate life's challenges, they begin to see possibilities where they once saw barriers.

One student became dozens. Dozens became hundreds.

As her work grew, Dr. B began mentoring single parents who dreamed of earning a college education and creating a better future for their children. She witnessed firsthand how changing the life of one parent could transform the future of an entire family. Education became more than a degree—it became a pathway to hope, stability, and generational change.

Then life introduced her to another group of young people whose stories would forever shape her mission.  While working at UCLA Hospital, Dr. B met children courageously fighting life-threatening illnesses while struggling to keep up with school. Between treatments, surgeries, and long hospital stays, many were quietly falling behind academically and emotionally. These remarkable children were fighting battles no child should ever face, yet they still dreamed of graduating, going to college, and building meaningful lives.

Dr. B refused to let those dreams disappear.

She became their teacher, mentor, advocate, and unwavering source of encouragement—helping them believe that their diagnosis did not define their future.

Her passion for serving others knew no limits. She devoted countless hours, personal resources, and every ounce of energy she had to helping students and families overcome obstacles. There were times when her commitment came at a tremendous personal cost, but she never lost sight of the mission.

Recognizing that one person alone could not meet the overwhelming need, a colleague connected Dr. B with Public Counsel, where she received pro bono legal support to establish a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding that mission. That vision became Fors Humanitas.

Today, Fors Humanitas is powered by educators, professionals, community leaders, mentors, and former mentees who have experienced the life-changing impact of someone believing in them. Many who once received guidance now return to mentor the next generation, creating a ripple effect of compassion, opportunity, and hope.

At Fors Humanitas, we believe every mentee deserves more than a mentor—they deserve a team of people committed to helping them thrive.

Because no two journeys are alike, we create individualized support plans tailored to each mentee's unique strengths, goals, and circumstances. We work alongside families, healthcare professionals, educators, and community partners to ensure every mentee has the resources, encouragement, and opportunities they need to succeed. Whether navigating educational challenges, managing medical needs, preparing for college, or pursuing career aspirations, we walk beside our mentees every step of the way.

We also recognize that financial barriers can prevent talented, hardworking individuals from reaching their full potential. Through scholarships, grants, educational assistance, and financial support for career development, we help remove those barriers whenever possible. Whether it's purchasing textbooks and school supplies, paying college application fees, covering certification or licensing costs, funding vocational training, or helping a student take the next step toward a meaningful career, we invest in opportunities that can change the trajectory of a life.

But we believe that growth extends far beyond academics. We help open doors to experiences that broaden perspectives, build confidence, and inspire possibility. From participating in extracurricular activities and leadership programs to exploring new cultures through travel, visiting museums, attending concerts and theater performances, and securing internships that develop professional skills, we strive to give our mentees experiences that help them discover who they are and who they can become.

These moments do more than create memories—they cultivate resilience, curiosity, confidence, and hope. Most importantly, we instill the belief that success is measured not only by what we achieve, but by how we use our gifts to serve others.

Every mentee is encouraged to become a mentor, volunteer, advocate, or community leader. By paying forward the encouragement and opportunities they once received, they create a ripple effect of compassion that extends far beyond themselves.

Our mission isn't simply to change one life.

It's to empower future leaders, strengthen families, and build communities where every person has the opportunity to learn, grow, and give back.

Together, we are creating a legacy of hope—one individual and one act of kindness at a time.

For more than a decade, Fors Humanitas has helped individuals transform their aspirations into achievements. While many of our mentees come to us seeking academic guidance or financial assistance, they leave with something even more valuable—a stronger sense of identity, confidence, purpose, and belief in their own potential.

Our support extends far beyond scholarships or educational planning. We intentionally nurture the whole person, helping each mentee develop resilience, self-confidence, empathy, integrity, leadership, and the courage to embrace their authentic self. 

Through meaningful relationships, life experiences, mentorship, and individualized support, we empower individuals to discover not only what they want to accomplish, but also the kind of person they want to become.

At the heart of our work is a simple belief: When we invest in people, we strengthen entire communities.

Today, the success stories of our mentees reflect the power of that commitment. Students who once questioned whether college was even within reach have gone on to earn degrees from outstanding institutions across the country, including campuses within the California State University and University of California systems, as well as world-renowned universities and colleges such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, UCLA, UC Berkeley, California Institute of the Arts, Harvey Mudd College, and the Culinary Institute of America.

While we celebrate these remarkable academic accomplishments, we measure success by something even greater - that our mentees have grown into compassionate, resilient, and well-rounded individuals who lead with integrity, treat others with compassion, and make meaningful contributions to their families, workplaces, and communities. 

They have become educators, healthcare professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, public servants, and community leaders—but more importantly, they have become thoughtful human beings who understand the importance of empathy, service, and lifting others along the way.

Many of our former mentees now volunteer, mentor, and give back to the very communities that once supported them, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond a single scholarship or mentoring relationship.

That is the true legacy of Fors Humanitas.

Not simply helping students achieve their educational and careers goals but helping people discover who they are, what they stand for, and how they can make the world a better place.

One life transformed has the power to transform countless others.