Losing your mom while you’re just a teen leaves a mark forever. But WoodmenLife member1 Marvin Hilliard of Oak City, NC, is grateful that his mother’s love and perseverance gave him the drive to succeed and inspired his commitment to give back to the community.
He’s also grateful for Roberta Dickens, his school bus driver, and the impact she had on his life after his mother’s passing. During that time, Hilliard’s family circumstances were turbulent, and Dickens took him and his siblings shopping and made sure they were fed.
Ultimately, the experience motivated him to give back. So, Hilliard, 37, started The Future Belongs to You Foundation (TFBU).
“Mrs. Dickens inspired me to recognize the significant impact we can have on one another’s lives,” said Hilliard, a police captain in Scotland Neck, NC. “And growing up in a single-parent household taught me the value of hard work and perseverance.
“My mother’s love and determination inspired me to pursue my dreams. They serve as the bedrock of TFBU’s existence.”
“I only hope that my kids will continue to be a shining light in other people’s lives, inspiring hope and positivity wherever they go,” said Marvin Hilliard.
Giving Back to the Community
TFBU was founded in 2018 with the mission to inspire the community through charitable endeavors, cultural empowerment, and unity among our communities. The foundation’s priorities are enhancing educational opportunities and promoting community growth.
“Over the years, we’ve provided scholarships to high school students and raised money for schools and hurricane/tornado victims in Bertie County,” Hilliard said. “The foundation has also taken the lead in providing virtual learning, and we’ve provided mentoring, tutoring, and safety equipment for several counties.
“We also gave out hand sanitizer, Lysol, tissues, food, and face masks during the pandemic.”
A highlight for Hilliard is the playground TFBU helped build in Oak City. Previously, local residents had to travel 30 miles to visit the nearest park. The crowning moment was when the foundation board unanimously decided to dedicate the park to Hilliard’s mother and grandmother.
TFBU’s work hasn’t stopped there. The foundation’s many accomplishments also include:
- Helping area residents register to vote
- Raising funds for college scholarships
- Donating money to local schools
- Providing life skills training to local residents
- Launching a food pantry
WoodmenLife has proudly partnered with TFBU in several of its activities. We’ve helped beautify the Oak City park, donated school supplies, and provided financial support for the food pantry.
A Personal Connection
WoodmenLife has also helped Hilliard protect his family’s financial future. That’s another lesson he learned from his mom.
“My mother had several life insurance policies,” Hilliard said. “Those policies helped me and my family in the years after her passing. This is one of the reasons I purchased life insurance. Our mortality is inevitable, and I understand the importance of having policies to ensure my family’s financial stability after my passing.”
Purchasing a Family Term life insurance certificate from WoodmenLife checked the necessary boxes for Hilliard:
- He was providing a financial safety net for his children
- He could cover himself and his kids with one certificate2
- His premium would stay the same for the length of the certificate’s initial term
Marvin Hilliard purchased Family Term life insurance to help protect his children should something happen to him.
Leaving a Legacy
“Marvin was looking for an affordable option to cover his entire family under one certificate,” said WoodmenLife Sales Representative Steven Cannon of Oak City, NC . “Marvin’s goal is to leave his children a legacy and to cover the final expenses of his children in the event of an untimely passing.”
Hilliard has owned other life insurance policies before, but purchasing one from WoodmenLife felt different.
“I love that WoodmenLife provides more benefits you can receive while living,” he said. “They are highly involved in the community, donating their time and finances to help various organizations within our community. They felt like family.”
Hilliard hopes that his work to protect his children’s financial future is a lesson they keep close. He also wants them to always feel the drive to give back to the community.
“I only hope that my kids will continue to be a shining light in other people’s lives, inspiring hope and positivity wherever they go,” he said. “They have been an integral part of the foundation since its inception and have made a profound impact on our community.”
Learn More
Visit WoodmenLife.org/Family-Term to find out more about Family Term life insurance. Talk with a WoodmenLife Representative to see if it’s the right product for your family.
Written by: Gary Peterson, Senior Copywriter
1. An individual becomes a member by joining our shared commitment to family, community and country, and by purchasing a WoodmenLife product.
2. Coverage extends to any child born to the primary insured or other insured, any child less than 18 years of age legally adopted by the primary insured or other insured, or any child less than 18 years of age for which the other insured or the primary insured has been appointed permanent legal guardian. No child is insured before attaining the age of 15 days. Certain eligibility requirements apply.
Certificate Numbers ICC16 8063 R-1-16 & 8063 R-1-16 (xx)
All products may not be available in all states.
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