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Our Story
Like a flower's lifecycle, Blooms of Promise: The April C. Harmon Foundation's story begins with a single seed—April herself, whose dedication to education continues to blossom through the lives she touched and the foundation she inspired.
Born in 1963 as the youngest of nine children, April was raised by a single mother in rural North Carolina in a home with a wealth of love but limited in financial resources. During her junior year of high school, her guidance counselor told her the best she could do was work at the town's local mill factory.
Against overwhelming odds, April earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in School Guidance and Counseling from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in 1985 and 1988, becoming one of the first people in her entire family to earn a degree, and later the first to earn a master's degree. She dedicated the next few years of her life to becoming the counselor she never had—proving that with support, potential knows no boundaries.
April began her career in education while building a life with her college sweetheart, whom she met during freshman year at NCCU. Starting her career in the New Jersey school system before finding her perfect home with Norfolk Public Schools, She would later rise to become chairperson of guidance at Lafayette Winona Middle School in the early 2000s.
It was around this same time that she received her first cancer diagnosis. In spite cancer treatments, April maintained outstanding attendance. Each month while April was fighting breast cancer, she was still guiding dozens of students toward futures they never thought possible—proving that regular commitment creates extraordinary outcomes. Many of the coworkers she worked with didn't know of her diagnosis for months, but knew her for unwavering belief in every student's potential.
In 2006, while working full time, April earned her Postgraduate Professional License in Administration and Supervision from Old Dominion University, setting the stage for her future leadership roles. In 2014, she was honored as "Counselor of the Year" by the Virginia Counselors Association, recognizing her exceptional dedication and impact in the field. By 2020, April experienced a profound full circle moment when she became Senior Coordinator of School Counseling Services for Norfolk Public Schools while simultaneously teaching as an adjunct Professor at Old Dominion University—the very institution where her educational journey began.
Even throughout her battles with ovarian cancer in 2021 and 2022, April's unwavering dedication never faltered. She continued leading Norfolk's counseling initiatives and mentoring future educators, refusing to let illness dim her passion for helping others. Until just two weeks before her passing, April was still successfully continuing her work in both her district leadership role and university teaching position—embodying her lifelong belief that one person's sustained commitment can create an impact that multiplies across generations.
In May 2023, eight months after April's passing, her husband and two daughters honored her legacy by establishing a $30,000 scholarship endowment at North Carolina Central University's School of Psychology—ensuring her passion for helping the next generation of leaders would continue to transform lives. By May 2024, April's family felt called to honor her commitment to local education. In just seven weeks, they organized a memorial walk on what would have been her 61st birthday, creating a space for the community to celebrate her remarkable life.
What began as an idea for a modest gathering to share stories and memories of April blossomed beyond all expectations, raising over $10,000 and revealing the profound impact she had on countless lives. These heartfelt contributions planted the seeds that bloomed into what is now "Bloom of Promise: The April C. Harmon Foundation" and launched the "Part of the Promise" Scholarship Program—transforming grief into opportunity and carrying forward April's lifelong commitment to educational excellence.

Seeds of Determination
1963 - 1988

1988 - 2000s

Growing Through Adversity

Bearing Fruit
2000s - 2022
2022 - Present

The Promise Continues
2022 - Present

The Promise Continues

The Promise Continued
1988 - 2000s

Growing Through Adversity
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Bearing Fruit
2000s - 2022
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