OOTA Alumni: Carrying Opportunity Forward

Education can be a powerful part of building a new path forward. That belief inspired Leann Kopytko and her late husband, Ron Kopytko, to establish the Out of the Ashes (OOTA) Bursary in 2007. Administered through Day One Society, the bursary supports individuals in recovery by reducing financial barriers and recognizing the strength and determination behind their educational goals.

As the very first recipient of the Out of the Ashes Bursary, Brittney Fletcher’s story reflects how education, encouragement, and community support can help sustain long-term growth.

“Looking back, I was scared to go to school,” Brittney shares. “I was worried how I would place in exams after being out of school for several years. However, receiving the bursary meant a team of people cheering me on, from the donors to the staff. It was the boost of confidence I needed most.”

For Brittney, the bursary made it possible to enrol in the Paramedic Academy, a form of higher education that was not eligible for student loans or other scholarships.

“The bursary provided me a sense of belonging, responsibility and pride to be successful in order to keep Ron’s dream alive,” she says.

That early opportunity helped shape the path Brittney has continued to build. She went on to work in the medical field as a paramedic and later carried those skills into social work.

“Winning the bursary allowed me to build my career in the medical field as a paramedic and then use the transferable skills into social work,” Brittney explains.

Today, Brittney has a degree in Psychology and is currently finishing a degree in Social Work. She is also a mother to a four-year-old daughter, who will be starting kindergarten in September. Looking ahead, Brittney hopes to continue her education and pursue graduate school.

Through her work, Brittney has been able to support people during difficult moments and carry forward the belief that the right opportunity can change a life.

“Over the years, I have been able to help people during some of the most challenging times in their lives,” she shares. “I always try to remember that the person that I meet is only a single opportunity away from a catalyst that can change their entire life.”

Her message to someone in recovery who is thinking about applying for the bursary is simple.

“Don’t wait,” she says. “Every challenge is an opportunity to become stronger, and you will also have a team of people cheering you on through every step.”

Looking back, Brittney is most proud of taking the chance to better herself and continuing to persevere through challenges. She is also grateful to the people who helped make the bursary possible.

“I would like to give a special thanks and express my heartfelt gratitude to the founders of the bursary, Ron and Leann Kopytko, my friends and family, alumni, the donors, and those who are considering making a life-changing donation,” Brittney says. “It was a simple idea created one night in a basement which has had the most significant impact on my life, numerous others in the community and many more to come.”

As Brittney continues her education and work in social services, her story reflects the lasting impact of the Out of the Ashes Bursary. Through encouragement, opportunity, and community support, recipients continue to build meaningful futures and show what is possible when recovery is met with a chance to move forward.