Sounds like anybody who would...the kindness of strangers...Elizabeth Mooney Kirk...
Elizabeth Mooney Kirk From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, searchElizabeth Mooney Kirk (February 23 1914 - June 29 2004) (known by many as Betty) spent her entire life advancing adult literacy. She worked with Frank Laubach using his "Each One Teach One" reading method. She traveled and taught worldwide including India, Africa and United States. While working in Kenya, she provided the financial support for Barack Obama, Sr. to come to the United States to study.
Kirk co-authored many books with Dr. Frank Laubach and son Dr. Robert Laubach, which are still in use to teach adults to read English. In this role, her work included running a mission boarding school in India and for two years she was head of a project for the British Government in Kenya training teachers and adults to read in some of the tribal languages.
In Kirk's work in Kenya, she often helped find sponsorships for promising students study in the United States. An article by Michael Dobbs in The Washington Post, states that Kirk, provided most of the financial support in Obama Sr's early years in the United States, according to the Tom Mboya archives at Stanford University. Kirk is also mentioned in Barack Obama's 1995 book, Dreams from My Father (pg 427 hardcover) as writing college recommendation letters for Obama Sr.
Kirk's grandfather was Addison Clark who with brother founded Addran Male and Female Academy which became Texas Christian University. She earned a master¹s degrees from George Washington University and Syracuse University. In 1960 Kirk married Elmer LeValley Kirk. They lived for a time in West Africa before moving to California. Kirk taught school in the Oakland area for many years before retiring to central California.
[edit] Sources San Luis Obispo Tribune 7/8/2004, Elizabeth Mooney Kirk Obituary Washington Post 3/30/2008. "Obama Overstates Kennedys' Role in Helping His Father" Michael Dobbs.