Scholarship Fund for Designer

Dear friends, family, patrons and strangers,

Please take a minute to read an important message regarding my future plans.

My name is Raul, I'm a fashion designer and undergraduate student. I was accepted to the prestigious design school, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC as a transfer student for spring classes in January 2016. My plan was to move back after the holidays, but I've recently ran into a hardship that will keep me from following that dream.


As many of you know, I am a hard worker, passionate about my field in design and overall a kindred spirit with a kind heart and a creative eye. I would love to pursue my dream further and share with those in my success. Every day from now until January, I will be fighting to stay on the right path by raising funds so I can move back home to NY and continue my formal academic education. I currently hold a 3.72 GPA, with 45 credit hours from a community college.

I urge you in helping me raise funds by donating anything you can to this exciting milestone in my life, otherwise, my hard work will have been in vain. Every single dollar counts! If it's $5, you can see it as a coffee you may have treated me to; if it's $10, that's a good book you may have picked out for me for Christmas; $20 can be seen as a nice dinner among friends. I'd just like for you to imagine whatever amount you consider giving, will be like a cherished moment among good company, but together the funds will add up to something bigger (than a cup of coffee).


Let's look at some figures and dates:

-Tis the season for giving after all, please consider giving towards this very important milestone.

-My birthday is in early January. My birthday is when I'd like to relocate. For many, it's the day of epiphany. Maybe your donation will provide you with an epiphany.

-Class orientation begins on January 21, 2016, and first day of classes is January 25.

Short term vs Long term financial goals

Short-term Goal = Relocation costs. This is an immediate need as I must fly to NY as soon as possible and have a place to stay. This includes:
Air fare+Taxi+Subway                                    $300.00
One month temporary Housing                 $1000.00
Total:                                                                    $1300.00

Long-term Goal:
Tuition                                  $6,750.00
Student Fees                     $365.00
Books and Supplies         $875.00
Room                                    $5,000.00*
Personal                              $750.00
Transportation                  $300.00
Total:                                    $14,040.00

* - These figures are based per semester, or 6 months. From my school profile, the cost figure for housing is actually $6,545.50, but I lowered that figure to $5000.00, as I am able to find more affordable housing.

To come up with a ‘fair’ total by including the following deductions, so your donations only go towards the brim amount for tuition, student fees and books:

Deductions from Long-term Goal:
Total Long-term costs:   $14,040.00
Pell Grant:                           -$2,888.00
Personal:                             -750.00
Room:                                   -5000.00
Total:                                    $5,402.00 (Includes ONLY Tuition, student fees and books)

Short-term + Long-term costs =
$1,300.00
+ $5,402.00
= $6,702.00 (Total needed)

I’ve rounded the figure down at $3000.00. If I get more, you’ll know what it would go towards, but the minimum I need urgently is $1,300.00.

Please keep in mind gofundme takes 8% and $.30 cents per donation.


My success rate is very high:

- My 3.72 GPA proves I'm determined and focused in school;
- I have 9 years of experience designing;
- I've participated in several fashion shows in Mexico, Los Angeles, New York, and the midwest, many of which were my own, and other shows for designers I worked for;
- My design and production work for a New York menswear designer and editing of his portfolio submission got him nominated for the acclaimed Council Fashion Designers of America Vogue Fund Award in 2011;
- I've worked on several photo shoots designing, syling, sourcing and directing models/hairstylists/makeup artists, and with overall visual;
- New York shows I've been involved with: New York Fashion Week 2011 with Carlos Campos, Nicola Formichetti;
- Midwest shows include: TYPro's Next/Now Show, Nude Art Show, LivingArts' Chocolate and Champagne annual fundraiser, Fashion for the Cure a cancer awareness fundraiser, Fashion-Meets-Art Moore victims fundraiser, Oklahoma Fashion Week and Tulsa Fashion Week (which I won best dress for the Tulsa World newspaper dress contest).


By now, if you've read what you needed to convince you to spread some joy my way, please do so. Take a few moments to think about how powerful your help can be, and the gratitude and joy I'll have to walk into class and feel relieved that there are good people in this world and in my life. I cannot do it without YOU. Each of you. Thank you.

-Raul