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Send Vicente to College

This is a story of a life turned around by athletics. 

Vicente Jimenez came to this country from Mexico at the age of 8, and earned legal status through the DREAM act. He left home in 8th grade and lived independently through high school, working at City Market. He reconciled with his family during his last year in school. 

Vicente played football and then found his heart (and his talent) competing in track for Durango High School. Keeping up his grades to stay on the team also gave him the incentive to finish high school. But his DHS coach urged him to think further ahead. What about college? 

Vicente thought it would be impossible--but now it's a reality. He gained admission to Chabot Community College in California, where he will study architectural technology and, yes, participate in his beloved track events.  However, money is the final obstacle. Chabot offers no financial assistance for athletes, and the young man's family cannot offer help either, so Vicente is raising money on his own. A Durango parent learned about Vicente’s dilemma and has offered him a unique deal--for every semester successfully completed, the parent will reimburse that semester's tuition, so Vicente can continue on. The $2000 tuition for that critical first semester is up to Vicente, as are paying for books, room, board and other expenses for the full year, another $8000. Vicente plans to get a job near Chabot, but he needs your help to make up the difference between a young person's typically low wage and the cost to get through college. 

Classes start August 17 and tuition is due August 12. The Durango Education Foundation will distribute contributions directly first to the college, then to the college bookstore, and finally to Vicente's landlord; donations in excess of those needs will be distributed for board and other college-related expenses at Vicente's request upon presentation of receipts. 

The Durango Education Foundation administers several donor-advised scholarships every year. This is not a true scholarship--just a much needed intervention that D.E.F. believes will help a young man take an important, life-changing step toward a better future. So, donations are probably not tax-deductible; they are simply the proof of your great, generous heart. (Please check with your tax professional to determine deductibility.)

Vicente plans to send the Foundation reports along the way about his college experience and D.E.F. will share them with all donors.  

Let's get this track star to college!

Organizer and beneficiary

Elizabeth Testa
Organizer
Durango, CO
Mary El Emrich
Beneficiary

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