Help Send Me to College in London!

Dear friends, family, and kind strangers,

My name is Mikey DeFilippis, and I am a current high school senior in Chicago at St. Ignatius College Prep. I am an actor, and I have recently been given the greatest opportunity of my young life thus far; I have been offered a spot to train at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, or LAMDA. LAMDA is the oldest drama conservatory in the entire United Kingdom, and it is consistently ranked as one of the top 5 acting institutions in the world. This year alone over 5,000 people from around the world auditioned for just 28 spots in the BA (Hons) Professional Acting program, and I am just 1 of 6 Americans that was accepted. Shocked does not begin to explain how I felt upon receiving the news; I have never felt so honored in my entire life.

At LAMDA, I will be training with some of the top instructors in the industry in some of the most rigorous training offered in the world. I will be training for five days a week and up to twelve hours a day for most of the year. I will be taking daily classes in skills such as textual analysis, phonetics, stage combat, and historical dance to name just a few, as well as being supplemented with Masterclasses by the industry’s leading professionals. LAMDA’s alumni boast 4 Academy Awards, 16 Golden Globes, 19 Tony Awards and 36 Olivier Awards, and some of their graduates include Benedict Cumberbatch CBE, John Lithgow, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Richard Harris. It is, without question, a once in a lifetime opportunity; I need your help to make it a reality.

Unfortuanetly, LAMDA can offer no financial assistance for American students, meaning that we will have to pay the full cost of attendance.  As the school offers no room and board, I will have to pay for my own housing and living expenses in London, one of the most expensive cities in the world. In total, our costs are estimated at upwards of $45,000 a year, a number my family simply can't afford. The cost of attending LAMDA is putting a massive financial burden on my mother, who is trying her hardest to give me this great opportunity. As of now, we will be taking out large amounts of Federal Loans to try and make this dream more tangible, but these loans only do so much in lightening the load. I am trying to raise $12,000 to help with the costs of my rent and living expenses. I am trying to raise this money by September 20th, when I will be moving into my new home. If I can raise this money our financial situation will be infintely improved, and a huge weight will be lifted off my mother and I's shoulders. It would be heartbreaking to not be able to attend this school because of financial reasons. 

Any help at all is so much appreciated. Whether it's a dollar or $1,000, by donating you are bringing me closer to achieving my dreams. I cannot tell you how thankful I am for your help and consideration; it truly means the world to me. Attending this school will be the first big step in my career, and I would love for you to be a part of it.

Thank you for your time, and I hope this finds you well.

Best,
Mikey