Dreams Take Flight: Funding Japanimation

Chloe HD is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

My mom often says that I was fearless from the start "“ born with my eyes wide open as if to take in the whole world at a glance. As a little kid, she says I was always reaching, climbing, grasping, my arms outstretched to embrace the world. You might think it's no wonder that a kid like that would be living away from home at 16 in her second year at boarding school. It is not only a wonder, however: it's no small feat, especially considering that my mom has been a solo parent for more than eight years now, raising my younger sister, Maia, and me on little more than a teacher's salary.

Nonetheless, my mom has always encouraged me to aim high, and promised me that she would "figure out" the financing for whatever dreams I strived for. And somehow, she always has. This time, though, it's time for me to do the figuring. You see, I applied for this crazy-out-there-super-expensive but amazing summer opportunity to travel to Japan, live with a host family, and study the art of Anime and Manga in classes taught by professional artists in Tokyo. When I applied for the program, I thought I didn't have a chance in Hades of actually being selected. But, lo!

"Dear Chloe,
We have reviewed your application for The Experiment's Japan: Japanimation"”Anime and Manga and feel that you would be a good fit for the program:"

Since Mom will be busy this summer, as always, figuring out how to keep Maia and me housed, fed, clothed, educated, entertained, well-rounded, and, well, basically ALIVE, I've decided to keep her from adding any more figures to her already expansive list.

Thanks to generous grants and scholarships from both A Better Chance (I'm one of their scholars) and The Experiment in International Living (THANK YOU, ABC and EIL!), most of the cost of my month-long adventure is already covered. I'm hoping that all of you will help me raise the remaining balance.

My GoFundMe goal is $2600 by June 15th.

I know this is a lot to raise in very little time, so I figured that I'd encourage generous giving with a few sweet incentives. For every $5 -- $24 sponsors, I've got my arms wide open for a huge FREE hug!* All $25 sponsors will receive a FREE hug,* and a hand-painted, picture perfect postcard sent from the Far East. Finally, sponsors of $50 or more, will receive a FREE hug* and a signed T-shirt or drawstring bag with Japan-inspired graphics hand-painted by yours truly, The Huggable Teen Graphic Artist in Training.