Olga came to Kansas City as a senior foreign exchange student at a local high school in September 2021. She had planned to return home at the end of May 2022 as the school year came to an end and as her exchange program had required.  However, things changed greatly on February 24, 2022 as her home country was invaded by Russia.  Olga is from Kyiv, Ukraine. Her parents are still in Kyiv and have asked her not to return home at this time.  Olga has applied for Temporary Protected Status for the people of Ukraine, if granted, it will allow her to stay in the US until October 2023. She has also applied for work authorization documents. It may take several months for any results to be determined on either of these applications. Olga's plan had been to return to Kyiv and attend university in Ukraine or elsewhere in Europe.  Since that is not possible at this time, Olga has applied to universities in the Kansas City area to pursue her education. She has been accepted to the University of Missouri-Kansas City as an international student with a some amount of scholarship. However, she will still have to pay at roughly an in-state tuition rate plus books and other fees.  Olga aims to achieve a bachelor's degree in business in the US.  In addition to university tuition, there is another, and far more important need -- health insurance. We have explored lots of options, but the most likely possibility is to simply purchase insurance on the open market. Olga may be able to get health insurance coverage but it will likely be very expensive; especially for someone who is unable to earn income at this time.  Olga is very capable and very willing to work if, and when, she will be able to do so legally. She has volunteered consistently throughout the time she has been in the US, working with young children, animals and people in need. Throughout this summer Olga continues to volunteer full-time at a local elementary school as a teacher's assistant. She has completed more than 250 volunteer service hours and continues to add to that total.  Throughout the past year, Olga has done many public cultural presentations about Ukraine. She has shared some of the traditional culture of Ukraine as well as a perspective of how recent events are affecting the people of Ukraine. There have been several local news stories about Olga and her time in Kansas City. Here is a link to one of them:  <a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2022/03/08/ukrainian-high-school-student-kc-rethinking-education-after-attacks-her-home-city/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.kctv5.com/2022/03/08/ukrainian-high-school-student-kc-rethinking-education-after-attacks-her-home-city/</a> Olga also worked with her high school classmates to organize a fundraiser to contribute to a Ukrainian non-profit. The organization helps people affected by the war and people in need  in Ukraine. The class raised nearly $2000 selling T-shirts. Those funds were donated to the charitable foundation in Ukraine.  We’re now raising money for Olga’s education (college tuition, fees, books, supplies), healthcare and health insurance, and other living expenses as needed.  Olga has truly become a part of our family. She is our "fifth child" and our "fourth teenage daughter". We live and love, work and play, eat, laugh and play music with her, as we do together with all of our children, as a family. These are many of the reasons we're raising money for Olga. Thank you for your consideration. 
<div>Peace. 
</div>

Eugene Pegler

Emily R Klug

Kathy Erlandson

Mary K Sheehan

James Richter

Sindi Hankins

J Vonarx

Lorien Paulson

Jon Piebenga

Anonymous

David Thompson

Cheryl Long

Olga & family support: tuition, healthcare, etc.

Olga & family support: tuition, healthcare, etc.

Mancano ancora $29,534. Aiutaci a creare slancio.