Could you imagine having the opportunity to formally introduce the First Lady of the United States as a freshman in high school? 

Well, Polished Pebble mentee Deneen Borner did, & she's heading to college at Mississippi Valley State University this Fall and we need your help to make sure she can get there!

In 2011, Polished Pebble mentee, Deneen Borner, had the privilege of introducing First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Mentoring Summitt in Washington, DC.  The First Lady’s reaction to that introduction spoke accolades to the work we do with girls. She simply stated, “well there you go, and that’s what the south side of Chicago produces.” This comment spoke to the impact of our mentoring model and the possibility to extend our reach to more communities. You can check out Deneen's speech below!

We couldn't have been more proud of Deneen, after giving such a stellar speech.  And, she continued to impress us as she beat the odds for the next four years, attending high school at Harlan Community Academy in Chicago, maintaining a 3.7 GPA, joining the National Honors Society and the Young Business Development Institute, and maintaining a part time job.  Although she's had a lot of personal obstacles to overcome, she's excited about starting college. 

Please donate to ensure that we can support Deneen with transportation, fees to get Deneen get to her college orientation, and final move in date.  With such an excellent start, we can only imagine how far Deneen will go! Please help reach the stars!

Thanks in advance!