Hi my name is Mari Sara-Marie Nuesca and I’m raising funds to celebrate 298 Class of 2026 high school graduates who have been impacted by foster care and homelessness.

I started this project during my own graduation year, Class of 2023, when my friends and I came together to hand-make graduation leis for 40 students impacted by the foster care system. What started as a small act of celebration has since grown into something much bigger.

In 2025, we were able to celebrate 183 graduates; every single Resilient Scholar and McKinney-Vento Program graduate in the Antelope Valley Union School District. Alongside host the first AV Youth Global Service Day, focused on youth building community, cultivating the youth experience, and celebrating the youth! This youth-led event held space for youth to be heard and celebrated.

Every young person deserves to be celebrated and to know that someone cares about them. Together, we can make their graduation day a little more special. Together, I know that we can achieve this again for Class of 2026.

We are working to raise $1,000 by March 16, 2026, which will go towards the supplies needed to make the grad leis and grad cap decorations.

I will deliver the handmade graduation leis to each school by May 2nd, ensuring every student is recognized and celebrated for their achievement.

Every donation—big and small—helps honor high school graduates and reminds them that they are seen, supported, and proud of how far they’ve come. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser also makes a huge difference.

Thank you so much for supporting the Class of 2026 and helping us celebrate them!