College Fund for Family Affected by ALS

Hi, my name is Hazel Kinnersley. It is my dream to pursue further education in acting and use the tools, experiences, and connections I gain to help foster empathy and harmony through the art of theatre. This fall, I plan to attend Syracuse University as a freshman BFA Acting major. This program has been my top choice ever since I first started researching colleges, and it was a dream come true when I was accepted for the fall of 2022. However, the past year's financial impact on my family and the impending challenges we expect to face moving forward may make it impossible for me to complete my education.

In April of 2021, my father was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). ALS is a fatal neurological-degenerative disease, the mean life expectancy after diagnosis being two to five years. Over the past year, my father's condition has drastically worsened, and his mobility, speech, breathing, and muscle function have all been severely affected. As a result, my mother has taken on the role of his full-time caretaker, working 24/7 to meet his needs, forcing her to close her practice as a mental health therapist. In addition to tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, my father's condition has also affected his function as the primary financial provider for our family, as he can no longer work full time. As his condition progresses, he will likely have to go on disability, eliminating our family income.

Though we have filed multiple financial aid appeals detailing these circumstances, we have received virtually no financial assistance from my university. As a result, we are left with a $35,000 bill for the first term (a figure we expect to be charged again for the second semester). I realize that this is a very intimidating number, and I do not anticipate donations to cover the entire cost, but at this point, we have exhausted all other options. Therefore, I am humbly requesting that, if you are able, you consider donating whatever you can to help us navigate these difficult circumstances. My family and I would be eternally grateful for any assistance in covering even a fraction of this cost, as every little bit of support can help immensely.

In June 2021, I graduated high school and decided to take a gap year to stay home and help support my family. Now, my family, especially my father, find it most important to see me starting a new chapter in my life, following my ambitions and goals, and doing what makes me happy. I hope to inspire my father as he has inspired me my whole life; to be strong, to be brave, to chase your joy in life and share it with others, and most of all, to keep moving forward.