Supporting Devonte's Family
Donation protected
My name is Andrew Stricker, and I work for a non-profit organization called OneGoal, which supports historically underserved high school students
in their effort to attain a college degree.
I'm raising money to support Devonte Randolph's family. Last week, Devonte, a Fellow in my OneGoal cohort, died by a blood clot that traveled from his leg to his lung, causing his heart to stop. At the age of 21, he died in his sleep.
Devonte's family is working to gather necessary funds to bring Devonte's body home, and they need our help. He died in Evansville, Indiana, so his body is being (a) driven from Indiana to Kentucky and then (b) flown from Kentucky to Illinois. If we can just help with the $1088 it costs for the transportation from Indiana to Kentucky, that will relieve significant financial pressure on the family's end. Devonte's funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, August 24. Meantime, any donation you can offer is greatly appreciated.
As I process Devonte’s unfortunate passing, I remember what a plus he was to have in my life. I will miss Devonte – and I loved him dearly. Below is an excerpt from a letter of recommendation that I wrote for him two years ago. Think it’s a fair representation of how great a young man he was.
"Devonte Randolph lives one of the most remarkable stories I have known in 11 years as a Chicago Public Schools teacher. In the spring of his sophomore year, Devonte interviewed for OneGoal and, with his professional attire and sincere desire to improve himself, impressed the panel so much that he became a top recruit. It was evident during the interview that, with the support structure of OneGoal, Devonte was capable of high achievement in high school and college. In the following year, Devonte would live up to this promise – in spite of facing one challenge after another.
"During the summer between junior and senior year of high school, I asked him about his personal statement. ‘I didn’t get to that yet, Mr. Stricker,’ he told me. My gut reaction was disappointment. Then Devonte shared this: ‘I worked all summer. When I wasn’t working, I was looking for my mom.’ Devonte meant that he spent a large chunk of his summer attempting to reunite with his mother after not seeing her for over 15 years. Recently, he learned that his father died three years ago. To say that he is a courageous young man is an understatement." Indeed, Devonte had courage to burn.
I remember Devonte as a gentle young man, a beautiful spirit who made everyone around him a better person. He had a magnetic smile and a deferential manner. Devonte rarely talked about himself; he genuinely wanted to know how you were doing. He could be quiet – Devonte was a listener, a processor – or he could lead a class discussion about taking action and not complaining about trivial things. He motivated his OneGoal cohort with positivity, and he defined my work as a teacher. Recently, he told me he moved out of Chicago and was renting an apartment in Evansville, Indiana. He planned to attend school at Ivy Tech in the fall and wanted to study business management. Devonte described his new home as ‘quiet and peaceful’ and was proud of his independence. I am proud to have taught and learned from this special young man.
in their effort to attain a college degree.
I'm raising money to support Devonte Randolph's family. Last week, Devonte, a Fellow in my OneGoal cohort, died by a blood clot that traveled from his leg to his lung, causing his heart to stop. At the age of 21, he died in his sleep.
Devonte's family is working to gather necessary funds to bring Devonte's body home, and they need our help. He died in Evansville, Indiana, so his body is being (a) driven from Indiana to Kentucky and then (b) flown from Kentucky to Illinois. If we can just help with the $1088 it costs for the transportation from Indiana to Kentucky, that will relieve significant financial pressure on the family's end. Devonte's funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, August 24. Meantime, any donation you can offer is greatly appreciated.
As I process Devonte’s unfortunate passing, I remember what a plus he was to have in my life. I will miss Devonte – and I loved him dearly. Below is an excerpt from a letter of recommendation that I wrote for him two years ago. Think it’s a fair representation of how great a young man he was.
"Devonte Randolph lives one of the most remarkable stories I have known in 11 years as a Chicago Public Schools teacher. In the spring of his sophomore year, Devonte interviewed for OneGoal and, with his professional attire and sincere desire to improve himself, impressed the panel so much that he became a top recruit. It was evident during the interview that, with the support structure of OneGoal, Devonte was capable of high achievement in high school and college. In the following year, Devonte would live up to this promise – in spite of facing one challenge after another.
"During the summer between junior and senior year of high school, I asked him about his personal statement. ‘I didn’t get to that yet, Mr. Stricker,’ he told me. My gut reaction was disappointment. Then Devonte shared this: ‘I worked all summer. When I wasn’t working, I was looking for my mom.’ Devonte meant that he spent a large chunk of his summer attempting to reunite with his mother after not seeing her for over 15 years. Recently, he learned that his father died three years ago. To say that he is a courageous young man is an understatement." Indeed, Devonte had courage to burn.
I remember Devonte as a gentle young man, a beautiful spirit who made everyone around him a better person. He had a magnetic smile and a deferential manner. Devonte rarely talked about himself; he genuinely wanted to know how you were doing. He could be quiet – Devonte was a listener, a processor – or he could lead a class discussion about taking action and not complaining about trivial things. He motivated his OneGoal cohort with positivity, and he defined my work as a teacher. Recently, he told me he moved out of Chicago and was renting an apartment in Evansville, Indiana. He planned to attend school at Ivy Tech in the fall and wanted to study business management. Devonte described his new home as ‘quiet and peaceful’ and was proud of his independence. I am proud to have taught and learned from this special young man.
Organizer and beneficiary
Andrew Stricker
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Arlene Randolph
Beneficiary