Hello! My name is Kaitlyn Trainor and I am raising money for a once in a life time trip to the British Virgin Islands through the Lifeworks International program.  The program provides teenagers the chance to travel outside of the country and help others in a community other than their own.  On this trip, we will help reserve and plant mangroves in the BVIs, we will tag and release sea turtles, we will tutor local children, and we will clean the beaches.  This community service will benefit the BVI community. I applied for and was awarded a partial scholarship; sadly, the scholarship does not cover the full expense of the experience. The money I will raise will be used to help fund this life-changing trip. Any extra money will be donated to one or more charities. I would like to meet this goal as soon as possible because the scholarship could become unavailable.

Throughout my freshman and sophomore year at high school, I have volunteered at various organizations. I have volunteered for the Family Safety Center, Big Brotrhers Big Sisters, and at Holy Names Garden. I have recently become a member of the Wilson Society, an organization that requires teenagers to create their own community service project. Two of my fellow peers and I created a project called Hands for Growth. This project allows middle school students to grow fresh produce at Holy Names Garden, located in North Memphis. All of the fresh produce that is grown goes to families who cannot always afford fresh produce.  Through my service work in Memphis, I have learned that community service is something I am passionate about and want to expand on.


 It would mean so much to me to raise this money. This program will give me the chance to put a stamp in the passport which I still need to obtain. I have never left the United States, but it is something I have always desired to do. I believe it is important to have cultural experiences away from the comforts of home and hotels. This amazing trip will allow me to expand my horizons and see how others live throughout the world. Although traveling outside of the United States is very important to me, helping others is my primary goal. Since I was little, I have loved helping others. I have grown a community garden in my hometown, I have donated money to a local hospital, and I have attended a youth group mission trip.

On this trip I will get the chance to help a community other than my own and experience travel as never before. This is the most rewarding opportunity I can imagine: I will have the chance to travel, meet new people, experience a new culture, do what I love, and maybe even discover a potential career. I will be forever grateful to those who help me take this once in a life time opportunity.

Thank you,
Kaitlyn Trainor