Dom to Harvard!

Dominique Donette is an individual that epitomizes all that is good about the human race; she has truly lived a life putting others before herself. Despite challenges in her childhood, Dom was untainted, remaining pure and kind. She was born in California Federal Prison and due to her unstable childhood,  changed schools 26 times . Sociologists say young women like Dom have trouble learning, and end up in a cycle of drug use and abuse. Statistically, people like Dom don’t graduate from high school. Dom not only graduated from high school, she attended UC Berkeley afterwards on a full-ride.  While at Cal, she took out over $35,000 in loans to help her family. After graduation, while the rest of us pursued self-serving careers in law, business, and advertising, Dom pursued non-profit and education, continuing on a path of public service by moving down to New Orleans to work in the city of New Orleans post-Katrina.  

Over the years, I watched Dom, an extremely brilliant, talented, and hard-working individual, scrap by through life on a meager income. At first, I didn’t understand why someone so smart would settle for such low-paying jobs. I later recognized the pattern: she was focused on working in communities with community members to make change.

This Fall Dom will be attending Harvard to pursue a Masters degree in Education. Her goal? To come back to California and pursue education equity for all. Due to the academic rigor of her particular program, she will not be able to work. I started this campaign to help her with as many of her expenses as possible. Your sponsorships will help keep her attention and time on her work and her passion, something that will benefit our communities and youth in the long run. She’ll be taking out a hefty student loan for her tuition so this campaign is geared towards the necessities she’ll need to survive such as food, housing, and supplies. Monetary donations are NOT the only way to contribute to this campaign. In-kind gifts would also be greatly appreciated.

Please think of this as an investment rather than charity. Whether you know Dominique or have never met her, I guarantee investing in her is an investment in many others. Please help me send #DomToHarvard!

Thank you so much for visiting my campaign. Feel free to ping me if you have any questions or need clarification.

Sincerely,
Natasia Malaihollo

Reach Me: [email redacted] 
Share Dom's Story on Social Media with the #DomToHarvard

If you'd like to give to Dominique Directly and avoid the wepay fees, please send money via PayPal using the email [email redacted]  or contact me for personal bank information.


Use of Funds


Dom will take out loans for tuition and fees in the amount of $35,280, anything extra would be appreciated, however, these are the necessities. Please email [email redacted] if you'd like to mail an in-kind donation directly instead of cash.

Dom Through the Years

[Summer in New Orleans volunteering with fellow Cal students]


[7 Months after Katrina. Gutting homes with People's Hurricane Relief Fund]


[Volunteer teaching in Ghana with fellow Cal Bears]


[Facilitating a social justice-based dance class in New Orleans]


[Final dance performance at Cal]


#DomToHarvard
PayPal: [email redacted]