Support Vincent Brewer's Future at College Prep, DeMatha!

My name is Vincent Brewer, and I’m writing to you because I need some help. Before I get into all that, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I’m 14 years old and currently in 8th grade. I go to St. Peter’s School in Waldorf, Maryland. I have four siblings, a mom, and a stepdad, and my dream is to become an NBA player so I can take care of my family. Maybe that’s something a lot of kids say as they grow up, but most don’t truly understand the sacrifice, hard work, dedication, and mindset it takes to rise above everyone else. I am also very smart. I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout middle school.

Most kids are okay with doing the bare minimum, but I was raised to understand that the bare minimum won’t get you anywhere if you want to do something big in this world.

I’m originally from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, but I’ve lived in many places because my stepdad is in the Air Force. Five years ago, I moved to live in the United Kingdom with my family. That experience was amazing; I got to meet people from different backgrounds and make memories I’ll never forget. Eventually, we moved to the DMV area (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) right as I started 8th grade.

This year, I finally got to play basketball competitively in the U.S., and I’ve played in two different school leagues. I played for a private school team that went undefeated the entire season and won the championship. I was honored to win the 3-Point Shooter competition and MVP of the entire league. During the public school season, while there weren’t official awards, my coach told me I was one of the best players he’s seen at my age in the DMV. We made it to the championship but lost. I wasn’t mad; instead, I knew it just meant I had more work to do.

Since then, I’ve been grinding harder than ever. I recently applied to three high schools to help me pursue my dream of playing Division I basketball and maybe even making it to the NBA. I applied to DeMatha Catholic High School, St. Mary’s Ryken High School, and Gonzaga College High School. I was accepted into DeMatha and Ryken but didn’t get into Gonzaga. That’s okay, though; DeMatha has always been my top choice. I only applied to the others as backups.

DeMatha is known for producing elite athletes and academic scholars. They’re ranked in the top 25 nationwide for both basketball and football. More than just sports, they teach you how to be a leader on and off the court, and I’ve been called a leader my whole life. Teachers, coaches, and my parents all tell me the same thing: I have the potential to be a catalyst for change in this world.

But getting to where I am hasn’t been easy. One of the biggest reasons I work so hard is because of what happened to my biological father. He passed away in 2016 when I was about six years old. He was born and raised in Pine Ridge, SD, and was an incredible basketball player and a true leader. He had dreams of taking care of us, but he made some poor choices along the way that changed my life forever. He’s the reason I want to make it and to be the best.

Now, here’s where I need your help. The tuition for DeMatha is around $20,000 a year, and my family just can’t afford it. I’m planning to work this summer, but we’ll still come up short. So I’m asking for your support. If you could help at all with my tuition, I promise you won’t regret it. I’ll continue to work hard on and off the court. DeMatha will help me reach my goals and teach me the tools I need to succeed in life as a man and as a leader.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It would mean the world to me.

Sincerely,

Vincent Brewer IV