Empower Low-Income Students with IT Skills

Hi, my name is Tom,

I'm a 62 year-old retired Air Force Veteran who grew up in a low income neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. My last five years in the US Air Force, I became a stand up instructor teaching young adults. I found a way to overcome many obstacles and barriers to achieve a Computer Sciences degree. After a challenging and rewarding career in Information Technology, I would now like to begin teaching IT Prep Skills to low income students for free. The money from this GoFundMe campaign will be used to start a non-profit called IT Prep Skills.

IT Prep Skills Mission Statement:

"Our mission is to empower low-income students with the essential IT prep skills needed to succeed in the digital age, providing free access to quality training, mentorship, and resources to unlock their full potential and open doors to future career opportunities."

"A Path to a Brighter Future"

Meet Jasmine. She's a bright 17-year-old from a low-income neighborhood, full of potential and eager to change her life, but the opportunities simply aren’t there. Her school doesn’t offer much beyond the basics when it comes to tech education, and her family struggles to make ends meet, let alone afford expensive coding boot camps or IT certifications. Jasmine’s dream of becoming a cybersecurity specialist feels like a distant, unreachable goal.

Now meet Tyler, a 19-year-old who’s been working part-time jobs to help support his family since his father lost his job. He has always been fascinated by computers, fixing old laptops and helping friends troubleshoot issues. He knows that IT could be his ticket to a better life, but without any formal training, he feels stuck in a cycle that doesn’t allow him to grow.

Jasmine and Tyler are just two of the countless students from low-income communities who are hungry for opportunities but lack the resources to pursue them. In today’s world, tech skills are not just valuable—they’re essential. But for many, like Jasmine and Tyler, the cost of education, the lack of mentorship, and the absence of access to technology make it feel like their dreams are out of reach.

This campaign is about changing that.

We are raising funds to provide free IT Prep Skills training for low-income students like Jasmine and Tyler, so they can gain the skills they need to pursue meaningful careers in IT. Your generous donation will provide:

Free IT training courses: covering essential skills such as coding, networking, cybersecurity, and more.

Mentorship and guidance: to support students as they navigate the complexities of career development.

Certification fees: to help students earn industry-recognized credentials that open doors to well-paying jobs.

Technology and resources: so students have access to the tools they need to succeed in a digital-first world.

For Jasmine, this program means the chance to not only learn the skills she needs but to be mentored by experts who believe in her potential. For Tyler, it’s the opportunity to stop working dead-end jobs and start building a career that will support his family while allowing him to thrive.

These are not just training programs. They are gateways to career opportunities, financial independence, and a brighter future for students who have been too often overlooked.

Every dollar you donate helps us bridge the gap between the dream of a better life and the reality of achieving it. Your contribution will empower these young individuals to unlock their potential and break the cycle of poverty, one skill at a time.

Together, we can make sure that students like Jasmine and Tyler don’t have to let their circumstances define their futures. Thank you for being a part of this journey.