My name is Meredith DeGroot, and I am a 2nd-year Culinary Arts student at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa.

I am raising funds to attend the James Beard Foundation culinary program which I was just selected for. The program will take place this fall at Florence University of the Arts in Florence, Italy, and the James Beard Foundation in New York. I am raising money to help with airfare, lodging, and tuition.

I am a full-time college student working three part-time jobs: grocery store, restaurant, and bakery. I have been working since I was 14 and am paying my way through school and life.

Any assistance is appreciated and will help me achieve the objective of gaining knowledge of culinary arts and baking, to eventually open my own bakery.