Support Ava Junior: SIUE Student Recovering from Gun Violence

Our Goal: Helping Ava Heal and Return to Her Studies

On the evening of Saturday, November 2nd, 2025, our friend and loved one, Ava Junior, a bright first-year student at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE), was the victim of a senseless act of gun violence while attending an event with friends in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ava was shot, and the perpetrator has not been identified.

Thankfully, Ava is now home and recovering, but the physical and emotional recovery is a long road, and the resulting financial burden is overwhelming her and her family. We are starting this GoFundMe to help Ava focus entirely on healing and getting back to her education without the stress of mounting medical debt.

The Financial Impact: Medical Bills and Lost Income

Ava's recovery required her to miss two critical weeks of school at SIUE and work. This not only put her behind in her coursework but also resulted in significant lost wages, making it even harder to cover the unexpected expenses.

The initial medical bills from her treatment and hospital stay are substantial. While insurance will cover a portion, the out-of-pocket expenses remaining after insurance are expected to exceed $10,000. This estimate does not even account for the lost wages that she desperately needs to support herself through school.

Our initial goal is to raise $12,000 to cover the estimated remaining medical expenses and to help bridge the gap created by her lost income.

How Your Donation Helps

Every dollar donated will go directly to Ava to cover:

Outstanding Medical Bills: Including hospital fees, doctor visits, and any necessary follow-up care.

Lost Wages: To help cover essential living expenses while she was unable to work.

Academic Support: Helping her acquire any tutoring or resources needed to catch up on the two weeks of classes she missed.

Ava is a dedicated student with a bright future ahead of her. She came to SIUE ready to learn and build her future, and we don't want this terrible incident to derail her dreams.

A Message of Hope

Please consider donating today to support Ava's journey back to health and back to campus. If you are unable to donate, please share this campaign with your network, as spreading the word is just as valuable.

We are so grateful for any support, prayers, and positive messages you can send to Ava. Let's show her that her community stands with her during this difficult time.

#SupportAvaJunior #SIUEFamily #EndGunViolence