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Help Deniz Secure a Vehicle for Success

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In the summer of 2023, I met an 18-year-old kid, Deniz, through mutual friends. I learned he was looking for work and potentially needed some advice on his current life situation. Little did I know I was going to be humbled by a kid that has faced so much in his young life and yet turned out to be one of the most respectful, polite, and hardest workers I have met within today’s youth.

At a young age, Deniz’s hardship in life started at seven years old when his stepfather died of a heart attack in 2012 while serving in the military. As the family worked through their loss, his mother decided to move his two sisters, Deniz and herself to HI for a new start. After getting established with a condo in Kailua, the family was ready to carry on. However, only a few short years after being in HI, the sibling’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. Their mother did not want anyone to know the family’s plight, and they struggled in silence for a few years, while the cancer eventually took the kids' mother on July 4th, 2022. Deniz lost his mother at the age of 17. Before her death, she instilled the belief in the kids to not tell their troubles, as they fear of the family being split up because two of the siblings were under 18. The kids carried on for a year until members in the community realized the peril of the family. By that time, a couple with a child from the mainland had already preyed on the sibling and moved into their mother’s condo paying no rent. The oldest sibling was forced to sleep on the living room couch. The couple destroyed the house by smoking, not taking care of the dog, and failure to address normal wear and tear. After a year of not paying the mortgage and the bank forcing the sale, there was no equity left in their home and three had to sell and walk away from the mounting debt.

Deniz came to me in 2023, not looking for a handout, but with a desire to work. Having young daughters and needing physical help, I hired Deniz for two weeks to help me move. In those two weeks I learned of Deniz’s story, saw how hard he worked, and the tenacity of the human spirit. He never once asked for anything other than the opportunity to work. In our discussions, I learned that while Deniz was taking care of his mother, he had dropped out of school with no diploma, had no driver licenses, no plans in life and no financial security. The things he had going for him was his indomitable spirit, strong work ethic, manners, and an affable demeanor. Despite this, I quickly saw that without a high school diploma, a car, and a job, Deniz’s future financial security was in jeopardy, and he was heading to be another Hawaii poverty statistic.

Through the encouraging efforts of many, Deniz has found himself on the right track with Hawaii Job Corp. He is working to complete his high school diploma and has managed to earn his Driver License. However, the remaining need is a job. To increase his opportunity for success, a vehicle is needed to get to a job. This GoFundMe is directly focused on helping Deniz get a reliable vehicle, cover the insurance for a year, the registration, inspection, etc., which would allow Deniz the opportunity to find a job and find the financial security that is needed to truly be successful in life.

If we are unable to garner enough funds, I plan to give Deniz the keys to my car before I leave the island. The problem with that plan is that the car is old with high mileage and I feel that I would be leaving Deniz a money pit. Whatever funds are donated, will go to the maintenance costs, etc... I pray that this will at least get Deniz a time to find a job and start his journey as a young adult.
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $50
    • 7 mos
  • Tyler Hook
    • $50
    • 8 mos
  • Jimmy Moore
    • $200
    • 8 mos
  • Bonnie R. Kennedy
    • $100
    • 8 mos
  • Sarah Davis
    • $25
    • 8 mos
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Organizer and beneficiary

Torry H
Organizer
Kailua, HI
Deniz Simmons
Beneficiary

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