Help Luka Build His Bright Future

Hi, my name is Amaya Vinod, and I set up this fundraiser for my best friend Luka Kokochashvili. Luka is about to embark on his first year of college at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he is also going to be playing NCAA basketball.

This beautiful friendship actually started with Luka's older brother Sandro who went to Oakwood, the same high school as my brother and I. He is an international student from Georgia who at the time was playing basketball and studying at our school. We were asked to host Sandro temporarily while a more permanent home for him was being searched for. However, my family fell in love with him immediately and decided we wanted to keep him till he finished high school. Sandro was with us for almost two years and became like a brother to me. After his first year with us, his brother Luka also joined our school. We couldn't host Luka that year but he became very close with our family too.

Luka and I were both Juniors at Oakwood at the time. From the first day we met, I knew that Luka and I were going to be best friends. Luka's personality just lights up a room, you will never see him not smiling or making someone laugh so hard their stomach hurts. After his first year at Oakwood, he moved in with me and my family. If you knew us you would know that we were inseparable. We went everywhere and did everything together. He truly is my best friend, and it breaks my heart that we will be going away to college so far from each other. However, we have formed this amazing connection with Sandro and Luka's beautiful family back in Georgia which assures me that both of the boys will be in our lives forever.

Aside from the whole back story, the reason for this GoFundMe is to raise money for Luka's first year at Maryville University. Luka has worked incredibly hard throughout his high school career to be able to reach a higher level in his basketball game. But unfortunately, he struggled through the college recruitment process because most universities in the US are reluctant to provide international students with any sort of financial aid, no matter the circumstance.

Help me raise 15k to help support Luka's first year of university here in the States. Even the smallest contribution can make a substantial difference. Your support will enable him to pursue his education and passion for basketball. I have also attached links to one of his highlight videos!

Luka’s Senior Year Pre-Season Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dcDN-PBSyU&t=178s