Help Lylith Attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.

Hi, my name is Megan McElrath, and I’m fundraising for my daughter Lylith, an 8th-grade student with a big heart, a bright mind, and an even brighter future.

Lylith has been nominated by her teacher to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC) in Washington, D.C. next summer — a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience designed to inspire young people to step into leadership roles in their schools and communities.

During the weeklong program, Lylith will join other outstanding students from across the country to explore leadership, teamwork, and civic responsibility. She’ll participate in hands-on simulations like the "Voices of Change" project, meet real-world leaders, and visit some of our nation’s most important landmarks — including the U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, National Archives, and Smithsonian Museums. Students will walk the same streets where history was made and learn how to shape the future through service and action.

Lylith works incredibly hard in school and beyond. She lives with ADHD but never lets that stop her — she’s focused, determined, and full of passion for learning. She’s a Girl Scout, volunteers with the Kappa Delta Sorority at W&M College, and has a deep interest in law, criminal justice, art, science, and humanitarian work. Her dream is to one day serve others through a career in law or community leadership.

Unfortunately, this opportunity comes with significant costs that our family simply can’t cover on our own right now. Over the past year, we’ve faced several hardships — nearly losing my mother to a rare disease, my husband’s diabetes diagnosis, and the loss of our beloved granddad in February 2025. While we’ve stayed strong and supportive as a family, times have been tough financially.

The total cost of this program is:

$3,408.00 for tuition and accommodations

$508.00 for travel insurance

$250.00 for gas to drive her to and from Washington, D.C.

Our goal is to raise $4,000.00 to cover these expenses and make this dream a reality. We are required to RSVP and pay the deposit by December 10th, 2025. All funds are due by May 1, 2026.

Any contribution — no matter how small — will help Lylith experience this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and lead. Thank you for believing in her potential and helping us open doors to her future.

With gratitude,

Megan & Lylith McElrath ❤️