Helping a student to succeed and live at college

Hi, I'm Roberta, and I am fundraising for a very needy student so he can experience success as he continues his education. Joe has recently graduated from the Alternative high school I work at. He is an energetic, optimistic young man, yet his background and current financial situation could make it extremely difficult for him to succeed. Although Joe was extremely pleased to be accepted to a college in Providence, the challenge is he has nowhere to live. If I am able to raise these funds, Joe could live on campus, concentrate on his studies and feel secure.

Joe has endured multiple traumas in his childhood, lived in dangerous neighborhoods and is challenged by ADHD. His mother is physically disabled with extremely limited income and is currently living in a place with another disabled person where there is no room for Joe.

This is part of an essay that Joe wrote in an effort to appeal for support at college.

"My name is Joseph... I am a 17-year-old soon-to-be graduate of Ocean Tides School in Providence, RI. A resident of Westerly, I currently live with close friends and look forward to living on a college campus next year. If this dream came true, I would be the first in my family to attend and graduate from a university. Further, I wish to attend a 4-year university and major in both business administration and mechanical engineering. My intention is to live up to my potential and be a contributing member of society. To this end, I am hoping to receive guidance and support from the Talent Development office for class selection, financial aid and a work/study arrangement. Without these interventions, my dream will be difficult to attain. However, I am no stranger to adversity. I have devoted myself to my mother, who is ill with Lupus, Raynaud's Syndrome, and Thrombosis. As a result, she has been unable to work and we grew up-literally- poor. She cannot adequately provide for me. I have been homeless, lived in hotels and helped my mother cope with her grief at my other brother's passing. In addition, my father is in prison and I have had no contact with him, leaving me with no positive male role model in my life. I know that getting an education is the only way to change the path I have been on. Through these experiences, I have been tested in all levels of my being. Each experience has given me renewed strength to push forward as I become a young adult. I see nothing stopping me from achieving my goals of a college education except my financial situation.

During the school year, Joe worked on weekends, and this summer is working full-time to earn money to pay for rent and upcoming college expenses. Between scholarships from his high school and college, Joe's tuition will be covered. It is his housing that needs to be paid for.

Thank you for your consideration. Please contact me with any questions you have.