My son Stephen is in his sophomore year at New England College, majoring in Business.  I had always thought his college tuition was safely invested in real estate until shortly before he left for college.  Both his father and I lost our jobs during the Great Recession --he as a salesperson for a construction company and me as a teacher for a small private school.  His Dad never found a new job and I struggled financially as a substitute teacher for the county public school system.  Only weeks before Stephen graduated from high school, his father passed away unexpectantly.  I discovered that he had slowly taken out all the equity in the house --Stephen's college savings!  Later that summer, weeks before Stephen left for college, our family was evicted.  Though I continue to work every day for the school system, I do not earn enough to even afford rent, much less the portion of Stephen's tuition that is not covered by grants and loans.  I had always promised Stephen that if he got the grades to get into college that I would take care of the funding.  He cannot return for his 4th semester --one week away, unless he pays a significant chunk of his $8,627 balance.  This is my last ditch effort to make good on my promise to him --and ensure that he remains in college --an experience he worked for in high school and one that I believe he deserves, despite the fact that his single working mother is impoverished.

Donations raised on this site will go directly to Stephen's account at New England College in Heniker, New Hampshire.

Blessings,
Lisa

P.S.  Please forward to friends and family!