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Kayla's Culinary Dream

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​​We invite you to join us in helping Kayla stay in school!

 Kayla Thompson grew up in a community where only 12% of the adults have college degrees and yet her goal throughout her high school years was to prepare for college. She worked hard and graduated from high school with a 4.0 and participated in many school activities such as: National Honor Society, ROTC, Student Council and Marching Band. She has been an active member of her church, a leader among her youth group and a volunteer at Kids Club. Kayla also worked as a camp counselor at Crestfield Camp and Conference Center. This summer she discovered that the gap between her financial aid and the cost of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Culinary Arts Program is $24,000 and she does not have anyone to cosign for her to get loans, so members of her church family at the First Presbyterian Church of Duquesne have helped her get started by donating $4,000.

 Kayla will need $9,000 to finish her fall 2017 and spring 2018 semesters and $11,000 for the summer and fall of 2018 to complete the culinary arts program.
  
We would truly appreciate your help raising the $20,000 to enable her to stay in school.

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A poem for you…
 
Everybody’s got a blank page, a story that they’re writing,

Wanting to accomplish goals and dreams, and memories to delight in.

Not understanding the trouble that we will see on some days,

Because we expect it to be easy, practically handed to us always.

 There’s this girl that I know, she’s truly such an amazing soul,

She’s been through some troubling things that on her future, it started to take its toll.

Her accomplishments outweigh her laziness,

Her actions continue to prove faithfulness!

She’s ready for the battle we call life, even though things are such a mess,

But falling down and getting back up doesn’t prove her to be any less.

You constantly tell her no, no, NO!

But in her mind, she won’t allow those negative comments to go.

She’s got this fire inside, something that a lot of people are afraid of,

She’s never been afraid to show others exactly what she’s made of.

 Such a beautiful mind, body and soul,

God never held back from showing her lifes role.

Scholar student, she’s got multiple endeavors,

4.0 grad student, she never said whatever.

She never made excuses, she never took the short path,

Although Fed Loan made it hard for her to seriously do the math.

Her poor neighborhood gave her ambition,

She gets uneasy with the thought of her tuition.

Nobody to co-sign that loan for her,

Fears that college will be just a distant blur.

She has the grace of God surrounding her each and every day,

Proof is that her church family tries to help her pave the way.

Continue to keep your eyes on the prize young lady,

They will learn to see your potential, hopefully soon…maybe?

Regardless if they see it, God knows your actions and your heart,

He will make a way for you young lady, and won’t allow you and your dreams to be apart.

Your……….

AMBITION
KNOWLEDGE
POWER
FAITHFULNESS
STRENGTH
COURAGE
COMPASSION
WORTHINESS...

All of it shows your aura and character,

Keep shining in the darkest places and learn to conquer that fear in you!

 I have faith that even though I am older, one day I can be just like you,

And I know that one day,

they will see all of this beauty too.

               Love,

Jazzy Marie
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Donations 

  • Carole Zoric
    • $25 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Reverend Judi Slater
Organizer
Duquesne, PA
Antoinette Thompson
Beneficiary

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