Nathan Ramos--College Fundraiser Part II

This is the second fundraiser we have conducted for Nathan Ramos. This is why we are doing this a second time.

Many of you have already contributed toward Nathan's school expenses six months ago and for that we are grateful. We are doing this second fundraiser because the $3,055 you raised in the first go-round went a long way toward partially paying Nate's tuition for the Fall semester. You also helped buy him a car--a 2005 Nissan Sentra with 134,000 miles--to commute from Newark to Paramus each day, as well as paying for books and other college fees. But, additional funds will be needed for the Fall semester, however, and for his second year at Bergen Community College.

For those of you whom we are contacting for the first time, a short background on Nathan. Nathan Ramos is an intelligent, hardworking graduate of Barringer High School in Newark who desperately wants to attend and graduate college, but lacks the means and family support to do so. He was accepted to six colleges, but chose BCC, a two-year school, which is the gem of the New Jersey community college system, because it has the robust support system for students from high schools that did not prepare graduates well for college and was the most viable financially. He wants to major in law enforcement and sociology and be part of a new generation of law enforcement officers to change community policing. His first semester, he is taking a basic skills course, English, Sociology and 20th Century American History.

I have known Nate since he was 10 years old. I coach baseball in the North Newark Little League and have coached him every year since he was 10.

Nate is a very talented baseball pitcher who has the talent to be a top-of-the rotation college pitcher if given the chance. For those of you who care, at 5'9", he throws a fastball in the mid-eighties and has four others pitches which he throws with pinpoint accuracy and control. The kid can pitch and handle a bat.

Far more important, he is a kind, respectful empathetic young man with a high emotional I.Q., a kid with leadership qualities who deserves the opportunity to go to college and contribute to society. Without your help, he will not have that opportunity. He starts school in three weeks.

Nathan was denied state scholarship money because his mother has not filed tax returns and works only sporadically. NJ HESSA, the organization that issues state scholarships, denied him scholarship money for that reason. The agency requires parental tax returns for household income verification and its requirements are inflexible. It will not accept the student's tax return or income stubs and at 18, he is not eligible for emancipation.

We were able to bridge the gap by applying for and receiving local scholarships, but there is still a tuition and expense gap for the second semester and for next year. He now works at a fast-food place in Newark frying chicken wings to help pay for his schooling and is looking to upgrade his job. He is also looking for an apartment to share with a teammate in Bergen County which will reduce his tuition as an in-county resident, but that won't happen until later in the Fall. Even with his part-time job, he will need help with rent, gas, food, insurance and other expenses. Plus, his family plans to return to Puerto Rico, which will soon it necessary for him to find a roommate and a place of his own.

Many of you were generous the first time around, and we thank you for that. But Nathan will need additional financial support. We appreciate and thank you in advance for whatever help--or additional help--you can contribute.