Empower Resilience: Help Michael Thrive Today

Supporting Michael's Journey to Success

Some of you may know our family's unique story, while others may not. We've navigated eight years as a family of six, facing countless challenges, but also immeasurable joy. Our commitment to providing our children with the care and support they need has been unwavering. In short, we became unplanned parents to four kids, after a series of tragedies, with no financial support due to our choice to seek custody, and eventually adoption, privately in the best interest of the kids. This decision was made in order to keep them together and out of another round of foster care after years of unbearable trauma. When he was four years old Michael and his younger sister were passengers of their bio dads in a head on crash, caused by drug use, that killed two people. The trauma was not limited to the car accident. Several months later the kids experienced the death of their infant sister - leading to us being awarded emergency custody.

While our four children have presented a variety of needs at each stage of development, the current need has found us enrolling Michael, our 14-year-old, at Hargrave Military Academy. This decision was not made lightly, but in an attempt to ensure he has all of the support he needs from an academic, athletic, character, and spiritual perspective. Hargrave was a prayer come true for our family, and Michael has quickly begun to excel (his lowest grade is an A-, and he's part of the JV soccer team—branching out and trying new things!). Prior to Hargrave, Michael was asked to leave his middle school and was placed in a residential treatment facility due to concerning behavior and the need to address his traumatic early childhood. He was transferred in and out of three different mental health facilities, from California to Tennessee, in an attempt to properly address his needs. While a military academy wasn't top of mind when we began this journey, we realized more therapy may not be the best mode of healing for him. Instead, he needed access to a level of normalcy, and the sports he is so passionate about - while still being held accountable for his actions. He is now surrounded by men of integrity and a tight-nit community dedicated to helping boys become men of great character.

Michael's Story:

If you don't have the pleasure of knowing him, let me introduce you to a magnificent young man. Michael is a phenomenal son, brother, friend, and teammate. He shows compassion, kindness, and support to his siblings and friends. Michael is a talented athlete and excels in baseball, but naturally picks up any sport he's willing to try. Michael is silly and often has inside jokes with teachers and coaches. He cheers the loudest for his teammates and will rotate off the field in order for less skilled kids to get in some playing time. He loves our collection of dogs, fishing, climbing, cutting down trees, and helping on our construction projects. He even helped roof the cottage we are currently living in. I can't stomach climbing a ladder to the edge of the roof, but he easily navigated a 12:12 pitch with determination and skill.

While he's an amazing young man, his exposure to early childhood trauma is something he struggles deeply with. We strongly believe in the power of therapy and a variety of scientifically backed healing modalities, with that said, we understand how individualized the healing journey is for each of our children - and have seen an immediate impact on his self-esteem at Hargrave. The accountability, character building, self-esteem boosting and meticulous preparation for the future Hargrave Military Academy offers him is unmatched. There is simply no way we can provide this enriching of an experience for him outside of this setting.

Financial Need:

The cost of attending Hargrave Military Academy is significant, and we are seeking your support to help offset these expenses. Your donation will directly contribute to Michael's tuition and fees, allowing him to continue his journey toward a brighter future.

How You Can Help:

Donate: Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Share: Please share this fundraiser with your friends and family.

Volunteer: If you have the skills or time, consider volunteering with Foster Love, an organization dedicated to supporting children in foster care.

Thank You!

We do not take this ask for support lightly. We've wrestled with coming to our friends, family, and colleagues, but over the course of his projected five years at Hargrave, we are facing a $250,000+ investment, and we need some time to establish proper savings accounts and funds for the next few years of his enrollment. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and support. Your kindness will have a lasting impact on Michael's life.

If now is not a good time for you to donate, or even if it is, please consider sharing this link and helping us spread the word.

Any funds raised above our need, that do not go directly to his tuition, will be donated to Foster Love, an organization committed to improving the lives of kids in foster care and those who are aging out of the system.