Hi everyone,

My name is Mercedes, and I’ve created this fundraiser on behalf my son, Ryder, an 8th grade student at East Middle School, who has been selected to attend an educational trip to Washington, D.C. and Virginia with his class.

Ryder is a dedicated student who finished his first semester with a 4.0 GPA, is currently taking high school Algebra and advanced English, and was honored as Student of the Month in September and a Champion of East for the second quarter. He is passionate about education, history, and has recently developed a strong interest in politics.

While I am exceptionally proud of his accomplishments, I am even prouder of the person he is. There is no greater intelligence than kindness and empathy, and he embodies both wholeheartedly. He is so deserving of this opportunity.

Each student must raise approximately $4200 total to attend. To make this trip possible, Ryder has already applied for a small scholarship through the program, fundraised $1,700, and we have also paid a portion ourselves. This trip will allow him to experience U.S. history firsthand through visits to historic landmarks, museums, and national monuments.

Any donation or share helps bring Ryder closer to this goal. His personal letter explaining what this opportunity means to him is included on this page.

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement.