Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out today with a humble request for your support in helping my daughter’s dream of visiting Japan become a reality. As many of you know I am a a single dad. For the past seven years, I've been the sole parent in my daughter’s life. Despite the challenges we’ve faced, I strive every day to provide for her and ensure she has every opportunity to enjoy her childhood and receive a strong education, so she can build a brighter future. My daughter is an incredibly bright and dedicated student, and she never asks for much. So when the chance arose for her to join a group of her school peers on a trip to Japan, she was beyond excited. I truly believe this is a well-deserved opportunity for her, and as her father, I am so proud to see her seize this chance for growth and learning. I am kindly asking for your support to help make this trip happen. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a big difference and help create memories that will last a lifetime. I am so grateful for the love and encouragement you have shown us over the years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering a donation and for always being there for us! You can read this request from her own writing below.

"My name is Yaretzi Luna, I am 17 years old and a junior in high school. I am asking for your help. During my sophomore year of high school, I was introduced to an opportunity for a school trip to Japan. The entire trip will last for 9 days during the summer of 2026. I need to come up with $6000 in order to pay for this trip to Japan.

But first, let me tell you about myself and my journey. When it comes to school, I don’t mess around. During 6th grade, I was offered to join my middle school’s SAS program, to which I accepted. This introduced me to Honors classes during my 7th grade year and has prompted me to continue taking them throughout my early high school years.

During my remaining high school years, I plan to continue taking honors classes along with a few AP classes. In addition, I am very studious which causes me to take my work and grades very seriously. I am a straight-A student who has been maintaining a 4.0 GPA since 7th grade all the way up to my sophomore year. However, this hasn’t always been the case. The road towards achieving this goal was definitely a rocky one. I always pressure myself into reaching that A. Lots of times to an unhealthy amount to the point where I completely break down when I receive anything other than an A. Looking back I know it seems silly but that’s me, the overachiever. However, during those times, I have always accepted and realized that one B on my report card is not the end of my world and that it’s okay. I tried my best and that’s all that matters. Although, In the end, before my final report cards, with the help of my determination, I have always managed to work my way back up to that A.

Personality wise, I am overly kind and respectful, but also a reserved and introverted person. Sometimes, my quietness can cause others to mistakenly perceive me as feeling hostile towards them. When in actuality, I would just get nervous; awkwardly not knowing what to say. Therefore, I somewhat isolated myself and had trouble emboldening myself to join extracurricular activities. However, one of my Freshman year teachers saw something in me and had offered me to join their club, DECA. She told me that it could help with my public speaking and leadership skills. I was hesitant but eventually came to the conclusion that this offer was a great opportunity to get involved with my school community. And I was right; I was able to help curate events for the school, go on DECA exclusive field trips, and most importantly get a little bit out of my shell. Some of my most memorable high school experiences are with DECA.

During my Sophomore year, I finally mustered up the courage to join my school's book club. I regret not joining it sooner because I was introduced to some fantastic new books that I wouldn’t have read otherwise. While on the topic, reading is my all time favorite hobby. I have always been a huge bookworm, beginning in elementary school and continuing to this day. On the contrary, I very much loathe parties which is why I don't ask for them on my birthday, nor did I ask for a quienciñera, which is a big deal in Mexican culture.

However, this Japan trip is an opportunity that I am looking forward to and will cherish for a long time since it will be my first time outside of the state. Additionally, going on this trip will allow me to make new friendships, gain independence, and learn about a new culture. I live with only my dad who is trying to help me fund this trip. However, any amount you decide to contribute will help us out plenty and would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for taking the time!"