Hi!

This fundraiser is a last resort; frankly, it's embarrassing, but the University of Southern California has left me with no alternative.

After being offered a prestigious Annenberg Fellowship in March on the terms that the school would be able to acquire a professional visa that they would sponsor, the school procrastinated and ultimately decided to drop my case at the beginning of July. As a result, the fellowship valued at close to $40,000 was revoked from my student account. I had to drop a summer class and rearrange my fall schedule, which meant missing out on formative educational experiences.

Furthermore, the School of Cinematic Arts requires scholarship applications and associated scripts to be submitted before May 1 in the calendar year. Still, announcements have yet to be made on many of those scholarships, leaving students like me with little to no understanding of the financial burden associated with continued attendance at school.

Finally, as a visa holder in the US, loans are not an option for me. And so, to enroll in the semester, I have to have money that will actually support the monthly payments I need to make.

So why should you invest in me, and what am I raising money for?

First, I must acknowledge that many of you have already supported me as you contributed significant amounts towards tuition for my first year. I am grateful for this support and investment in my talent and growth. As a result of my hard work in the first year, I completed more than 2/3 of my degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA and was announced as a Semi-Finalist in the prestigious Humanitas College Drama Awards for my script A Man's A Man.

Perhaps more importantly, I have continued to work two jobs as a college audition coach and an Executive Assistant to the Director of a Not for Profit organization. Any money solicited from this campaign supports the funds I earn on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis that support the cost of living in Los Angeles and the cost of attendance at USC.

Tuition is due next Friday, 8.19, and I am hopeful that I can make significant progress toward raising funds that will make year two viable, rewarding and (if expensive) less crippling before that payment is due.

If you are not in a position to give, I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and would ask that you share or push in the direction of people who may be willing to invest in my burgeoning talent.

With greatest thanks!

MCG