Vanessa go to NYLF Pathways to STEM

Hi! My name is Vanessa, I’m 10 years old and my dream is to become a neurosurgeon! As you know, it takes a lot of schooling to become a neurosurgeon, so to get a jump start at Christmas, I actually asked for a 3D anatomical model, medical terminology flash cards, and even a suture kit!

Recently, I was nominated by my teacher to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum “Pathways to STEM camp” this summer from July 8-13, 2023.  I was one of only a few select students from my school to earn this nomination from my teacher for this advanced education private event.  At this week long STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathmatics) camp, hosted at Northwestern University outside of Seattle, Washington, I will be individually guided in my professional career by experts like Dr. Rebecca Smith-Coggins of Stanford University Emergency Medicine department.  She has designed a special program for attendees called “When Care is Hours Away.” 

I am passionate about attending this program, in fact, I can think of nothing else! 

I urgently ask for your help in paying for the $4,671 for the program itself, my travel expenses, uniform costs and equipment.  No matter what donation you feel comfortable giving to support me, all levels are important to make my goal a reality at 90% net proceeds to project.  Remember, a gift of $275 over 12 months would mean your daily sacrafice would be $.80, less than a Starbucks coffee or my Grandpa’s coca-cola fix/day!  In the meantime,  I will also be working around my community to additionally earn the money so we can all celebrate together at the end.  Knowledge is power and I’m so blessed to have so many adults invest in me on a daily basis - as Mom says, “It takes a village!”

Your Donation Will:

• Help me grow my Leadership skills, and set me in this beginning pathway to success, in setting high goals and then working hard to achieve them by becoming a Neurosurgeon.
• Teach me the importance of responsibility, accountability and gratitude; that gifts you make today are your sacrifices to help me succeed with my dreams.  Someday I too will pay it forward by helping others’ with their dreams.
• Validates to others that you “totally believe” in the hard work and dreams of today’s Yourh; that you choose to prioritize your investments in a brighter future by developing Leadership for America so we can competitively lead the world.
• Attests to the power and importance of human networking in team success, especially when virtuous people don’t care who gets the credit!  

To help motivate people to sponsor, we are offering some small incentives for you!  

Gifts of $50 or more will receive a spot of my t-shirt that I wear to camp that says:

#Futureneurosurgeon 

On the front with names of people who have sponsored me either on the back or all over the shirt (Mom is the design team for that and she says it’s a work in progress but she promises it will look cool!). 

Gifts of over $100 will receive a reusable shopping bag that says:

“I support girls in STEM”

As well as have their name on the t-shirt I wear to camp.

Gifts of over $200 will receive a super awesome t-shirt as well as the bag and their name on my shirt.  The shirt will also say “I support girls in stem.”

And this is a promise, every single person who gives will know that they have had a direct hand in my future!  It warms my heart every time someone gives because they are not just giving to support me, but they are right there with me sacrificing their time and money for the future success of our world.  Thank you all so much for your love and support!

Love, Vanessa