Parents to see daughters graduation
Donation protected
Hi guys! My name is Amanda Risher. I just turned 18 years old and I am going to graduate high school in about 2 months (June 9th)! I have a job at Panera, I volunteer at Outpost Summer Camp as a junior councilor, and I would absolutely love to be a teacher someday!
A little bit on my background, I grew up in Florida with my parents, my older brother Jimmy, and my younger sister Kaylee. My mom and dad split when I was about 4 years old, but they still get along for me and my siblings sake. Kaylee and I have the same dad, but my brother has a different dad. When Jimmy was 13, his father died and Jimmy took it very hard. He turned to drugs and alcohol. Jimmy was never the same. That’s when I started to feel like I was losing my big brother. Soon after, he escalated to fights, gangs, arrests, and other terrible things. It was very scary seeing him come home bloody and bruised up because of who he associated himself with. As for my younger sister Kaylee, she wasn’t doing any of that stuff, however she was showing the same character traits that Jimmy showed at her age. So when I was in fifth grade, I began hanging out with Jimmy and his friends. It freaked my parents out so much, that my mom and dad spoke, and decided to call my aunt (who lives all the way across the country in California) and ask her if she and her husband would be willing to take me in and protect me from that environment. My aunt, being the most caring and loving person I know, said of course. When my mom asked me if I would like to move to California with Aunt Karen, I wasn’t exactly sure what she meant. I was only 11 so I wasn’t able to fully grasp what she was asking me. So I said yes.
At first, it hurt me; I couldn’t understand why they would send away their “best child”. I felt unwanted. As I grew up a little bit, I realized that sending me here was one of the hardest decisions they have ever had to make. They loved me so much, that they were willing to give me up in order for me to have the best shot at having a future, then when I would have had staying in Florida with them. It was very hard at first because I was in fifth grade, on a second grade level. I had a lot of catching up to do, in more ways than just one. Looking back, that was the best thing that has ever happened to me! I will be the first one in my immediate family to graduate high school and go to college! WOOO!!! I am also the AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) President at my High School. AVID is a program that helps get students who come from a difficult background, into college. They teach you what you need to do in High School in order to succeed in college, and give you lifelong tips to help you survive life after High School. Most kids in AVID will be the first in their family to go to a four-year university. It’s an honor to be the President of AVID and to help students in this amazing program.
I have been back to Florida 3 times in the last 7 years, so I am grateful that I got to see them again. Jimmy has been working on making something of himself. He still struggles with a few things however he has recognized that he needs to make a change, that way he can be a better influence on Kaylee.
I am asking for $7,000 for at least my parents to come out and see me graduate. My dad only made about $28,000 last year. He lives in a rundown home, he walks 2 hours to work and 2 hours home every day he works because he cannot afford a car. Every paycheck goes to bills and child support (which he will brag for hours upon hours about. He is so proud that he pays child support and even though he can’t be there for us physically all of the time, he is honored to be able to say he does pay for his kids.) My dad is my best friend. I can stay up for hours and talk to him about anything and everything. I love him so much. As for my mom, she works as a maid, so she as well, does not make very good money. She has to get welfare, food stamps, and help from friends just to make sure Kaylee has a roof over her head and food in her stomach.
My parents cannot afford living, much less plane tickets to come to California to watch their child graduate. We think it is extremely important to get Kaylee out here as well, that way she can see me walk across that stage and get my diploma. All Kaylee knows, or has ever seen, are her friends and family dropping out. I want to prove to her that if I can do it, then she can do it to. I think it is so, so, SO important for her to see this. My brother as well. Even though most people would see him as this lowlife thug, my brother means everything to me. He would be so proud if he saw me accomplish what he wasn’t able to do himself.
It would mean the world to me, and my family, if you would please help us to raise at least $7,000 for my mom, dad, older brother, and younger sister to fly out to California to see me graduate.
Your $7,000 would be going towards:
- 4 plane tickets from Florida, to California, and back (so a round trip)
- A hotel room for about 5 days
- Food for the 4 of them
- A possible rental car (if I get my license before June 9th, then I would be able to drive them in my car instead of having to rent one)
- And hopefully (if there is money left over) I’d like to take them around San Diego and do some leisure activities. (None of them have ever been to California. My siblings have never even been on a plane!)
California is much more expensive than Florida, so if you would be able to help us by donating just a little bit a money for them to come out and see their daughter graduate, you would give us something that none of us would ever forget.
God Bless all of you guys for even checking out GoFundMe and for helping people in need. Everyone has a different reason for needing some help, and the fact that you are even taking the time to read someone’s story, means a lot.
Have a great day!
-Amanda Risher
A little bit on my background, I grew up in Florida with my parents, my older brother Jimmy, and my younger sister Kaylee. My mom and dad split when I was about 4 years old, but they still get along for me and my siblings sake. Kaylee and I have the same dad, but my brother has a different dad. When Jimmy was 13, his father died and Jimmy took it very hard. He turned to drugs and alcohol. Jimmy was never the same. That’s when I started to feel like I was losing my big brother. Soon after, he escalated to fights, gangs, arrests, and other terrible things. It was very scary seeing him come home bloody and bruised up because of who he associated himself with. As for my younger sister Kaylee, she wasn’t doing any of that stuff, however she was showing the same character traits that Jimmy showed at her age. So when I was in fifth grade, I began hanging out with Jimmy and his friends. It freaked my parents out so much, that my mom and dad spoke, and decided to call my aunt (who lives all the way across the country in California) and ask her if she and her husband would be willing to take me in and protect me from that environment. My aunt, being the most caring and loving person I know, said of course. When my mom asked me if I would like to move to California with Aunt Karen, I wasn’t exactly sure what she meant. I was only 11 so I wasn’t able to fully grasp what she was asking me. So I said yes.
At first, it hurt me; I couldn’t understand why they would send away their “best child”. I felt unwanted. As I grew up a little bit, I realized that sending me here was one of the hardest decisions they have ever had to make. They loved me so much, that they were willing to give me up in order for me to have the best shot at having a future, then when I would have had staying in Florida with them. It was very hard at first because I was in fifth grade, on a second grade level. I had a lot of catching up to do, in more ways than just one. Looking back, that was the best thing that has ever happened to me! I will be the first one in my immediate family to graduate high school and go to college! WOOO!!! I am also the AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) President at my High School. AVID is a program that helps get students who come from a difficult background, into college. They teach you what you need to do in High School in order to succeed in college, and give you lifelong tips to help you survive life after High School. Most kids in AVID will be the first in their family to go to a four-year university. It’s an honor to be the President of AVID and to help students in this amazing program.
I have been back to Florida 3 times in the last 7 years, so I am grateful that I got to see them again. Jimmy has been working on making something of himself. He still struggles with a few things however he has recognized that he needs to make a change, that way he can be a better influence on Kaylee.
I am asking for $7,000 for at least my parents to come out and see me graduate. My dad only made about $28,000 last year. He lives in a rundown home, he walks 2 hours to work and 2 hours home every day he works because he cannot afford a car. Every paycheck goes to bills and child support (which he will brag for hours upon hours about. He is so proud that he pays child support and even though he can’t be there for us physically all of the time, he is honored to be able to say he does pay for his kids.) My dad is my best friend. I can stay up for hours and talk to him about anything and everything. I love him so much. As for my mom, she works as a maid, so she as well, does not make very good money. She has to get welfare, food stamps, and help from friends just to make sure Kaylee has a roof over her head and food in her stomach.
My parents cannot afford living, much less plane tickets to come to California to watch their child graduate. We think it is extremely important to get Kaylee out here as well, that way she can see me walk across that stage and get my diploma. All Kaylee knows, or has ever seen, are her friends and family dropping out. I want to prove to her that if I can do it, then she can do it to. I think it is so, so, SO important for her to see this. My brother as well. Even though most people would see him as this lowlife thug, my brother means everything to me. He would be so proud if he saw me accomplish what he wasn’t able to do himself.
It would mean the world to me, and my family, if you would please help us to raise at least $7,000 for my mom, dad, older brother, and younger sister to fly out to California to see me graduate.
Your $7,000 would be going towards:
- 4 plane tickets from Florida, to California, and back (so a round trip)
- A hotel room for about 5 days
- Food for the 4 of them
- A possible rental car (if I get my license before June 9th, then I would be able to drive them in my car instead of having to rent one)
- And hopefully (if there is money left over) I’d like to take them around San Diego and do some leisure activities. (None of them have ever been to California. My siblings have never even been on a plane!)
California is much more expensive than Florida, so if you would be able to help us by donating just a little bit a money for them to come out and see their daughter graduate, you would give us something that none of us would ever forget.
God Bless all of you guys for even checking out GoFundMe and for helping people in need. Everyone has a different reason for needing some help, and the fact that you are even taking the time to read someone’s story, means a lot.
Have a great day!
-Amanda Risher
Organizer and beneficiary
Amanda Risher
Organizer
San Diego, CA
Karen Thernes
Beneficiary
