Meredith's Debutante Scholarship Fundraiser

Dear Family, Friends, and GoFundMe Supporters,

I am happy to announce that I have been selected to participate in the Cotillion-Beautillion, Crème de la Crème- Preparing for Excellence-Exceeding the Dream, sponsored by the Gwinnett County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Fortitude Foundation, Inc. The Cotillion-Beautillion Ball will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, Gas South Arena, Duluth, GA.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I am the daughter of Dr. Kris and Mr. Jerry Manlove-Simmons, and a senior attending the #1 rated high school in Georgia, Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Lawrenceville, GA. I enjoy writing stories, reading, music, and making others smile. I have particularly enjoyed performing in the musical production “A Soulful Christmas” for the past 7 years. I hope to earn my black belt in Tae Kwon Do by the end of my senior year. I am a member of the Art Club, German Club, Black Student Union, and Music Honor Society. I am serving as a member of the Dekalb County Juvenile Teen Court, I have won numerous awards for my talents as a vocalist and pianist and I am currently learning how to play the guitar. I currently play the viola in the second-highest orchestra at my school. I have had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall for the past 3 times( twice for voice and once for viola), the Royal Hall in London, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia this past summer. I currently have a 3.4 GPA and plan to major in Architectural Engineering. My college choices are Kennesaw State, SCAD, and Virginia Tech. Down the road, I hope to have my own animal sanctuary as a way of providing animal therapy.

As a debutante, I have the opportunity to receive a scholarship from the Fortitude Foundation, Inc., based on the amount of money that I raise. The debutante program also assists in my personal growth through cultural and community activities, social etiquette, and career and leadership development. Given the challenges that face teens like myself today, I consider it an honor to be involved in such a worthwhile learning and cultural experience.

During the course of this year, I plan on raising $15,000. To ensure my success, I need your support. I am asking that you purchase an advertisement that will be featured in our souvenir journal on the evening of the ball, with a minimum donation of $50 your name is listed as a donor. Ad prices are as follows:

Inside back cover (only 1 available) $3000

Full page- Gold Level Donation $1000

Full Page- Silver Level Donation $500

Full Page- Bronze Level Donation w/photo $385

Full Page- Bronze Level Donation w/o photo $350

Full Page w/photo $235

Full Page w/o photo $200

Half-page w/photo $185

Half-page w/o photo $150

Quarter Page $100

Business Card $75

Patron (name only) $50

Other monetary contributions are also welcomed. The names of those who donate without an ad by January 7th will be listed in group ads I will set up for me under various headings such as Family and Friends, Sisterhood of Delta, Men of Kappa Alpha Psi, GSMST family, Healthcare Family, and others.

Ad submissions and Payments can be made as follows:

Submit ads digitally to: Ad Submission Link

PayPal: PayPal Payment Link

(Please don’t forget to put my name in the note section and check the box to cover PayPal fees so that I will get full credit for your donation).

Check/Money Order is made out to Fortitude Foundation, Inc., PO Box 492258, Lawrenceville, GA 30049-2258 and include a copy of your ad submission form so it can be linked to your payment.

Deadline for Ad payments and submission for the souvenir booklet is no later than January 7, 2024. All funds collected will go to the Fortitude Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports a diverse community of people in different states across the US and internationally. A receipt will be sent to you from the Foundation.

Donations without ads:

Use the same payment methods as above but make sure you note that “this is a non-ad donation for Meredith Manlove-Simmons” for PayPal and checks/money orders. You may also pay directly through my GoFundMe Account. Please don’t forget to put my name in the note section and check the box to cover PayPal fees so that I will get full credit for your donation.

Deadline for non-ad donations is March 1st.

Many, many thanks for your interest and support in helping me become the top scholarship fundraiser for the Cobeau Cotillion 2023-2024. The more I raise, the greater my scholarship award. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Meredith Manlove-Simmons