Secure Kiara's College Education

What's the story?

Kiara (14 years old) lost her mom, Melessia Rodney (Mel), on August 29, 2021 from a severe case of Covid 19. Mel was the owner of Mel’s Botanical Retreat , in the little mountain community of Kentucky, Westmoreland, Jamaica. The primary reason Mel founded her business was to build a future for her only child Kiara.

 

While Kiara will have support from her biological father and various family and we honor that, education is expensive as we all know. We are an additional team of people who loved Mel and who love Kiara and who will work to ensure that her future is secure, no matter what.

 

Mel touched so many people over the years. There are people all over the world mourning her loss. She left a huge hole in her extensive family here on the mountain, in her community, and in all of our hearts. 

 

I was asked once why I fell in love with Mel and made Jamaica my home. First and foremost, it was her integrity. She had a strong internal ethical compass that guided her in all she did. Secondly, it was her huge heart. She was creating something to benefit not just herself and Kiara but her entire community, especially the women. Thirdly, it was her ambition. She had serious drive to keep building herself up and it was working. Having just turned 32, she was already impressively successful. That would only have increased. Kiara has these same qualities. Kiara is sharp, driven, savvy, passionate, feisty, independent – Mel lives inside her. Kiara is a very smart young woman who is ready to dedicate her life toward the betterment of herself and the world. 

 

Mel would have laid down her life for Kiara and she wanted nothing more than for Kiara to lift herself up and be the most she can be. Kiara intends to do exactly that. 

-Dr. Bjarne Holmes (Professor of Psychology, Champlain College, USA)

 

 

What does Kiara say?

"Hello, my name is Kiara and I am 14 years old. One of the things I like doing most is to listen to music. Other than that I also like to dance and I like to own and care for animals. I seem to be very funny. I tend to always like to make people laugh. But I would really want to become a lawyer in the future.

 

I want to be a lawyer so that I can try to defend children's rights, especially those children whose voices are not being heard or who can’t speak for themselves. I may know children who are depressed and may want to hurt themselves because of things that have happened in their past. I would love to fight for those children so that they can know that there is a better future.

 

Two weeks ago now, I lost my mother, my best friend, and also my main support, from Covid 19. This is why am here asking for your support towards my college education. Your contribution will help me get to where I should be, to become a lawyer so that I can support your children/grandchildren in the future. You should support me because I am very passionate about what I have in store for my future. Someday I will make my mother very proud, but most of all, I will have a someday…" -Kiara Clayton (September 12, 2021)

 

How will funds be used?

Working with a financial advisor, we will establish a fund in Kiara's name to be used only toward university/college education. The funds raised now are an initial seed. Each year, we intend to come back and fundraise additionally around the anniversary of Mel's death, building a larger investment for Kiara.

 

Who will manage the funds?

We are a team committed to Kiara's future consisting of:

Dr. Bjarne Holmes (Professor of Psychology at Champlain College in Vermont, USA). Bjarne married Mel five weeks before her unfortunate death. He sees Kiara as a non-biological daughter and will always be there for her. 

 

Stacey Davis & Daniel Johnson (St. Paul, Minnesota, USA). To Stacey, Mel was the younger sister she never had and her very best friend. Stacey has known Kiara since she was a very young child. Daniel and Stacey stand fully committed to always be there for Kiara. 

 

Hillary & Kelly Urich (Kansas City, Missouri, USA). Kelly and Hillary were close friends of Mel and strong supporters of Mel's Botanical Retreat. They grew very close to Kiara over the years.

 

Ozzie Rodney (Kentucky, Jamaica). Kiara is Ozzie's first grandchild.