One Mom One Year

"THE ONLY THING MORE EXPENSIVE
THAN EDUCATON IS IGNORANCE."

- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN -

I doubt the author of Poor Richards Almanac could even fathon the cost of a college education today, let alone the sacrifice parents face to make it a reality.

On June 14th 2017, I am kicking off a 79 day social experiment called "One Mom One Year" it is a fundraising drive to pay for one year of my daughters college education. 

I will be soliciting (doesn't that sound better than begging?) at locations all over my city of Battle Creek, MI.  and on this site.   I want to believe that people are good and that BC believes in its children and their dreams and will support them in their educational goals.

My daughter graduated in 2015 with a 4.015 GPA and the Academic Excellence Award but $0 financial aid.

When the acceptance letters began to arrive I secretly hoped that some would turn her down so it would hurt less when we had to say no.  What a sad situation to hope your child doesn't get into a college.  

She attended Kellogg Community College for the past two years thru the Legacy Scholars Program and we are all very grateful for this assistance.

As of today we owe $60,539.79 to Navient for Parent Plus Loans we took out to pay for our older daughters educaton at GVSU. The Payment is $418.02 per month and ONE PENNY goes to principle!

This is the dirty little secret that parents don't want to admit to themselves or others..."We can't afford to send our children to college!"

"K" received her 2nd acceptance letter from Michigan State University for the fall of 2017 and the tuition is $29,522  (She did receive a Pell Grant for $1,770 and MSU Student Aid Grant for $3,600).

That leaves a balance of $24, 152. That averages out to $305.72 per day for the 79 days of this fundraiser. 

We have all seen the people holding signs asking for money, work or food.  I want to believe them, but sadly I fear the money goes for drugs.

That is how this "social experiment" started after many conversatons about panhandling vs. "Go Fund Me" accounts and the difference between them.

The question is this: Could someone panhandle/solicit in a way to assure the public that the money would truly go for whatever cause it was intended to support?

I hope so.  When I am out in public, I will carry ID and a folder with copies of all the information contained in this  letter.  Any monies collected will be deposited in a saving account at Omni Community Credit Union and will only be used to pay tuition costs for my daughter at Michigan State University. 

This is truely a "ONE MOM" effort and no one is authorized to collect any money on our behalf.

In the spirit of transparency I will include a brief biography of our family.

I have been a School Bus Driver for 16 years and my husband has worked in a factory for 30 years. My daughter works three jobs as a Lifeguard.

We live in our "starter house" with a mortgage, don't drive expensive cars or take fancy vacations.  We are a drug free family.

Our children were raised to understand the bills come first! 

 Thank you for your support......

Lori 
One Mom One Year 
79 Days in the Life of a Mom