Hello, my name is Elaine, and I begin my story with these questions: How is it that I have come to a place in my life where I would suddenly find it necessary to ask for financial support from so many strangers?

What hardship could have possibly befallen me that might prompt me, drive me, and compel me to humbly ask complete strangers for their hard-earned money? What follows, is my story and my attempt to provide some answers to these questions that have certainly come to define my life in ways I could never have expected.

I have recently experienced a significant financial tragedy, the scope of which I am only beginning to understand and come to terms with. I have been a victim of yet another Ponzi scheme. I entrusted my life savings of 150K to someone I have known and trusted for 18 years, someone I considered a very good friend. In my case, a hard-fought savings for which I labored and sacrificed over the course of 18 years, is now gone. It was my life’s blood. It was, in so many ways, my dreams and my hopes. It was part of a vision for my life. A story of who I hoped to be and one day how I hoped to live. It was my 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and perhaps beyond. Some might say that it was “just money,” but that would be an understatement bordering on near complete lunacy. It was my past, my present, and my future. Without question, the course of my life will be forever altered, shattered, twisted, and changed. I hope I can recover. I hope I can change my course in the way that I will almost certainly need to change.

The individual who altered the course of my life, my “friend,” is now sitting in a federal prison where he will have long days and plenty of time to reflect on the financial devastation he has inflicted on the lives of many innocent people. In this respect, justice is being served. However, none of this will bring my money back or restore my friendship. Obviously, I accept responsibility for my own circumstances and the consequences of trusting the wrong person. Despite this, I count my blessings each and every day. I am in good health and have the support of a loving family. I know that I can survive with what remains. I am grateful beyond words that this loss will not leave me destitute or homeless. Still, like many who have fallen victim to financial fraud, the future landscape of my life has been forever transformed. At 49 years of age and currently jobless, I face the daunting task of starting over. How do I recover this loss? Where do I begin? I begin by continuing my search for work. I begin by continuing to live as frugally as possible. I begin by hoping. I begin by wearing my heart on my sleeve and humbly asking someone, anyone out there for help; someone with the kindness to do so, someone whose generosity could transform my life in the equal and opposite way that someone’s heartless greed transformed my life.

I know there are others on this site with far greater need. I do not have mounting medical bills or large credit card debt. I am not a single mother or father with children to feed and care for. I’m just a girl who lost her life savings overnight, and I am asking for your help in trying to recover some of what I so tragically and suddenly lost. Please understand, I am not requesting a large amount of money from a few wealthy people. I am hoping for a small amount of financial support from a large number of people so that the sacrifice from any one person is not great. No amount is too small. Literally ever dollar will help me so much.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. I am grateful beyond words for any donation you might so graciously give.
Sincerely, Elaine