My story is probably no different than the others you have read. I have financial hardships and need help. Now that you’ve gotten the summation of my dilemma, let me go into things with a little more detail. I was born into a loving family and household but for some reason money was always a problem. I grew up in my home often going without because my parents couldn’t afford it. They were both working class people, but just couldn’t seem to make ends meet. Things were so bad at one point, I can remember being 13yrs old and eavesdropping on my mother and hearing her as humbly as possible, ask a friend for $30 to buy cold cuts and a loaf of bread just so that my siblings and I could have something for dinner. That was devastating for me. 

My mother, whom I had always seen as a strong woman, was diminished to this weak person I didn’t recognize, and that was too much for me to accept. I was crushed. That night I didn’t say anything. What my mother had done just played over and over in my head. Her eyes were so full of heartache and tears. It was as if she thought she was failing as a mother. I vowed that when I got older that I would become a great success and my family would never have to worry about money again.

When my mother injured herself on the job and could no longer work, things got worse. At that point my step-dad had to carry most of the burden. That only lasted for a while. My parents ended up having to file for bankruptcy and we lost our home. We had to move and start over. At 14, I was able to start working so that’s what I did. I didn’t want that my parents had to care for me financially anymore. I started working in my church as a summer youth counselor as well as ice cream shops and what not. From that point on I was supporting myself financially. I graduated high school, having missed out on so much because of the lack of money. My Senior Prom, School yearbook, Class ring, Class trips, were all things I only got to hear about and see from a distance. That was hard for a teenager to understand. But I had no choice.  I decided that I wanted to get into college and continue my education. I ended up only going to College for one year and afterwards dropping out. 

The reason? I was putting myself through school. My parents didn’t have money to send me to college. Financial aid? I had financial aid the first semester, but get this; it was taken away from me because my parents “made too much money”.  My parents couldn’t even afford to send me to school!  Even worse, now I had to pay back the financial aid! I had no money so how was I going to do that?  Still, I persevered and decided some years later that I wanted to move to New York and pursue music. 

Music has been my passion since birth. I write, play, direct, teach, sleep, dream, taste, smell, hear, see, and touch music.  It is my life. I love to sing. I love to hear all types of music from all different parts of the world. It is my dream and aspiration to become a world renowned musician. I was told that New York was the place to be to make that happen. In 1999, I moved to New York in hopes of becoming successful in my music. New York turned out to be the hardest time of my life. I never had any official place to live. I was jumping from place to place and all those who called me their friend turned their backs on me when I needed them most.  

In 2004 I became homeless and actually ended up going to a homeless shelter. That was the lowest point of my life I thought. But giving up and returning home was not an option because I vowed that I would become successful for me and my family. I decided that I would leave New York for a while and travel abroad and try to pursue my music in Europe. (Although I had some successes in America, I still wasn’t successful or even financially stable.)  I had been going to Germany for some years to do little tours of 3 months with a group. And for those 3months I never had to worry about money. It was the other 9months that were the problem. So in 2005(I became homeless in the middle of 2004, the end of 2004 I went on tour to Germany) I decided to stay in Europe and try my luck there. 

As far as music was concerned I made a lot of contacts. My name became more popular and things seemed to be looking up. In August of 2007, I got deathly ill and was hospitalized for some time. This was the beginning of my downfall. Although I had health insurance, I only had traveler’s health insurance and it wasn’t accepted for my medical bills. On top of that, all of my bills for my apartment, my credit cards, my student loans, and everything started piling up.  I had no work or income coming in and all I could do was cry. What was worse, my sister, back in America was also going through her own life threatening illness and was also being hospitalized. 

My mother was naturally terrified that she was going to lose 2 of her children at the same time. I didn’t know what to do anymore. A little more time passed and I felt like my life was going up in smoke. I still wasn’t 100% better and now I was terrified because not only did I face being evicted with no money, I was ALONE in a foreign country! I wanted to focus on getting better so that I could work again and so because of a colleagues help, I was able to pay all the back months of rent. I was loaned the money. While that took the landlord off of my back I still had yet another debt to pay. 

I have been borrowing money ever since and I am tired of just not having any money anymore. I am now trying to find ways of making money to finally get out of debt, paying off all I owe and to finally show my family I have the financial freedom I’ve always wanted to have for me and for them. I have started to work again, but this time on my own music projects that will produce residual income.  I am self employed and I don’t have the means I need to pay off my debts AND support my music projects (recording, touring, and Stage productions) financially.

This is where your help is needed. I am asking for any donation you are willing to give.  One (1) cent, 5cents, 1 dollar, 1000dollars, 1 million dollars, it doesn’t matter. I will be eternally grateful for anything I receive.  The donations will be used to pay off my debts, to go back to school, to supply my music projects with adequate funding as well as for the betterment of my family. Again, ANY amount you want to give would be greatly appreciated. 

I am a person in despondent need so I am not picky about how much you give. Your donation will not be in vain, nor will it go to waste. My morals and principals believe in paying it forward. I believe in being blessed to bless others so your contributions will definitely afford me the opportunity to also help others just as you’ve helped me. Thank you for your time and I wish you continued prosperity in, for & through your life.