Maggie has worked hard all her life to provide for her family. Since Middle School, She would often baby sit cousins and younger siblings for free so that older family members could get a job. Once she was in High School, she studied hard hoping to get into a good college and land a job that could help pay for all of her families struggles. But financial struggle began to hit the family hard. 

Her parents divorced, and then her father became disabled. She had to leave High School for full time employment working your typical minimum wage retail jobs and help support her family. But she never gave up her desire to go to school, and was able to pay for her GED testing some time later.

She has lost many family members over the years, but also built a new one full of love. The kids she has cared for have grown up, and she finally has the free time to pursue the dream she never gave up.

She applied and was accepted into a program for Micro-Electronic Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology. The program is structured through obtaining an Associates in Engineering through Finger Lakes Community College with automatic acceptance to transfer to RIT after completion. 

Through her hard work, she was able to receive scholarships and grants that cover most of the cost of attendance. However, there are many other costs associated with getting a degree including affording food, rent, and other bills that are only growing while her wages from her job are not. As well as moving to closer to the RIT campus in order to attend the classes she needs for her degree. 

This fundraiser is to help her pursue this dream by alleviating some of the hidden costs of education, while also helping her save to move closer to campus. Thank you all for your contributions and taking your time to read her story.