A Special Thank You

Hi, my name is Deandre.

I’m happy to say I just graduated from UT Arlington with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing.

I’m the first in my family to earn a college degree.

I just wish my mother could have been there…

I grew up in West Dallas and graduated from Pinkston High School in the top 30 in my class. I assumed that meant I was ready for college, but my Mercy Street mentor along with ScholarShot guided me to Mountain View Community College first. It was clear at Mountain View I needed more and when I did transfer to UTA I still struggled getting a 1.9. This put my public grants at risk so I knew I had to buckle down.

ScholarShot helped me financially but more importantly they provided guidance to navigate college that I would not have from home. I worked hard, and it paid off as I graduated with a 3.1. I work for a major commercial bank in Dallas making about twice my family's total household income. I'm very grateful. I don't take any of this for granted. There are many answered prayers.
    

I wish my mom could have been there but she was recently re-incarcerated. Both my parents love me but have struggled with drug addiction all of my life. My father and more importantly my brothers and sister did come to see me graduate. My younger sister and brothers are working to get their lives together and I'm pleased to say my sister is enrolled at El Centro College thanks to ScholarShot. I hope my brothers will be next.

I know that earning this degree is a game changer for my future and my family. I know that my making it has told my brothers and sister they can too. I know there are a lot of students out there like me.

Thank you for supporting me through ScholarShot. You've helped change my life!  I hope you'll consider helping others as well.

In Christ,

Deandre J.

BS, UTA

Story provided courtesy of ScholarShot.

Basketballs and Hello Kitty!

In 2014, a group from Highland Park High School held a drive to collect items for the Carver Elementary "Carver Store". The response was so overwhelming that they decided to do it again! Last month, the Youth for West Dallas, the name they've chosen for their group, organized another successful drive for Carver! Below is an email sent out to the parents and students who participated.

MOMS, DADS, FRIENDS, FAMILY!!! 

Do you ever feel overwhelmed and honored because you’ve been privileged with the opportunity to be a part of something really special? Have you ever sat in awe, without words, as you watched a purposeful project unfold right before your very eyes? Well, that’s how I felt all last week. As the Youth for West Dallas Executive Committee rallied to collect items, donations, purchase items, drop off items, and prepare for the drive - I watched with gratefulness as our community came together to help those that needed some extra bright spots in their days. On behalf of the cute kids at Carver … THANK YOU!!! Your donations were absolutely perfect! From the basketballs to the daily journals to HELLO KITTY (I was told that they little girls love the Hello Kitty section) to shampoos and toothpaste. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Another off the charts successful Carver Supply Drive! 

Another cool part of the drive was when the staff at Mercy Street took time out of their day to come share with us about how your donations will bless the students of Carver. Natalia Rodriguez (mentor coordinator) and Nicole Livingston (communication & events) shared with the students about the supply room and what these items will mean to the children. Then Sam Flores (Director of Development) led us all in prayer for the school and their community. It was VERY cool to have the parents and the teens pray together (yes, some teens prayed out loud- lol) for Carver and the community of West Dallas. 

In addition, you guys donated $1,800 to Mercy Street this semester! How cool is that! Thank you so much! 

All of this being said, my deepest hope is that you are blessed because EACH OF YOU has blessed another. Thank you for partnering with your children (not just with West Dallas), but in all the different areas of your lives. It’s awe inspiring to see the purposeful parenting and the intentional investing that’s taking place. I know this is a small piece of a much bigger puzzle. Words aren’t enough….. 

It’s really cool to come together as families in this way. THANK YOU! 

xoxo- Mel