A Humble Call For Pledgers.

That card I'm holding says "Welcome to the family Ashley." I'll tell you what, I can't think of anything else I could be doing that would be more rewarding than spending my days with these kids. High school started at the beginning of August, and I've been going to high schools in Phoenix, speaking to the kids, and getting a new batch of Shine students round up. The kids above are just 13 of the 300 students that we will be reaching this year. I. Am. So. Excited.

I'll never forget the first time I took one of the students home. It was before any of this started. I couldn't believe that they actually lived there. They had nothing. Absolutely nothing. I shook and cried the entire way home and felt a stirring within me that I had to do something to change it.

I'll never forget the first trip I went on with a football team from one of the inner city Phoenix schools. Most of the kids had never left Arizona before and they got to go to a football camp in San Diego, spend time at the beach, and just have fun. The excitement ended as three white people came up to the kids calling them the n word, wanting to fight them, and started pulling out their guns. I drove back to my hotel angry, and crying, and wishing I could do something to create more justice and fairness in the world.

I'll never forget the first scholarships we awarded last year. And having each of the kids hug me, crying, expressing gratitude for the money and more importantly the belief that I have in them and their ability. I'll never forget what one of the girls said, "People don't care about kids like us. This scholarship changed my life more than you know."

Some of the students don't have running water at their houses, so they shower at the school. Some of the kids live in fear because of how bad their living situation is. Most of the kids will be the first people in their families to go to college. They are bright. And loving. And giving. And just want it in return.

We not only raise money to send them to their first year of college, but we plan after school service projects to get them involved in the community. We instill in them leadership skills, hard work, accountability, and confidence. They learn that they really can be beneficial to the society in which they live, and for a few hours, they are safe with us. No one makes them come out and do service projects with us, they choose to, because it makes them feel good, and we have so much stinkin fun. 

One of the first things that gets cut from government funding is education, and funding for teens. Well, we get a double whammie on that one. High school aged students are the most overlooked group of people, and it's such an important time in their lives. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the money we raise goes directly into scholarship funds for outstanding at risk youth, and I pay out of pocket for program costs.

These kids mean more to me than I could ever explain, and they fuel my passion for life and hard work. Because like the card says, we're family now. And because we're family, every day I fight so that they can succeed.

Last year, with your help, we were able to give $10,000 worth of scholarships away to 8 students. We started a CHANGE4CHANGE campaign, where you pledge to keep an old jar and fill it with change until you reach $100. When you reach that $100, you send it in and it goes directly into the scholarship fund. You can watch the video of what we were able to accomplish last year HERE

It might make you cry.

We only have 3 months left of this year, and we have a lot of money to raise. Today, I invite you to join us in being the change, and pledge a change jar. Last year we had 50 people fully complete their pledge, and this year I know we can get 100 people. The due date for the money will be in the beginning of December.

So, what do ya say? Who wants to help me send some amazing kids to college??? Join our family.

Please pledge your name in the comments, and email me at Theshineproject@gmail.com with PLEDGER in your subject line. Together, we can do this! 100 pledgers = $10,000. Little things add up to a greater good, and I'm excited to keep helping these kids have what they need to shine.

Also, if you have any items that you would like to donate to our online silent auction, please email me at Theshineproject@gmail.com with DONATION as your subject line.

And if you want to do a direct donation right now, go over to the left side bar to the donate button!

THANK YOU. Your support is a gift not only to me, but to hundreds of youth who need love more than you can ever know.

Shine on.