Story
With time, I have come to realize that although independence is great, what is the most warming is knowing there are people in your corner, supporting you, investing in you, and cheering you on to succeed. It is connections like these that encourage me to keep fighting for my dreams. -Alex
Meet Alex
I was born in Spokane Washington and was predominately raised by my single father. My parents divorced when was young due to my mother struggling with substance abuse, which always had its way of complicating things. I became the first member on my father's side of the family to ever seek a continued education. He was my greatest support and would get so excited about my school experience that he would share my academic achievements with his friends. Receiving tertiary education in a low-income household sometimes seemed like more a dream than a possibility - but I chased it anyway. The cost of school quickly motivated me to get my first job at a local fast-food chain, and shortly after adding on a second job to keep up with the increasing expenses. School alongside work quickly became something that I enjoyed as it refined my newfound independence. This revolutionary time was short lived as one day when I was eighteen, my father passed away unexpectedly. This was by far the most challenging and devastating experience I had endured thus far, and it changed everything as I knew it. Two jobs became three, and I was convinced there truly was not enough hours in the day to focus on everything that my life now entailed. With time I managed to get back on my own two feet and find understanding for what I had been through but concluded that I needed to make a change for the better. I decided to move to Seattle in attempt to find opportunities and build connections with likeminded individuals. This is when things began looking up. Step by step, I was able to establish myself by finding new work and registering into a local college to finish what I started and live up to what made my father so proud. I went on to complete my associate degree, which has brought me to where I am now in the final leg of my Psychology degree. Although life still comes with its challenges, I can confidently say that I am pioneering my best life, partly in thanks to organizations like WWIN who are willing to take my hand in this journey and become my new supporter.
You can help more people like Alex.
* $5,000 can provide a one year Star Scholarship for a woman attending a college or university in WA State.
* $2,500 can provide one semester of school for a Scholar.
* $1,000 can provide crucial funding for the cost of attendance such as lab fees, internships, lap top, housing, groceries.
* $500 can cover emergency and unanticipated expenses that can force a woman to leave school such as eye glasses, transportation, day care.
* $200 ensures the WWIN pipeline of supports to achieve her ultimate goal of economic security.
All gifts can be made on a monthly pledge