Mission Promise Neighborhood for John O'Connell

Hello & thank you for visiting our fundraising page!  

Ana: As an immigrant to a new country, I have faced many obstacles and I have been able to overcome them because of the support of my mother and the community that have supported me. I struggle in college because i didn’t had the funds to pay for all my expenses. That is why I ask you to help us and contribute by making a donation. If you do not have the possibility to donate, please share our page with your network.

Yadira: Born in Santa Cruz and raised in Watsonville Ca to Mexican immigrant parents. I attended community college in Santa Cruz. Then, I transferred to University of California Santa Cruz where I majored in Latin American and Latino Studies / Politics. I had the opportunity to intern with local organizations that worked in my area of studies. My last year at the university, I was chosen to travel to Washington, DC and work in U.S Foreign Policy/Relations. While at school, my family really supported my dream of achieving higher education and instilled in me to better myself by obtaining a degree, so I did not have to work a minimum wage job. I believe the MPN Scholarship will give students at John O'Connell the opportunity to fulfill their academic needs while preparing our future leaders.

Celina: I a Mission Native. I attended City College of San Francisco and then transferred to San Francisco State University. I was employed full time and full time student, which was hard to manage at times. I did not get a chance to apply for scholarship, but if I had been able to secure scholarships, it would have made a huge difference in that I would have been able to solely focus on school. The MPN Scholarship will allow John O'Connell seniors to have some money to establish themselves in a new school. Students will be able to focus on getting to know their schools, meet new people and get a positive start to their college experience.

Liz:  I grew up in Southern California in an immigrant family and community. I didn't know many people that had attended college so it was hard to imagine what that would look like for me. When a college adviser in the 9th grade mentioned that students from low-income families could access scholarships and financial aid, I started dreaming of becoming an Astronaut and started planning to attend college. I received many scholarships throughout my undergraduate and graduate career that allowed me to focus on my studies and not spend the majority of my time working to put myself through school. I hope that you can help us in supporting the students at John O'Connell that need financial support to achieve their dreams.

Luis: I'm originally from Peru- where I attended and completed my full Education, currently I'm attending City College of San Francisco and Hope to transfer to a University eventually when I obtain all my transferable credit classes. As a part-time Student and full-time employee sometimes can be difficult to manage all requirement of focus in education. MPN Scholarship will be extremely beneficial to many of John O'Connell Students to have chances to focus in their new school and other great experiences.

 Ada:I’m the proud daughter of Salvadoran immigrants who settled in the city of Santa Ana, CA in the 80s-a predominantly Latino community- where I was born and raised. My parents’ sacrifices gave me the opportunity to be the first in my family to achieve a college education at San Francisco State University.  But when it came to paying for college, I faced the challenge that many low-income college students face, “How am I going to pay for college?” Without any financial guidance, my opportunities to apply for scholarships were limited. I received a Pell Grant that helped me pay for my tuition, but it wasn’t enough. I took out student loans and worked as a SFUSD substitute to make ends meet. College was a life transforming experience and it opened many doors that would have otherwise been closed if I didn’t pursue a higher education.  

We are part of Mission Promise Neighborhood staff. We are excited to raise funds for the Mission Promise Neighborhood (MPN) Scholarship Fund for graduating seniors at John O'Connell High School located in San Francisco's Mission District. This Spring, we have committed to a fundraising goal of $1000, to support students towards academic achievement.

Our fundraising goal can only be reached with the support of family and friends like you. Can we count on you to support our efforts?

The Mission Promise Neighborhood is a citywide community initiative that seeks to ensure children and youth succeed in school through a cradle-to-college-to-career approach of academic enrichment services, family empowerment, and improved systems.  Started in the Spring 2016, the MPN Scholarship Fund celebrates four-year, college-bound students who demonstrate financial need, community involvement, and academic achievement with scholarships between $1,500  to $5,000.