Welcome and thank you for considering donating to this cause! My name is Rebekah Bacigalupo. I am a 35 year old recent graduate of Grand Rapids Community College where I received my Associates of Applied Arts with special interest in Psychology specific to children and adolescents. All my life I've dreamt of a career working with children and making a difference in their lives. Although it wasn't until recently that I was sure about how I was going to do that.

See, I was never a good student in high school and because of this I never considered higher education until after my daughter was born in 2004. In 2005, I started taking classes at my local community college with the goal to be a counselor for families affected by addiction. I especially wanted to help children who had been neglected, because I knew I could show them their worth in this world. This came to a screeching halt when my partner, my daughter's father, unexpectedly passed away. It was a very dark time in my life I returned to work full time, doing what I had to do, often switching jobs for the slightest pay raise, just to take care of my sweet baby girl. Over several years I worked my way from receptionist at one firm, to customer service rep at another, to administrative assistant, and human resource generalist with another. Each move putting me and my daughter in a better financial situation. But I never lost hope of receiving my degree and making a difference in the lives of children.

While working in HR, I learned my employer would pay for school if I majored in a path related to my current position. For two years I attended college after work three to four nights a week in a town an hour from home. My parents took care of my daughter those nights and often I didn't get home until 11pm. I missed my (at the time) now four-year-old and became very depressed. My mother told me that it was ok to take a break from school, my daughter would only be young once, college would be there when she's older. So back to work I went, dreaming every day of the time when I'd break free from the cubicle and use the gifts God gave me. 

In 2013, I got married and we relocated to a large city nearly 200 miles from home. The change was hard, but finding work without a college degree was harder, regardless of my experience. After two years of being miserable in a gong-nowhere job and sinking into a severe depression, my husband and I agreed it would be best for me to leave the workforce and go back to school. I jumped majors a couple of times, and happily landed with psychology as it could enable me more freedom to work with children in several different settings. There was a light at the end of my tunnel, I even got on the dean's list for the first time in my life. 

This is where my story was supposed to change; I have my associates degree, which is better than nothing, and with years of experience under my belt, I should be getting job offers left and right. Right? Wrong. I'm told repeatedly that I have too much experience for entry level jobs and professional jobs want a bachelor's degree, with no regard to experience. In addition to this, I now have changes on the horizon, and I must act fast. 

About four months ago an after-school theater arts franchising opportunity fell into my lap. It was something I had thought about several times since my daughter started school and I often researched the company and daydreamed of it, but was too afraid to take a risk like that. This time was different; I know this is the direction God is pointing me in. The company only adds 5-6 franchisees a year and through several interviews and conversations, they have extended the opportunity to me! They have terrific business model, support, and training. By providing an educational theater experience to children who wouldn't typically have access to such a program, I will be using my talent and education to inspire and motivate children, while being able to provide for myself and support my family. More importantly, the children will be learning important life skills such as public speaking, teamwork, and creative problem solving. They will also be increasing their confidence and poise while building a lifelong appreciation for the arts. 

I have the business knowledge and experience. I have an entrepreneurial spirit. I have the drive and the energy. I have successfully been running my small own dog-sitting business for the last three years and am no stranger to the difficulties of self-employment. I have everything I need to make this business a success, except the money for the start up. In any typical situation, I would just save the money to start something like this. However, due to some personal changes in my life, I don't have the time to do that. I have given myself until my 36th birthday, September 8 2017, to raise the funds for this start up. During this time, I will be doing odd jobs, selling every possession I can part with, and whatever else it takes to get this going. I have complete faith that I will be successful at this. I'm asking for you to have some faith in me too and donate, no matter how small, toward a better future for me, my daughter, and countless children in Kent County, MI.

Thank you, 

Rebekah B.