Desiree T.
Springfield
My three children – two听产辞测蝉听and one听驳颈谤濒听–听attend St. Patrick’s Catholic School.听Malakhi听is eleven years old (in听fifth听grade),听Mykha,听is听ten (in fourth听grade), and Ariana听is six (in听Kindergarten). I am grateful to be able to send my听children听to a private school with the help and assistance of the听Tax Credit Scholarship Program.听
Life has听not听always been easy for me.听I听struggled trying to figure out how to feed my children, clothe听them, and provide a stable home. I have always worked听two,听sometimes听even听three,听jobs to survive. I have been in college trying to better my education so听I could give my children the best. It is very hard听as a single mother听with little to no help,听but I try my hardest听every day听to make the best of it.听
Being able to send my children to a private school听where their education is the top priority听is why I am working so hard. If these scholarship funds were not听available, I would struggle even more trying to make it happen. Empower听Illinois听has been a blessing for us! It has taken the load听off听my shoulders听to听provide听a better education听for my children, knowing I still have a chance to make life a little bit better for听them. I will catch up a little later. Right听now,听my children succeeding is my main goal. My son wants to become a priest. He receives the knowledge, the guidance, and a great opportunity being in a听Catholic school to become just that one day.听听
With Empower听Illinois providing听the听financial听security we听need,听I know we will make it just fine. So, Governor听Pritzker,听I come to you as a parent asking please, do听not听take away from our听肠丑颈濒诲谤别苍鈥檚听future. Some of us are living on a prayer, walking on faith, and hoping that one day we too can make听it. It听is听not easy, but I promise, we听will make it TOGETHER!听
Thank you, God bless, and stay safe!听