Around the age of 7, I began my journey as a philanthropist, and I have never turned back. I did not quite understand the “gift” or calling on my life at that age. All I knew was that people were in need, and I wanted to do something about it. Fast forward to today, I am still giving. Let’s reframe this: I have been on a mission to close the gap for the youth for nine years.

My reach has spanned from local efforts to as far away as Puerto Rico and Africa. To date, I have raised $100,000 in goods, services, and funding to ensure that our youth feel supported and have some of the same advantages as others. In April 2018, I raised funds to prepare the documents to create my own 501(c)(3)nonprofit, Chase’s Chance, Inc.

Our mission is to empower all youth to feel empowered to meet their goals. My goal is to be in a position to ensure that these students are supported. Therefore, I intentionally seek out and secure additional funding to meet the needs of our community.

 A tenacious goal setting for anyone, let alone a 17-year-old high school senior!  

The need for equal access to food, education, and many other needs for our youth are front and center to my team and me. When Chase’s Chance receives requests and understands the disengagement and discouragement that often follows when students do not have what they need in and outside of the classroom. 

On January 7, 2021, I embarked on yet another first. My first podcast broadcast, titled “The Renaissance Project: A Black Girls Movement,” was released. I am hands-on in the I believe “The Renaissance Project: A Black Girls Movement” will allow our youth, more specifically our black and brown girls, to have a platform to discuss issues that matter to us and serve as a safe place to have hard conversations.

I believe this is especially important given our current social and public health climate. Unfortunately, we have repeatedly seen that the discussion often ends before it begins.

So many feel the harsh reality COVID-19 has brought to light, and my mission remains clear. There are too many gaps, and we must work to close them, if not for us, then for our future.