Kelly Rosa sent a message to Kirk Kerkorian that said:
I’m blessed to be a teacher. But, since I teach 8th graders between the ages of 13 and 15 from low-income families and urban neighborhoods, my "kids" have the added pressure of staying away from gangs and drugs, feeding themselves and younger brothers and sisters, and simply surviving day to day.
Most of my students have never been outside their hometown or ever will. Most of my students will never have the money to go on a vacation and have other memorable life experiences which we know make life worthwhile. As their teacher who cares for them very much, I, along with a few colleagues, are trying to give them the experience of a lifetime; getting to explore our nation\'s most important historical sites and have life-changing learning moments in Washington D. C. They will stand where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, discover the meaning of sacrifice and loss at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, learn empathy and tolerance by witnessing the devastation of the holocaust at the Holocaust Museum, and explore all the knowledge of the world available at the Smithsonian museums. They will cherish these moments and gain a new thirst for knowledge for years to come.
Each student has to pay $1,298.00 to be able to attend this trip. Currently only 15 of the 200 students in my school have signed up because the rest knew they couldn\'t raise the money. Of those that did sign up, only 7 have been able to raise the money. As previously mentioned, most of my students\' families cannot afford a healthy dinner, never-mind a trip to Washington, D. C. I know that this experience can change their lives, their future, their motivation to succeed, and will help them realize their fullest potential – all of which are priceless. These couple of days will last them a lifetime.
Please consider talking about our trip on your show to help get it funded. I would love to see the entire 8th grade have the life-changing opportunity to see Washington D.C. Thank you very much for your time.
Kelly Rosa
Roosevelt Middle School
New Bedford, MA
https://www.gofundme.com/fieldtripofalifetime
