Book a Family Mini Session, send Darina to College!

Isn't is funny how old parts of your life can come back around for make something new?

There aren't many things I love more than hearing about how my friends from Cedarville have taken big leaps in their lives and are now making a huge difference in the world. My friend Katie, along with her husband Nick, moved overseas shortly after graduation to teach English at Doulos Discovery School in the Dominican Republic. I love reading their stories about the people they meet, the adventures they take, and where God is leading them!

Now for the "something new" part! Katie approached me a few months ago and told me the story of Darina, a young lady from the Dominican Republic who dreams of coming to the USA to attend college and get a teaching degree from my alma mater, Cedarville University! She asked if I would be willing to help Darina raise money for her Cedarville tuition and of course the answer was YES!

To raise support for Darina, I will be hosting a full day of Spring Mini Sessions on Saturday, May 7! I normally charge $100 for my mini sessions, but this time, the $100 will be a suggested donation and 100% of the proceeds will go to Darina's campaign! May 7 is the day before Mother's Day, so if you're looking for a gift for mom, I can't think of anything better than a family picture taken to support a great cause for this amazing girl. Here is Darina's story!

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Hola! My name is Darina Herrera. I am from the Dominican Republic, specifically from a little town between the mountains called Jarabacoa. I graduated high school last June and decided to take a gap year and volunteer as a Prek3 Teacher Assistant at the school were I graduated from, Doulos Discovery School.  Although this is not always the most glamorous job, I know God has been working on my heart now more than ever before.

My dream is to be able to enroll in college and major in Special Education. There is a big need for Special Ed teachers in the Dominican Republic and I want to help close that gap. The Special Education program is not very developed in the D.R, so in order to get a quality education for this career I need to attend a school in the United States. How could you help me accomplish this? Great question! As an international student a lot of the scholarships do not apply to me, neither am I allowed to take out loans. However, with the few scholarships that I have received and grants I am missing 12,500 to pay for my first year of college. This is where you come in! If 50 people can donate $250 before May 1st, then I will have everything I need for the first year! If 50 people give $125, then I will have what I need for the first semester!
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So there you have it! Mini sessions will take place on Saturday, May 7 just outside of First Baptist Church of Groveport (5521 Groveport Rd.) beginning at 8:00 AM and extending through the early afternoon. If you're single or don't need any new family portraits taken, but would still like to be involved, I'd be happy to shoot a few professional head shots of you, or you can just choose to donate! To book your time slot, send me an email at michelle@michellejoyphoto.com! I'm so excited for this and hope you'll take the chance to be a part of it! :)