Lee's Story

In order to attend this summer’s NYLF Forum on Technology to be held in Silicon Valley, I had to raise enough money to cover the costs of the Forum as well as airfare. I am really interested in programming but, in order to keep my computer running in optimum condition, I have also taught myself a lot about how to fix and maintain computers.  I started by helping my family upgrade their computers.  At first I applied for scholarship money from NYLF.  When I received word that money wasn’t available, I was confronted with the challenge of raising my own funds.  My family and I read the NYLF literature about how other kids had approached businesses and organizations for sponsorship. 

Since I didn’t feel comfortable just outright asking for money, my family and I came up with the idea that I could fix people’s computers in exchange for money to help fund my trip.  One of the most difficult decisions was setting the price to charge.  I decided that $20 an hour was a fair price for me and would be low enough to give people an incentive to call.

I first began by putting signs up all over the area in local business windows and bulletin boards. My mother then wrote a press release, which was published in the local paper.  My picture along with a tease for the article appeared on the front page.  The article explained that I had been chosen by the NYLF to be a New Jersey representative to the Forum, to be held this summer in San Jose, California.  In order to be able to go, I was raising money by fixing, maintaining, and upgrading desktops and laptops. 

Just from that one article, I received over 50 calls and am still getting new customers three months later who cut out and saved the article in case they needed my services in the future.  I then wrote letters to local non-profit organizations and told them what I was doing and asked for any help they could give me in the form of either sponsorship or by posting my flyer for people to hire me.  I attached a copy of my article and my business card.  The local Police Benevolent Society and Knights of Columbus sent checks for $100 each to help fund my trip.