Community Group Helps College Student Raise Money For Tuition

BUENA PARK (CBSLA.com) — A community group is helping a young Orange County woman who was once homeless, raise money for her college education.

Against all odds, Ashley Aquino just started at Cal State Fullerton, and she has a purpose. "Be like a role model for my younger siblings," she said.

Giving Children Hope, a community non-profit, met Aquino through one of its programs. The group started a Go-Fund-Me campaign to raise $7,000. That's how much it costs for Aquino to go to school this year.

"When you see a kid who you know is destined to win, who will do anything it takes to break the cycle of poverty, you want to be a part of that," said Sean Lawrence of Giving Children Hope.

Aquino's family became homeless about a year ago after her parents had a tough time making rent. Her father works a recycling center. Her mother helps out wherever she can.

"She doesn't really have a job. So when somebody calls her to help clean houses, she's up for it just to, like, so we can have extra money," Aquino said.

But she and her family refused to let their circumstances stop them from achieving their goals. Every day, the kids go to a McDonald's in Buena Park after school and study.

"The whole day we'd be out, like, at McDonald's just doing our homework," the college student said.

At night, her parents begged their friends to allow the family-of-seven to give them a safe place to sleep. In the morning, they quietly slipped out before sunrise.

Despite it all, Aquino managed to graduate from high school with honors and got into college. Aquino is majoring in criminal justice and hopes to join the FBI.

Visit a gofundme page for her.