News & Record, Greensboro, N.C., Marquita Brown column
By Marquita Brown, News & Record, Greensboro, N.C. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Over about three weeks, people donated thousands of dollars to McMillan, as well as care packages of toiletries, gift cards and other items.
One person offered to send McMillan a monthly allowance to help with his living expenses. One couple offered to buy some of the young man's artwork. Many others have pledged their support, said
As of Saturday night, McMillan had
Bunton helped set up the GoFundMe account and made a public plea to get support for McMillan, who mostly has been taking care of himself.
The response to that plea brought Bunton to tears many nights.
Having people ask what they can do to help "is very heartwarming," she said Wednesday.
Letters and comments from those helping McMillan show they care, Bunton said.
"They genuinely value the importance of an education and of giving him an opportunity to experience it," she said.
McMillan could not immediately be reached for comment.
He lost both parents at a young age. He has two older brothers, but he has been on his own for years.
Despite having no one to force him to go to school, he pushed himself. He plans to study visual arts at
Last month, the News & Record published an article about McMillan beating the odds to graduate and a separate article about his tuition needs.
Even with a scholarship and student loans, he still needed about
McMillan's on a waiting list for work study.
In the second article, Weaver counselor
"That village has come through beyond belief," Squire said last week.
Squire and Bunton said they and the rest of McMillan's nonbiological family will do what they can to continue supporting him. They said it's a relief that he has help with his first year of tuition.
They're focusing now on the costs of subsequent years of college.
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