How Far Would You Go To Pay For Your Kid's Education?by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 11 Sep 2009 04:44 AM Some parents would consider taking out a second mortgage on their homes or picking up a part-time job to help fund their child's education, but a mom in Washington State has turned to another means to help raise cash for her son's schooling--begging. As in standing near a busy off-ramp near her Bellevue home and panhandling for cash. "Tuition help needed! Donate a few dollars!" Shelle Curley yells at drivers in an effort to raise nearly $47,000 so her son can attend one of the most prestigious dance schools in the country. According to reports, Curley's 17-year-old son D.J. scored a $45,000 scholarship to Idyllwild Arts Academy in California, but the unemployed, single mother doesn't have the $47,500 to pay for his room and board. Hence her stint as a highway panhandler. "She really loves me a lot. And she really believes in me. And she will do anything, like, beg on the side of a freeway," D.J. told local news reporters. Before you start wagging your finger at Curley's unconventional cash raising method, consider that the dedicated mom tried fundraising before she hit the streets. Curley claims that she held garage sales and raffles and even sponsored car washes to raise the money needed to insure her son's big break wouldn't slip away. No word on how much she made from her past fundraising efforts, but according to news reports, the panhandling gig is proving to be quite lucrative. ABC News reports that Curley makes up to $45 an hour on the profitable corner, though the financial rewards don't come without a price. Curley says the cash corner is competitive and she sometimes gets into fights to stand there. But not everyday is as fruitful. Curley says there have been times when she has stood on the corner begging for four hours straight and only made eight bucks. Of course, that's eight more dollars than she had in her pocket before working the corner. Fortunately, Curley's days of begging on the streets of Washington may be coming to an end. The ingenious mother has diversified and is hoping technology will work in her favor. Mother and son recently started a website where people can donate to D.J.'s education via PayPal. Once you add to the pot you can get updates on D.J.'s plight via Twitter. What do you think of this mom's efforts to help her son? Related Articles: How NOT to Help Your Kid Get Into College Paying for Your Child's Bad Behavior in School Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanteducation tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Discuss this article
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