Is this for real?
Yes

Is this a real, established charity?
No

Is the donation tax deductable?
No, because it is not a real, established charity.

Then what the heck is this???

     Education is considered by many to be a right in this nation. Sadly access to this right is limited by a student's financial resources.
     When I leave Graduate school, I will be handed a doctorate degree and a $100,000+ student loan bill that take most people decades to pay off. On top of that, general living expenses is draining my bank account and driving up my credit cards.
     I do have this business, have been given fellowships, workstudy assignments, and education awards, but five years of graduate level studies is expensive. With a course load that require 25-32 hours of work per week (which does not count reading, studying and writing papers that can double or triple required work time) working a full time job is not possible without impacting studies, and with a schedule that has to accommodate the classes, practicum assignment, and supervised clients required for my studies, part time employment is often not possible.

     So who is this money going to?
     I am a doctoral student at the Graduate School for Applied and Professional Psychology. I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer,  a former Americorps Member and an Eagle Scout. I have spent a lot of time volunteering and helping others. When I receive my degree, I hope to be able to apply it in the same spirit that lead me to apply my other skills in my various volunteering positions.
     In short, I still plan to do a lot of good in this world, and I will have the credentials to do it. That's who you will be supporting.

     Where will this money go?
     Since I don't drink or use other illicit substances, I can guarantee no money donated will go to drugs or alcohol. More likely, any money collected will go to cover food, books, tuition, and housing. Any donation will be appreciated. A dollar buys breakfast, five buys lunch or dinner (or both on a frugal night), and larger donations means books, a dry roof over my head, and another year in my studies

     So, not convinced?
    You can still help by buying some of my leatherwork.
     You can also help starving college students as a whole by:
    Writing your congressman to support legislation to increase student loan funding or reduce student loan interest payments, so students don't have to be taken advantage of by private loan agencies seeking to make money off of this nation's and your children's futures.
     Petitioning for better funding of state schools so that students have a low cost option on which they can plan their futures.
    Researching and donating to an official scholarship fund. The number of awards most scholarships give out depends on the money they take in.
   

     "Education is a responsibility that society owes to itself."
-Robin Cook