(Photo: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com)
Taylor Swift has left a surprise £23,373 donation (that’s almost $30k US and over $40k AU!) on a teenager’s GoFundMe page that means she can now go to university and work towards her dream of becoming a mathematician.
Vitoria Mario was given an “unconditional offer to study Mathematics at the prestigious University of Warwick” after leaving school with top marks, but couldn’t afford to take it up.
The 18-year-old who migrated to the U.K. from Portugal four years ago, started the fundraising page because she isn’t eligible for maintenance loans or grants and despite sending out 442 emails asking for assistance, was rejected every time.
(Photo courtesy GoFundMe)
“Only 35% of STEM students are female,” she writes on her fundraiser, “and as of 2018, they make up just 26% of STEM graduates. In addition to the gender imbalance, there is further under-representation of BAME women, particularly Black women who are in shortage within the field and academic institutions.”
And it seems Taylor was moved by Vitoria’s brilliance and determination to succeed.
“Vitoria, I came across your story online and am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality,” the superstar posted on the GoFundMe page.
“I want to gift you the rest of your goal amount. Good luck with everything you do! Love, Taylor.”
(Photo courtesy GoFundMe)
The money will be used to cover accommodation costs, text books and living expenses.
“Taylor is no stranger to making surprise donations on GoFundMe,” the fundraising site writes on Instagram.
“In 2015, we raised our maximum donation to $50,000 so she wouldn’t have to make multiple donations to the same campaign. Since then, she’s continued to make many donations to both families and individuals in need of a helping hand.”