Mom Begs to Send Son to School

Turns to Panhandling on Freeway Ramp to Send Her Son to Top Dancing Academy

(CBS)  What's a good education worth? For one mother, everything.

Shelle Curley is a single mom whose son, DJ Strong, was recently accepted to one of the most prestigious arts academies in the country, Idyllwild Arts Academy.

But despite a $45,000 scholarship, Curley wasn't able to pay the entire tuition for her son. Still, she refused to let her son's dancing dreams die.

"You should go to the ends of the earth for your children," Curley told CBS News.

Curley said on "The Early Show" Thursday she tried selling things at yard sales, but it just wasn't enough. That's when her daughter suggested jokingly that she beg.

"I was like, 'Great idea!' and she goes, 'No, Mom, I was kidding.' ... I'm like, 'Great idea! I have a right. I'm going out,' " she said.

Curley began panhandling on a freeway ramp in Bellevue, Wash. to raise money for her son's travel, and the remaining $7,000 needed for her son's tuition.

But her drastic measures angered many in her community, fueling online protests. One writer posted: "Shame on her. I can understand people begging for things they need to survive, but not for things they want."

Curley herself said she felt ashamed the first day she begged for money, but then remembered her son's dedication to dancing.

"The first day I held the sign above my face, and then I remembered the hours that my son put in, the chiropractic visits, the sore feet, the ibuprofen, the ice packs that I'd have to switch out every 20 minutes for his back. And I held my head high, and I went for it."

Curley, who is unemployed, told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez she spent 10 to 14 days on the ramp begging for her son, sometimes in the rain. She raised about $350.

"It got me the gas money that I needed it on get him there," she said.
And Strong, who is now at school in California, said on "The Early Show", his mother did an "amazing" thing for him.

"It's a pretty cool thing, and I'm happy where I'm at now," he said.
The news has also reached his campus. Have students teased him or said anything to him about it?

Strong said the other students are happy for him that he made it to school.
"They think it's awesome basically," he said. "They're like, 'Hey, you're the kid from the news. That's awesome, I'm so excited to meet you."

To her critics that say only homeless people who need essentials have a right to beg, Curley said her case is an exception.

"It's my son's way out of -- I wouldn't call it poverty -- but his way out. Also it's his chance at a college education. All the major colleges come and scout for their dance programs. This is his dream. And I don't have a right to take that from him. I'm supposed to as a parent help him make it."

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If you would like to help DJ Strong with his tuition costs, go to DJ's Tuition.com.

This story was first published by Mom Logic.com.

[junebug1965]

Sorry, I have a hard time believing you can't find a job. Fast food and retail are always hiring. I think you did this simply to bring attention to your son's dancing. I also can't believe that you couldn't wrangle enough $$ from family and friends if you only needed a few hundred $$.

[sam-kiley]

bonjour
qu'est ce que nous ne ferions pas pour nos enfants, je salue votre courage shelle, mendier pour aider son enfant quel sacrifice, mais d'aprés ce que j'ai vu les "ames charitables" ne courent pas les rues du coté de chez vous aux states, donner ..aider n' plus de sens chez vous, dommage..je vous souhaite du courage..et tenez bon..au revoir

[ej8168]

I think what this mother is doing is great. She is not trying to make anyone give her anything. She's only asking and she has a sign telling people what it's for. It's funny how people find fault in every thing no matter what you do. Some people are just negative. God help them. Prayerfully, someone will bless her with the funds they need for him to go to school so that he will become a great success. I will go to her website if I can find it and make a donation. It all adds up. Hopefully, someone will help my children in some way one day. Lady, just pray about it and don't worry about what others say. If you help someone, maybe someone will help you one day. God bless!

[Sloughfoot]

Most of what (I) read was of an "I" thing, as in "I the Mother". Sonny boy would have gotten there had he really wanted to. Maybe work first then the ed. maybe a work scholarship, and maybe if he is really that good a full ride at not quite so pricey a school.

[dallasds]

I can't understand what you ignorant people are trying to say? It's okay for a BUM to go beg for money for beer and drugs but a MOTHER who has done everything possible to come up with the money to send her son to a SENIOR year in highschool asks for donations it's a problem. She inspires me to do whatever it takes for your children. We need more people in the world like her. Before you throw out your ignorant comments go to his website and read. djstuition.com

[karlyn8]

How many people have to pay to send their kid to a "senior year in high school"? Public School is free and it includes the Senior Year. If you are begging on the streets for money, free education is only a bus ride away.

[AOCGUY]

"... Curley, who is unemployed ..."

Wait a minute, she is unemployed but she is sending her kid to a school that cost in excess of $50,000. What's wrong with getting a job? How about her son getting a job?

[differnet]

What if she's been looking for a job and can't find or get one. Wow... talk about angry that someone else might get something for free. Let me guess, you are a Republican.

[karlyn8]

My point is, DaVivar6, she is not that needy that she should be begging on the street. She wants a good education for her son, let her get like everyone else does, student loans. She just wants something for free and because she is a "single parent" she feels entitled. Give me a break. Maybe every parent that has a child in college or Dance School should panhandle to pay tuition.

[mswolfestock]

Yeah, really. I am sick to death RE: single mother's sense of entitlement. Remember, single mothers are that way by choice unless they were unfortunate enough to have become widows through the death of their spouse. I have news for all of you single mothers -- you are NOT a legally recognized "minority group," and as such, you are entitled to NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH, ZIP. Quit your whining - I am sick to death of it.

Why didn't this woman just get a freaking job and suck it up like everybody else.

[panhandlingmom]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME>.....you know nothing about me or my kid. SOMETHING for nothing. WHAT!!1 I sold almost everything. I went door to door looking for work. My state has a 10% unemployment rate. I have only been out of work since april and worked for the same company for 8 years....my son worked , took dance classes 6 days a week and kept his grades up. STUDENT LOANS ARE FOR COLLEGE>>>DO YOUR RESEARCH before you pass judgement.

[panhandlingmom]

DID you listen to the story at all? I ran up against a time crunch. I only needed to get a few hundred bucks together for travel expenses to get him there. I had already done all kinds of fundraising. WE could not wait. It is senior year...we cant save and wait until next year!!! Its now or never. His education is important to me. I want better for my child. Until you walk in my shoes or now the whole story you should not judge.....becareful with the judging ...

[karlyn8]

Please - the "kid" is 17. No where in the article did it mention that he actually had a job. Why doesn't he get a job? Begging on the street is for needy people , not people who want to send their kids to an expensive school.

[DaVicar6]

by karlyn8 "Begging on the street is for needy people , not people who want to send their kids to an expensive school."


Where, exactly, are these "rules for begging" published?

[panhandlingmom]

MAybe they should have told the whole story then , right? My son did have a part time job, between school and dance class .......should not assume.

[unklfester]

She is nothing more than a simple beggar.
At least the homeless, when they are forced to panhandle, have a reason. She has options open to her but does not want to take them. She wants her son to receive a free education. I'm currently unemployed and have returned to college. But since my wife has a job still, while we struggle to pay our bills, I do not qualify for any federal or state aid. So I am forced to pay for it myself. How? Not by BEGGING on the side of the road. By taking out student loans. Yes I will have to pay that back, but at least I'm not BEGGING and pretending that my case is worse than others. She simply wants something for nothing.

[mswolfestock]

Something for nothing = welfare, which working people pay for.

[panhandlingmom]

wrong. Student loans are for college.....this is his senior year of high school. DO your kids get a free education? SO you want your kids to receive a free education?
I never pretended that my case was worse than anyone elses..did you see my sign. I did not lie and say I was homeless or destitute. I sold everything that wasnt nailed down ...PLEASE TELL ME MY OPTIONS THAT I DONT WANT TO TAKE???????

[panhandlingmom]

THE 3 other people that work the corner i was on ..hold signs that say homeless. PAT, Toad and
The Rose Man...are not homeless( but there sign says they are) . They told me where they live. One goes to technical college in seattle 3 days a week, is 51 and lives with his mom still.

[DaVicar6]

First the kid just wanted to go to dance school...now he just wants to die from embarassment!
Smooth move, crazy mom!

[ssvc62]

This is NOT NEWS! Why doesn't this woman get a job???? I am sick and tired of people who don't want to work.

[differnet]

Wow. You assume she isn't one of those who just got laid off this past year and has been looking for work. Does it make you feel safe blame her, like you couldn't find yourself in a similar position? If you don't want to donate, don't.

[panhandlingmom]

I do want to work....In fact I just became unemployed in April after 8 years with the same company..shame on you

[DTBlackmoreLaw]

I give 2 thumbs up to this mom. She did what she had to do for her son. She had already conducted other fundraisers including selling her car. I encourage all to go their website - djstuition.com and donate something - $1, $10, $20, whatever you can spare. I have never met this lady before seeing her today on the Early Show, but if homeless people can beg on the street, why can't she put aside her pride and do the same for her son? Nobody lifted a finger to help send me off to school. I admire her willingness to do whatever she could do to help her son.