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  <created-at type="datetime">2009-03-05T01:20:42Z</created-at>
  <expires type="date">2009-12-31</expires>
  <id type="integer">38</id>
  <long-text>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Profile: &lt;/strong&gt;Denise came to Reason to Give slightly embarrrased to be asking for help, but knew it was the best thing to do for her two children. Denise is 30 years old raising her&amp;nbsp;12-year-old daughter, Jasmyre, and 8-year-old son, Da'Juan.&amp;nbsp;A single mother, Denise struggles to get through life on a daily basis, but is determined to be the first in her family to finish college. She is currently pursuing a nursing degree.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Denise has lived in Humboldt Park all of her life. She was raised by her father and grandmother, after she lost her mother to cancer when she was just a year and a half old. Denise's father was recently taken from her as well, and it has been extremely hard for her to keep going with no support system to help her along the way. Denise is a strong Latina woman, and she fights hard to give her children the life that they deserve.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Denise told Reason to Give that she is in need of almost everything, and any little bit would be greatly appreciated. She needs winter wear and shoes for herself and her children and household items and bedding. They could all also use school supplies, and most importantly, a computer for Denise to finish her degree and the kids to do their homework.&lt;/p&gt;</long-text>
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  <photo-file-name>Denise_Pic.jpg</photo-file-name>
  <photo-file-size type="integer">91877</photo-file-size>
  <photo-updated-at type="datetime">2009-03-12T22:07:14Z</photo-updated-at>
  <position type="integer">27</position>
  <recipient-category-id type="integer">2</recipient-category-id>
  <short-text>&lt;p&gt;Denise and her two children need household items, winter wear, and a computer to help this struggling mom to stay in school and care for her family.&lt;/p&gt;</short-text>
  <status-category-id type="integer">2</status-category-id>
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  <title>Young mom struggles to get her nursing degree</title>
  <updated-at type="datetime">2010-02-15T21:10:00Z</updated-at>
  <video-content-type>video/quicktime</video-content-type>
  <video-file-name>09RTG_VeraDenise_Interview.mov</video-file-name>
  <video-file-size type="integer">35053813</video-file-size>
  <video-updated-at type="datetime">2009-03-17T14:52:12Z</video-updated-at>
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