Photo credit: Kevin Winter/AFP-Getty
Over a year ago, OSI-Baltimore Advisory Board member Alicia Wilson had the opportunity to tell Michelle Obama about her work with the College Bound Foundation. Little did Wilson know, that a year later, she would receive a phone call from the Forever First Lady herself about gifting Baltimore City Schools students with tickets to attend her “Becoming” book tour stop in Washington, D.C.
According to the Baltimore Sun, when Obama asked Wilson how many kids she wanted to bring, Wilson said 50 – but Obama said “dream a little bigger.”
As a result, Obama gave out 150 free tickets to the college bound students, and of course students, who were selected by College Bound’s advisors at the city schools, claimed their tickets fast. Tanae Moore-Buchannon, who is a 16 -year-old student at Digital Harbor High School, said of Obama: “I feel she motivates me to become greater than what I am now.”
Obama has given away thousands of free book tour tickets to both local and national organizations.
She said in a press release: “It was important to me that all sorts of people could come to the tour events, not just those with means or who happened to be by a computer when the tickets went on sale. That’s why we are giving away thousands of tickets to people around the country, particularly to young people striving to be their best. I want them to see themselves in my story—to see the value in the fullness of their lives and to imagine who they might become in the years ahead.”
The students were in for a surprise too, as President Obama stopped by the event to surprise his wife with a bouquet of flowers.