Update (May 2, 2010): Goal reached! Almost exactly four months to the date after this site was launch, I have reach the total that I needed for this term. Thank you to everyone for their financial and emotional support to make this possible.

Update (May 1, 2010): If you are interested in buying this painting, "Eight Horses," to help finish the goal, please email me for more info. Cost is only $528 (all that is left for the fundraiser) plus shipping. Canvas size is approximately 8 ft x 5 ft. To see this actually being painting, click here.

Update (Apr. 13, 2010): Check out this video "Thank you" message to everyone who has helped me get here:

 

Update (Jan. 10, 2010): Check out this article by writer Erik Olvera that was submitted to the Associated Press!

About Me

Since I was a small child I have wanted to be a doctor. Born and raised in rural Oregon, my parents taught my sisters and I about the importance of giving back and of following your dreams. Following a Rotary youth exchange to Australia, I studied international business and pre-medicine at George Fox University through the Ford Family Foundation. After school, I helped start a humanitarian aid organization that was dedicated to providing volunteers to help with educational and medical needs in the US and around the world. It was during this time volunteering in hospitals that my passion for healthcare and my goal of being a physician solidified. (Click here to learn more about Matt.)

“There are people in this world that you could only refer to as a force. Matt is such a person. Matt is articulate, compassionate, innovative and the most self-motivated person I have ever met.”
Lauren Tacconi, Case Manager, Safe Horizon, New York

Update (Jan 5, 2010): Medical School

For those of you who I didn't have a chance to share how this opportunity to study came about, here's the scoop. I was accepted to St. George's University to start the medical program in January 2010. However, when I tried to obtain a loan, I found that my studies don't qualify for Federal Student Aid until after my first term and the bank wouldn't give me a personal loan due to a freeze on personal lines of credit. My plan was to work and save for the next 8 months and then start. But then the university called and offered me an internal loan for part of the cost and I was afraid that if I didn't seize the opportunity now it wouldn't be offered again. So, I pulled together all that I had saved until this point and here I am, in Grenada, hoping that my fundraising will be fruitful enough to get me through the first semester.

As this opportunity has come about at the last minute I do not have the rest of the money pay for this term myself. Would you please consider partnering with me so that I can complete this next step and continue toward becoming a physician?

Launched Jan. 5, 2010. Donations can also be mailed to: Matt Gerber, P.O. Box 31, Heppner, OR 97836.
See a broken link or want to send me a note? Email me. Updated almost daily.

Special thanks to: Tal Schinik, Ryan Johnson & Erinn Lerten, Joe Throndson, Elisha Elguezabal, Louis & Robin Gerber, Bruce & Katherine Litchfield, Sue Gerber, Ross Hawkins & Dr. Diane Vines, Mike Driggers, Dave & Melva Brandt, Al Jubitz, Kenn & Janita Caldwell, Sean Walker, Anne Barker, Jaaron & Laura Smith, David Hanrahan, Buddy Wakefield, Mikki Hegre, Matt Koehler, Stephen Fitzmaurice, David Troensegaard, Stefanie Milliman, Julie Cain, Tyson Wooters, Bree Freeman, George Vuckovic, Josh & Ginger Cox, Mikki's friend Pete, Dan Nevill, Irina Linetskaya, Jennifer Freedman, Brandon Wooters, Matthew Noell, Coral Barker, Gary Schmidt, Malcolm Strand, Lou Tice, Paul Brodbeck, Giovanni Salimena, Jack Storey, Waiyde Palmer, David Brown, Mitch Nelson, Perry Sjogren, Wilber Bucardo, Alan Helyer, Brian Williams, Robert Reichman, Jason Gritti, Larry & Carol Skuzie, Joel de Guzman & Scott Nash, Natalie Ditgen, Jenny Blakey, Kelsey Dzintars, Crystal Wulff, Fr. Peter Tobias, Dr. Leon Speroff, Vanessa Lesko, Bart Howard, Amber James LMT, Dr. Alan Handt, The Ford Family Foundation, Barb Griesel, Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Bruce, Dr. Tom Head, Julie Leahy, Dr. Tom Barreto, C.W. Perry & Family, Lisa Lashley, Amy Sandoz, Ben McReynolds, Dessa Bingley, Amy Fosket, Sondra Klym, Beth Royal, Dr. Tara Baker, Dr. R. Carlisle Chambers, , Dwight Kimberly, Shelley Duncan, Barbara Olver, Dr. Richard Cahill, Dr. Ahmed Afifi, Anonymous, Dean Cheatham, Barb Dudley, Phil & Ginger Nelson, Kahala at KOiPOD, Fr. Theodore Dorrance, Royce Gorsuch, Dr. Marcus Engle, Tarver & Tara Hannant, Harold Robertson, Grady & Vickie Shaver, Bill & Lois Forester, Marc Shumaker, Linda Wooters, George Powell, Jeff Otis, Lindsey Bennington, Amy DeBoie, Mattie Ivy, Art & Melva Manning, Aimee Genter, Dick Owsiany, Emily Garcia, and Georgia Hill, Drs. Juan Jose & Patricia Acias, Dr. Alex Goldman & Evansion Ventures, LLC, Dr. Linda Irwin, Karen Hunt, Teresa Baldwin, Glenn & Joann Rissberger, Dr. Tom Geraci, Loni Schroeder, Scott & Sheri Phillips, Fmr. Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse, Gordon Coffin, Long Nguyen, Dana Bennett, Jim Hawken, Henry Pascual, Dan & Wendy Bennett, Mikhael Tooma, Eunice Asomaning, Mary Anderson, Brian Crooks, Jeff Turner, Vivek Jayadeva, Michael Thomas Sunnarborg, Ha'aheo "TK" Terukina & TK Fitness, Syd & Shirley Wells, Andre Velazquez, Mahin Samadani, William Caldwell, Steve Fahringer and Richard Greene.