Jackson Free Press

Madison native April Ulmer is launching a new student-aid program this Friday. The program, titled Project Forward, is a web-based crowd-funding platform with the goal of assisting students or aspiring students from all walks of life in continuing or starting secondary education.

"Project Forward will help students obtain funding for any kind of education, from college to trade or medical school," Ulmer said. "It was born of the fact that many students have the desire for secondary education but don't have the money, even after doing all they can."

Project Forward's tagline is "Tell your story, fund your education." Students submit their stories when applying for funding so that other students can be inspired to pursue higher education themselves and so that potential donators can be inspired to help out in whatever way they can.

The project is similar to Kickstarter, but is focused on education rather than artistic pursuits. Unlike Kickstarter, however, a student is not required to reach a prespecified goal amount to receive the funds raised. All money raised goes to Project Forward rather than to individuals to ensure that the money gets used for its intended purpose. Project Forward has a "Pay it Forward" feature that takes 1 percent of the amount a student raises and designates it toward another student in the program; in this way all the students in the program support one another through their fundraising efforts.

Ulmer started Project Forward because she believes education is critical to break the cycle of poverty many people are trapped in.

"Many things haven't changed since I was in college," Ulmer said. "Many parents don't seem to push students to pursue higher education. We started this project and are working together with ACT Prep and other non-profits because we want to ensure school success."

Ulmer's mother, Onnie Lee, and her father, Joshua Lee Sr., are both teachers and always pushed their children to pursue higher education. Ulmer graduated from McGee High School and attended college at Xavier University in New Orleans, La., where she majored in biology. Ulmer then went to University of Mississippi Medical Center for her medical degree, where she works as a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Ulmer, 40, is the oldest of three children. Her middle brother, Joshua Lee Jr., is a surgeon in Florida. Her youngest brother, Jason Lee, is a Milsaps business graduate who lives in Dallas, Texas. Ulmer is married to Christian Ulmer. They have two children, 4-year-old Evyn and 2-year-old London.

For information on the program, visit www.projectforward.com or contact Ulmer at 601-900-8363. You can also follow Project Forward on Facebook at www.facebook.com/projectForward or on Twitter at twitter.com/@projectForward.