Welcome to Daniel’s Bridge
Our Mission
Daniel’s Bridge is a non-profit organization founded by a small group of friends who are in a fellowship together, who recognized one family’s pain and saw an opportunity to be of service. Our mission is singular: to cover college costs for a young man named Daniel, who tragically lost his brother, friend and only sibling, to a drug overdose. Every penny we collect will go exclusively to tuition and other related expenses (housing, books…).
Daniel is currently a first semester freshman at Belmont University, a music school in Nashville, where he is doing well. He is a talented, caring young man who like so many in America, has been dealt a cruel blow by drugs and alcohol in his family. He will recover, and he has already been helped in trying to realize his dream, by the the kindness of friends and strangers across the country and online, for which we are incredibly grateful.
To donate through our GoFundMe Click Here
Fall 2023 Update
A Letter From Daniel
My first two years at Belmont have been nothing short of incredible. I went through the emotional grief that came with packing up my life and moving it to a completely new location a year after losing my only sibling, but I was growing as a person. I met so many intelligent, caring professors who wanted to hear what I had to say. Belmont opened their arms, and I jumped in.
Daniel and his Mother Jennifer
Meet Daniel
Daniel Coscia was a high school senior at John Burroughs Public High School in Burbank, CA when he lost his only brother and only sibling, Frank, to a tragic drug overdose. Frank was athletic, confident, an amazing son, brother and friend, and to say Frank and Daniel were close would be an understatement. Daniel admired and looked up to his brother for their entire lives together, and he now finds himself trying to pick up the pieces of a shattered family while also trying to navigate all of the life-altering choices every high school senior is faced with. Where his brother Frank was a star athlete, Daniel is a musician and performer. From the time his parents divorced when Frank and Daniel were just preschoolers, Daniel has poured is life into the performing arts. We think he is a brilliant, compassionate young guy, and with your help we plan to make his college dreams come true by covering as many of his expenses as we can.
Your Donation Matters
Thanks to the kindness of some incredible strangers and the generosity of friends, we have been able to raise more than $40K for Daniel’s college expenses. We estimate that another $50K will enable Daniel to complete his undergraduate degree at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. In our current round of fundraising we have set a goal of $25K.
We are grateful for any amount contributed for our cause. Your help makes a world of difference in Daniel’s life. We have chosen GoFundMe as our donation platform for the ease of use and security. Those of us raising the funds hold the account and write the checks from it as needed. We feel honored, humbled and profoundly grateful to those who contribute. Thank you for your support.
Daniel and Frank
Francis “Frank” Coscia
2000-2020
Fall 2023 Update
A Letter From Daniel
My first two years at Belmont have been nothing short of incredible. I went through the emotional grief that came with packing up my life and moving it to a completely new location a year after losing my only sibling, but I was growing as a person. I met so many intelligent, caring professors who wanted to hear what I had to say. Belmont opened their arms, and I jumped in.
I returned early to Belmont this fall, refreshed and excited for the new semester. I attribute this feeling to a program I would never have considered as a freshman. Before leaving in early summer, I applied for and was accepted as a welcome week leader, and now would have the opportunity to participate in our “towering traditions” program as a leader of ten incoming students. On returning to campus, as I joined my team of leaders and our orientation counselor to begin our training process, I felt something I have never experienced before- a feeling of deep connection between each of us.
There were two events during welcome week that particularly stand out for me. One was our storytelling night. The purpose was to get to know each person in your group as an individual. This was something I have never entrusted with any other person before. Only those few individuals will know my story from the deep and vulnerable place that I came from that night. I was open about the bad parts, especially the loss of my brother, Frank, and the good parts, mainly the years I had spent performing.
The second was the moment welcome week ended. On the last night of the week we lead an activity called “life under the tower”. First, seniors speak, and after the speeches students reflect, write out there intentions for the year, and then walk to the bell tower and place their card under the tower, which represents the culmination of their welcome week. Seeing each student walk past and thank their leader filled me with a sense of belonging. I thought of my brother Frank and knew he was the kind of person who had the capacity to be a servant leader. I realized that he still inspires me to this day and that many of the selfless actions I engage in (including participating in this program) were taught through him. He showed me how to be selfless in the little moments we had alone together. When we were young Frank cared for me in the simplest ways while my parents were out working. He always made sure I had a smile on my face when I was down. He was caring and he was a leader.
Belmont has allowed me to do things I had never anticipated. Belmont has allowed me to develop the practices of a great student. Belmont has allowed me to be me, and that’s something you can’t put a dollar value on. I’m so grateful for the fund and all those who keep it alive. To every individual who’s given even just a cent you alone allow me to stay on a path I had no idea I’d be able to follow. I am not only excited but am anticipating the great year that is ahead of me as a junior..
-Daniel James Coscia
