At the age of eighteen, Raul Acosta undertook the responsibility of becoming the guardian for his seven younger brothers after their mother’s untimely demise in 2014. With no paternal presence in their lives, Acosta took it upon himself to fulfill that role. Now twenty-six, Acosta has successfully held his family unit intact. However, the economic strain brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant threat to their cohesion—until a group of unfamiliar individuals emerged to offer financial aid and support for the family’s well-being.
When Acosta unexpectedly became a father, it was something he never imagined. He honestly admitted, “I thought someone else in the family would take on the responsibilities. I had my own dreams and plans.”
However, his strong sense of duty towards his family led Acosta to make a life-changing decision. He firmly stated, “Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. I took on the responsibility.” The idea of his siblings being separated and placed in foster care was not an option he could accept. With unwavering determination, Acosta did everything he could to keep them together.
Their childhood home in Glendale, California, was a special place for Acosta and his diverse family, with siblings of different ages. He expressed his deep desire to keep them all in the same house, saying, “I want them to be safe and together under one roof.” He added, “This house belongs to all of us. It gives me peace of mind to know we’re protected and secure here.”
Sadly, Acosta faced a major setback when he struggled to keep up with mortgage payments. The bank warned of foreclosure if he couldn’t pay more than $14,000 by May 2022, putting his goals and the stability of their home at risk.
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Over the course of several years, attorney Sandra Creta has been representing Acosta. It was Creta who initially assisted Acosta in obtaining legal guardianship of his siblings. Reflecting on her first encounter with Acosta’s resilience, Creta remarked, “I was truly amazed by his maturity and the fact that he had already been taking care of lunches, braiding hair, changing diapers, and using his earnings from his job at Burger King to improve the house for years.” Acosta had already embraced the role of a father.
Despite juggling multiple jobs, Acosta faced challenges in keeping up with his expenses. “When COVID hit, I started falling behind on payments,” Acosta shared with reporters. “I have to cover electricity, water, car, and home insurance; it all adds up.” Additionally, they had not received any government assistance since December.
During the spring season of 2022, the family faced an imminent threat of losing their residence due to severe financial hardships. In an unwavering display of determination, Creta, the family’s legal representative, took decisive action. Recognizing Acosta as one of the most extraordinary individuals she had encountered, she urgently sought assistance from the legal community. Resolute in her stance, she declared, “Under no circumstances would I allow this family to be deprived of their home.” In the month of April, just days before Acosta’s payment deadline, they launched a joint GoFundMe campaign.
Initially, their target was set at $14,000, but astonishingly, it was surpassed within a mere week. Despite numerous contributors offering only $20 each, their collective support made an enormous impact. Many generous donors took the time to leave uplifting messages for Acosta and his siblings. Among them, Jennifer expressed, “Raul epitomizes true heroism, and we can all glean wisdom from his unwavering devotion to his family. He embodies the essence of authentic love!” With a total of over $130,000 raised, Acosta successfully averted the foreclosure, guaranteeing that his cherished home would shelter his family for many years to come.