Please join me at the REACH gala, Tuesday, April 12th

If you're in NYC on Tuesday, April 12^th, I hope you'll join me for the 2^nd Annual Breaking Barriers Award Reception to benefit the Rewarding Achievement (REACH) program that I co-founded.  It will be at the Harvard Club from 6:00-8:30pm and you can RSVP here: Breaking Barriers

 

We will be honoring Joel Klein for his support of REACH and his passionate advocacy on behalf of children.  Joining him will be 30 of our 2010-2011 REACH Scholar Seniors, some of the hardest working, most inspiring high school students in NYC, many of whom will be attending the nation's most selective colleges in the fall.  Fewer than 1% of African-American and Latino high school students in NYC pass an AP each year, so the students we're rewarding are truly remarkable.

 

REACH is a privately funded program that gives cash awards to thousands of low-income New York City high school students who pass rigorous, college-level Advanced Placement exams.  Since launching in October 2007, REACH has been a game-changer.  The combination of cash awards and various resources, including free comprehensive tutoring for students and training for teachers, has resulted in substantial increases in the number of students taking and passing AP exams at the schools REACH works with.  In its first two full years (2008-2010), the number of AP exams passed by REACH students rose 27%, driven by a 30% increase in exams taken, far outpacing national and New York State increases.

 

REACH's impact is occurring on a large scale.  In less than four years, our program has trained more than 150 AP teachers from 32 inner-city NYC high schools and supported the hard work of over 15,000 students, more than 3,000 of whom have earned more than $2 million in REACH Scholar Awards.  In addition, we have awarded their schools with nearly $1 million in performance-based grants to invest in academics.

 

Below are 13 pictures and additional information about REACH, as well as the formal invitation.  Please let me know if you can join me!

 

Best regards,

 

Whitney

 

PS—If you'd like to see the REACH program in action, please come to one of our Saturday Learn, Earn, Win! (LEW) prep sessions, which take place over 12 Saturdays this spring (the remaining six dates are: March 19 and 26, April 9, 16 and 30, and May 7).  More than 1,000 students come every Saturday to these free, comprehensive, all-day workshops at Baruch College (23^rd and Lex), taught by expert AP teachers from around the country, which are aimed at helping REACH Scholars excel on the rigorous AP exams.  Just RSVP to REACH's Executive Director, Kathrine Mott, at kmott@nycup.org.

 

PPS—If you'd like to support one particular REACH Scholar for passing an AP exam, please make a donation of $300, $400 or $500, and we'll have the student who receives your gift write you a personal thank-you note.  Again, please contact Kathrine Mott, at kmott@nycup.org.