Annual Report 2013-2014
1994 2014 For 20 years REACH Prep has provided education, counseling, support and friendship to motivated young 1994 2014
Scholars. From middle school through Joan Duncan, Chair of the Board of Directors, Camille Spaulding, Director of college, REACH Prep Scholars flourish Education and Peggy Sarkela, Executive Director Dear Friends,
and excel in some of the nation’s finest Board of Directors hanks to all of you, our generous donors, for helping REACH Prep realize its vision 2013-2014 to afford motivated students access to rigorous independent school educations. Joan W. Duncan Because of your generosity, REACH Prep has, for twenty years, empowered young independent schools and ultimately Chair leaders through education. Your investment in the hope of a bright future is now a Andy Hobson Treasurer reality. Having been admitted to REACH Prep at the tender age of 10, our earliest Keith D. Grossman Scholars, many of whom have completed advanced degrees, are now seriously engaged in graduate from exceptional colleges and Secretary T careers in finance, law, education and public health and are undertaking research as scholars Emily Wilson Burns in economics and chemistry. universities. Suzanne Cabot Kimberly Clarke Trish Davies In the 21st century a four-year college degree is the key to participating significantly in our Mark Davis Sandy Harbison economy and society. However, for the past twenty years a gap in college graduation rates Alice Mahoney has persisted. Who will graduate from college? Paul Tough observed in The New York Times Pamela McKoin Cory Mims that, ”While almost 90 percent of college freshmen born into families in the top income Scott Nelson quartile finish their degree, only a quarter of college freshmen born into the lower 50% of the Betsy O’Reilly Robert Salomon income distribution will earn a bachelor’s degree by age 24.“ What can change the outcome Eileen Simmons for students? The Consortium on Chicago School Research tells us that students are more Mary S. Sykes Melissa Thomson likely to graduate if they attend the most academically demanding institution to which they Brook Urban can gain access. REACH Prep exists to provide such access and to support success. 100% of
Margaret Sarkela our scholars who graduate from an independent school are admitted to a rigorous college and Executive Director more than 90% will graduate within 6 years.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thank you for celebrating twenty years and more than 300 scholars. Thank you for supporting Maxine K. Armstrong the hard work and high aspiration that led us to this important milestone. Thank you for Founding Board Chair recognizing the commitment and investment of our Board of Directors and the effort and
Sarah Burdett achievement of our remarkable faculty and staff. And, finally, thank you for investing in the Peter Chapman future by supporting our scholars. I stand in awe of these remarkable young men and women Julie S. Core Gloria Fernandez-Tearte whose wisdom, effort and agency produced the wonderful results presented in this report Patsy G. Howard, Founder and whose presence has been transformative in their schools, colleges, universities and Jill Olson William Porter communities. Jasmine Posey Deborah F. Stiles Linda Vasu Kirby D. Williams Everett Wilson Deanne H. Winokur Patricia Young, Founder Joan Duncan Peggy Sarkela Chair of the Board of Directors Executive Director
5 1 Rashana Shabazz 5 things we’re REACH Prep Cohort 12 The Greenwich Country Day School ‘08 really proud of: Phillips Academy ‘12 Columbia University ‘16 1 REACH Prep is celebrating its 20th year of empowering “ I can safely say that I wouldn’t be where I am now students through without the help and support of REACH Prep. The education. classes at REACH challenged me at a young age and the 2 Since its inception REACH Prep has teachers and faculty helped me nurture my intellectual served more than curiosity. I am sincerely grateful for all of the support 300 students. I’ve received from REACH even after graduating Prep 3 Each year independent schools Academy. REACH is an important and necessary award more than program that gave my peers and me the tools to go $4 million dollars in financial aid above and beyond. And it continues to give others the to REACH Prep same wonderful opportunities. I will never forget what Scholars. REACH has done for me.” 4 100% of REACH Prep Scholars graduated from high school & 100% were admitted to competitive colleges.
5 91% of REACH Prep Scholars entering college in 2009 expect to complete their degree in 5 years.
3 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES One hundred percent of REACH Prep Scholars matriculate at a four-year college or university. Since 2011 Scholars have been admitted to the following institutions:
Most Competitive Highly Competitive Amherst College (2) Babson College Barnard College Bentley College (2) Boston College (4) Clark University (2) Bowdoin College Elon University Brown University Fordham University (5) Bryn Mawr College (2) Loyola University MD (2) Bucknell University Northeastern University (4) Colgate University (3) Rollins College College of William and Mary St. Lawrence University Columbia University (2) SUNY Stony Brook (5) Cornell University (2) Syracuse University (5) Dartmouth College (2) Trinity College Davidson College (4) Union College (4) Duke University (2) University of CA-Santa Barbara Emory University University of Connecticut (7) Franklin & Marshall College (3) Georgetown University (2) Very Competitive, Competitive George Washington University (4) and Arts/Design Schools Hamilton College College of Charlestown Harvard College (3) Drew University Johns Hopkins University Drexel University (2) Lafayette College Fairfield University (4) Lehigh University (3) George Mason University Northwestern University Goucher College Hamza Ahmed Princeton University (2) Hampton College Rice University High Point University REACH Prep Cohort 11 Swarthmore College Hobart & William Smith Colleges (3) Tufts University (4) Howard University (3) Rye country day school University of Chicago (2) Iona College (2) Howard Medical School BS/MD University of Miami Ithaca College (3) University of North Carolina (3) Lincoln University Accelerated Medical Training Program ‘18 University of Pennsylvania (4) Manhattan College (3) University of Virginia Manhattanville Villanova University (3) Miami University of Ohio Wake Forest University Oberlin College Washington and Lee University Pace University (2) “ REACH Prep instills in each student, qualities and characteristics Washington University- St. Louis Penn State University (2) Wesleyan University (2) Quinnipiac University that will enable them to succeed in the post-secondary and Williams College Rider University Yale University (2) Roanoke College Rochester Institute of Technology professional environment. The support I have received from Highly Competitive Plus Roger Williams University (2) American University (2) Spelman College (3) Boston University (5) St. John’s University (2) REACH Prep has been integral to my success. Whenever I reach Colorado College Temple University (3) Dennison University University of Colorado out for support or guidance, REACH Prep is there.” Dickinson College (2) University of Denver Gettysburg College University of Hartford Mount Holyoke College (2) University of SUNY Binghamton (4) Massachusetts-Amherst SUNY Geneseo University of New Haven (2) University of Michigan University of Rhode Island (3) University of Wisconsin University of San Francisco Wheaton College (2) University of Tampa (3) Worcester Polytechnic Institute University of Vermont (4)
Categories as defined by Barron’s 2013 Profiles of American Colleges. 4 5 2 vanessa rios
REACH Prep Cohort 4 Greenwich Academy ‘04 Cornell University ‘08 MPH Rollins School of Public Health Emory University ‘12
“ Being a REACH Prep Scholar has become a defining part of my identity. It is because of REACH Prep that I had the opportunity learn in an environment where I had to step up to the challenge of meeting higher standards and pushing myself intellectually, socially and creatively. This experience not only allowed me to succeed at Greenwich Academy, Cornell and Emory, but continues to motivate my personal and professional goals to grant others the opportunities they deserve for their own futures.”
The REACH Prep 12-Year Continuum:
prep academy Advocacy academic support summer enrichment College Placement College Prep Academy is just the beginning of REACH Prep provides assistance to At REACH Prep each Scholar’s progress programs Each year every REACH Prep Scholar attends REACH Prep invites college our 12-year progrram. It consists of 15 families throughout the elementary and is monitored and nurtured through REACH Prep’s Summer Team-building an age-appropriate workshop intended to students to return as interns in our months of academic enrichment taught by secondary independent school application personalized contact and assessment. Adventure Retreat (STAR) offers middle provide a “roadmap” to college. Since the office or advisors in our summer independent school faculty. This intensive, processes. REACH Prep support includes A REACH Prep Post-Placement Counselor school Scholars the opportunity to work summer of 2012, REACH Prep has partnered programs. The guidance they offer interdisciplinary program prepares students gathering and preparing admission and visits students at least once each term. as a team and develop leadership skills with Horizons and The Waterside School younger students is enriched by for the academic rigors they will encounter financial aid documents. Counselors also meet with school division by exploring nature. Rising 9th and 10th to offer a weeklong College Application their experience and wisdom. when admitted to an independent school. heads and/or academic deans to gain grade Scholars participate in a special Bootcamp. REACH Prep Scholars enter During college, REACH Prep also Prep Academy emphasizes dedication to Middle School insight into the academic and social REACH Prep Summer Symposium designed their senior year with a completed common assists Scholars with resume learning as a lifelong process. The program workshops progress of each REACH Prep Scholar. If to prepare them for success in secondary application and at least one personal preparation, career counseling, essay. During the fall semester of senior also focuses on character development as Twice each month REACH Prep offers necessary, REACH partners with schools school. REACH Prep also provides financial referrals and professional year, REACH Prep assists families with it guides Scholars to polish their academic writing and math workshops for Middle to provide academic tutoring, test assistance and/or partners with other internships. Scholars have the the completion of all necessary financial skills and study habits. Scholars graduate School Students. The workshops are an preparation and other individual support. programs that provide financial assistance opportunity to come together aid forms. from Prep Academy the summer following opportunity for students to reconnect and to ensure that all Scholars enjoy enriching with their peers during our yearly 5th grade. to hone, enrich, and expand their skills. summer opportunities. alumni reunions.
5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade College and beyond 2013-2014 Partner schools
Brunswick School Horace Mann School Canterbury School Iona Preparatory School Choate Rosemary Hall King Low Heywood Thomas Convent of the Sacred Heart The Masters School Ethical Culture Fieldston Schools The Montessori School Eaglebrook School New Canaan Country School Fairfield Country Day School Ridgefield Academy Fordham Preparatory School Rippowam Cisqua School Greens Farms Academy Riverdale Country School Greenwich Academy Rumsey Hall School The Greenwich Country Day School Rye Country Day School Hackley School St. Luke’s School Hamden Hall Country Day School School of the Holy Child The Harvey School The Stanwich School The Hotchkiss School The Stony Brook School
Jetson Leder-Luis REACH Prep Cohort 9 Financial The Masters School ‘10 Caltech ‘14 Highlights July 1, 2013– June 30, 2014 MIT Economics , PhD Student Revenue Sources Total Revenue: $1,334,479 “ REACH Prep identifies the brightest
Events: youth for whom a world-class 27.7% Investment Income: Grants: education is a dream that would be 2.7% 13.5%
otherwise unattainable. The Prep Annual Appeal: 56.1% Academy transforms the lives of incredibly promising young people, Expense Allocation setting them on the path to a Total Expenses: $1,386,698 successful and impactful career.
Every student who comes through Program: 81.4% Administration: 5.9%
REACH will be able to transform not Fundraising: 12.7% only their own lives, but the lives of their family and their community in which they are scholars and leaders.” The most recent annual audit is available at www.reachprep.org.
8 9 2 REACH Prep Presorted One Dock Street First Class Mail Suite 100 Stamford, CT 06902 US Postage Paid Stamford, CT 203.487.0750 Permit No. 864 www.reachprep.org
REACH Prep helps motivated and talented Black and Latino students from underserved communities gain admission to and thrive in rigorous independent schools in Fairfield and Westchester Counties and the Bronx. Upon placement, students benefit from a twelve-year educational continuum, including comprehensive academic enrichment, leadership training and supplementary individual and family guidance, which prepares them to succeed at competitive colleges.