The Steppingstone Foundation 2009 Annual Report (on cover, clockwise from left) ANDREW, Steppingstone ’08 MORIAH, Steppingstone ’03 CHRISTINA, Steppingstone ’02 ANDREW, Father The Simpson Family ALEXIA, Steppingstone ’07 Christina, a junior at Boston College, was the first from the Simpson family to attend The Steppingstone TINA, Mother Academy. One year later, younger sister Moriah, currently a sophomore at Hampton University, followed suit. The girls recall their first summer session of the academic preparation component. “The work was challenging, with lots of new material, and the pace was fast. But with the support of my parents and Steppingstone advisors, I got through it,” recalls Christina. Moriah adds, “Yes, Steppingstone really prepared me for Boston Latin School. The standards are so high there and I felt that with all the preparation I had over the 14 months, I was ready to move forward with confidence.” While Christina and Moriah went on to attend Boston Latin School, younger siblings Alexia and Andrew both chose Beaver Country Day School. Initially, Tina, their mother, was uneasy about the prospect of an independent school education for them. “Considering a school with tuition fees seemed out of my reach. I just didn’t think it was financially possible for us, and I would have left it at that. But then Ms. Conrad from Steppingstone went over the application process and urged us to consider it, and I’m so glad we took her advice!” The Simpsons have taken advantage of the many resources available to them through Steppingstone, including financial aid workshops, college application and essay writing classes, and college tours. The Simpson Scholars attended Saturday Mentoring and Study Hall (SMASH), and Christina and Moriah had the same mentor, Allison Foley, for four years. “Even though Allison lives in a different state now, we still communicate with her to this day,” said Tina. “She makes every effort to be with us at major events in our lives, such as graduations.” Christina describes education as “more than just being book smart. It’s being prepared to enter the world as a professional and succeeding.” The four Simpson Scholars are well on their way. Letter from the Founder The Steppingstone Foundation acknowledges with sincere gratitude the following donors who have made gifts for 20 In 1990, John Simon and I launched their Steppingstone diplomas every consecutive years: The Steppingstone Foundation. We August, they do so because of the admitted 14 Scholars into the pilot class, unending support they receive from their ANONYMOUS and John and I did just about everything: families. This support takes many forms. SHERI BERMAN & GIDEON ROSE/ we visited schools, taught classes, drove It’s the mother who leaves work early THE BAObab FUND the bus, and helped the Scholars apply to so she can drive carpool for a group of MrS. LEONarD BLOCK independent schools. But there were some Scholars on a cold afternoon in February; BETSY & MICHAEL DaNZIGER things we couldn’t do all on our own, or the grandfather who serves as a human Mr. & MrS. F. MICHAEL DaNZIGER and I would like to acknowledge a special alarm clock every weekday morning in KatIE DaNZIGER & group of people, listed on this page, who the summer so his grandchild won’t miss StEVEN G. HOROWITZ were among the many early supporters of the bus; or maybe the older sister who PEggY & RICHarD DaNZIGER Steppingstone. What sets them apart is constantly reminds her brother not to quit JOHN & LAUra FISHER that they have continued to give every the Academy because if he can make it, NaNCY & RICHarD FRIEDMAN year, for the past 20 years. While I am it will change his life. Yes, family matters ElIZabETH & ANDREW HaHN extremely appreciative of anyone who at Steppingstone. has ever given anything to Steppingstone, There is another family here at THE ESTHER A. & JOSEPH there is a special place in my heart for Steppingstone, and the members of that KlINGENSTEIN FUND INC. those who have been with us literally family are listed on the pages that follow JEANNE & BOB SaVItt every step of the way. in this report. Just as the Scholars rely ESTHER SIMON CHarItablE TRUST You will notice that some of the people on their families to achieve their goals, JOHN & SUSAN SIMON on that list have the same last name as we rely on you in so many ways. You RICHarD, ANN, JOHN & JAMES I do. I am particularly grateful for the attend SMASH and help Scholars with SOLOMON FOUNDatION support of my family, without whom there their homework; you organize and attend JEAN & RAYMOND TROUBH would be no Steppingstone. fundraising events; you offer candid and Family is at the foundation of constructive advice; and you give so Steppingstone. When we admit Scholars generously of your resources. Any success 1 to The Steppingstone Academy, we don’t we have had is due to your support. just interview the prospective students; we meet with their parents or guardians Michael P. Danziger as well. Even though it is the Scholars who Founder and CEO walk across the stage at MIT to receive Letter from the Chairman As Steppingstone marks its 20th year in 2010, The second area of growth that I am excited we can be proud of so many accomplishments: to share with you is the National Partnership for more than 1,100 Scholars have graduated from Educational Access, or NPEA. We launched NPEA The Steppingstone Academy, and nearly 200 three years ago and had targeted about 30 other have graduated from college. We have affiliate programs we thought might be interested in sharing programs in Hartford and Philadelphia and have best practices. We underestimated the interest by a launched the National Partnership for Educational little! As I write, there are 169 member organizations, Access. The Steppingstone Foundation, started collectively serving over 30,000 students around the by a schoolteacher and a young entrepreneur, has country. In addition to hosting an annual conference, more than delivered on its mission; it’s changed NPEA will convene members locally––beginning in the lives of countless Scholars and has served as Boston––in order to develop opportunities for an example of what is possible. collaboration. For example, NPEA will organize While I am proud of all that Steppingstone college tours for students in participating programs has accomplished so far, I am even more excited that don’t have the resources to sponsor tours them- about what lies ahead. Recently, we completed a selves. Finally, we will link the growing number of strategic plan and are now on a course to serve NPEA-affiliated students with college admissions more students in Boston, and to become a leader officers eager to recruit them, while also giving these in the field of college access and readiness. The students the opportunity to connect with other growth initiatives in the strategic plan build on the students going to the same college. success of The Steppingstone Academy in Boston, I am very grateful for the support that you have Philadelphia, and Hartford. given Steppingstone. Without the generosity of those In 2011, Steppingstone will launch a new listed on the following pages, there would be no initiative called the College Success Academy, which Steppingstone Academy and no NPEA. In the same will provide after-school and summer programming way, without your continued support, all our plans to students attending partner public schools in for growth and the College Success Academy would Boston, with a goal of increasing the number of be just that—plans—rather than the opportunities students attending and graduating from four-year that you make possible. 2 colleges. Unlike The Steppingstone Academy, the Thank you for your wonderful support and for College Success Academy will not rely on placement the confidence you have in Steppingstone. into independent and public exam schools. Therefore, Steppingstone can help more kids get on and stay Brian J. Conway on the path to college. We will start with two pilot Chairman, The Steppingstone Foundation public schools in Boston next summer. If we succeed as we plan to, we will add more schools and students. Steppingstone Placement Schools Boston The Rivers School Hartford The Roxbury Latin School Beaver Country Day School Shady Hill School Avon Old Farms Belmont Day School St. Mark’s School Berkshire School Belmont Hill School St. Paul’s School Buxton School Boston College High School St. Sebastian’s School The Ethel Walker School Boston Latin Academy Southfield School Kent School Boston Latin School Thayer Academy The Loomis Chaffee School Boston Trinity Academy The Winsor School Marianapolis Preparatory School Boston University Academy Xaverian Brothers High School The Master’s School Brimmer and May School Miss Porter’s School Buckingham Browne & Nichols Philadelphia Northwest Catholic High School Cambridge School of Weston Pomfret School Commonwealth School Abington Friends School Renbrook School Concord Academy Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Salisbury School Dana Hall School The Agnes Irwin School Suffield Academy Dedham Country Day School The Baldwin School The Taft School Deerfield Academy Chestnut Hill Academy Watkinson School Derby Academy The Episcopal Academy Westminster School Dexter School Friends’ Central School Westover School Fay School Friends Select School The Williston Northampton School The Fessenden School Germantown Academy The Governor’s Academy Germantown Friends School Holderness School Girard College The Meadowbrook School of Weston Greene Street Friends School Milton Academy The Haverford School Newton Country Day School Holy Child Academy Noble and Greenough School The Julia R. Masterman School John D. O’Bryant School Philadelphia High School for Girls The Park School The Philadelphia School Phillips Academy The Shipley School 33 Phillips Exeter Academy Springside School St. Peter’s School Westtown School William Penn Charter School The Bacare Family (left to right) MURam, Steppingstone ’10 MARWA AMIN ISmaEL, Grandfather DEENA, Ohrenberger Elementary School Most children learn about Steppingstone from their teachers or parents.