Make Higher Education An Option For All Students

This time of year, parents around the country will beam with pride as their child crosses the stage at graduation. But for many students, meeting this milestone moment is no easy task. At risk students from low-income neighborhoods face as many challenges outside of school as they do within the classroom.

Project GRAD, an educational non-profit, works to change the culture of schools and communities serving low-income students, challenging the acceptance of failure and setting expectations that every student can succeed given the chance. Project GRAD serves the most disadvantaged public schools in the twelve cities where it operates, establishing independent non-profit entities that work in partnership with each local school system.

At Project GRAD's oldest site, high school graduation rates have increased by 94% and the number of students going to college has increased by 400%. This spring, almost 1500 students will qualify for a Project GRAD scholarship that will provide the opportunity to pursue a college degree.

If we hope to empower all students through public education, we must not let these successes go unrecognized.

Please take a moment to send a message of hope and congratulations to a Project GRAD graduate. Help sustain programs like Project GRAD by letting students know that their achievement matters to you.