From the desk of Kenneth Ward, Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Greetings from College Bound, where we are gearing up for another exciting year! We are currently recruiting partners to serve 150 students in our Academic Mentoring program this fall and finishing up our program calendar for the 2010-11 school year. I am thrilled to share the good news of our growth and progress, even in these challenging times, as we work to make college a reality for deserving young people in the DC Metropolitan area.

During my first year as Executive Director, I have been amazed by the outpouring of love and support that I have received. I am equally excited to kick-off our 1st Annual Back–to–School Campaign. As we are preparing for the start of the program year, your financial contribution will go a long way in helping us reach our goals. From August 1, 2010 until September 30, 2010, your gift will be MATCHED dollar for dollar by three committed donors.

As we enter our 20th year, I am excited to report that one of our students, Ashley, will be a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Pogue Scholarship. This news is incredibly special and personal to me as she will attend UNC on the very same scholarship which made college a reality for me.

Here are some additional milestones and initiatives that we can also look forward to:

• This year, College Bound’s staff and partners will work with about 150 students at five sites: Mondays at Gonzaga High School and Sherwood Recreation Center, Wednesdays at Cesar Chavez Charter School for Public Policy and BET, and Thursdays at Beacon House. The relationships between our students and partners continue to be the essence of College Bound. Our partners represent the best of our country as they come from all backgrounds, religions, professions and ethnicities and believe that college is possible for our students.

• Through the leadership of our Programs Department, we are revamping and improving the College Bound Curriculum. We will continue with the USA Today reading initiative that we piloted last year and expand the role of our College Advisors from the American Institute of Research. Additionally, we will partner with Howard University’s MBA School to provide math assistance at each of our sites weekly.

• For the last two years we have graduated 100% of our high school seniors and enrolled all of our graduates in college. To further support our students, this fall we will kick-off The Virtual Mentoring Program to provide additional support to the class of 2010 throughout their college experience. College Bound alumni will receive additional support from volunteers to make their transition into college more successful. This initiative will also allow us to evaluate the program services that we provide and tailor them to meet the student’s needs as they transition into college life.

• We will continue collaboration with our corporate partner, Deloitte, for our 2nd Annual College Exploration Day and expose an additional 300 8th graders to college and the career paths that a college education provides.

• We are exploring the possibility of opening our SIXTH site in Ward 7 or 8. These communities have the lowest high school completion and college enrollment rates in the district and would benefit greatly from our services.

College Bound has its roots in the community, providing needed services to students that have the potential to go to college, but because of a myriad of factors they may not have the support, whether academically or financially. As you can see, so many exciting opportunities are happening at College Bound. However, the U.S. now ranks 12th in college completion among 36 developed nations. As we reach our 20th year, we need to ensure that the number of college educated Americans increases so we can compete globally.

We trust that you will support us as we rise to the challenge here in the Nation’s Capitol to improve our overall ranking as a country.

Remember, as we kick-off our Back to School Campaign, EVERY dollar (up to $11,000) that you donate will be MATCHED. That’s right; every dollar up to $11,000 will have a double impact. You can TRIPLE the impact of your donation if your employer offers a matching donation program.

Please consider making a gift to College Bound today. Your support truly makes a difference. The list below is an indication of how your contribution can make a difference here at College Bound and in the lives of the students we serve.

Donation Impact
• $35 Cost of one student to attend the Senior Retreat.
• $50 Cost for a student to attend the Fall College Tour.
• $100 Cost for a student to take an SAT class.
• $100 Cost for a student to attend the Spring College Tour.
• $200 Buys a Reading program.
• $500 Buys SAT Curriculum.
• $1,000 Sponsors a bus for the Fall College Tour.
• $3,000 Covers the cost of an SAT Class for 20 students.
• $3,000 Covers overnight accommodations for the Senior Retreat.
• $5,000 Sponsors a bus for the Spring College Tour.
• $6,000 Provides a scholarship for a College Bound student.

-OR-

Join our “11 Campaign” with a recurring monthly donation of $11 (or multiple) to sustain and expand our programming.

Thank you again for your commitment to College Bound.

Warm regards,

Kenneth Ward,
Executive Director

P.S. You can make a Combined Federal Campaign contribution through your employer, donate online at www.collegebound.org or by returning your donation in the enclosed envelope. Please consider us in your planned giving as well.