What Spring-Fall College Access Donations Have DoneExpect to hear of the achievements of 3 student scholars through their final high school year at Washington DC’s McKinley Tech Educational Campus, and then into college. We’re confident that Maurice, Daivon, and Dimya will not be academically harmed by the pandemic-forced virtual classes, they'll will do well and find scholarships at colleges where they’ll pursue engineering degrees as first generation college students. Why will they get through this unscathed? All 3 are fortunate to have mentors, and dedicated tutors who “sit-in” on their classes and then have follow-up virtual tutoring sessions. Many less fortunate students’ grades and higher education goals suffer, as they don’t have the support of an invaluable non-profit with tutors and college prep workshops. Donations helped fund critical programming and provided Supplemental Scholarship Awards to 12th graders to cover the cost of essentials such as: tuition gaps, books, SAT prep courses, college counselors, transportation to school or to visit colleges, college application fees, AP exam fees, laptops, dorm supplies, school supplies. Additionally, donated gift cards and almost 50 refurbished macs have gotten into students' hands. The macs are essential equipment that work in tandem with tutors and college prep programming to facilitate high school achievement, college and scholarship research and applications, and good outcomes like these: Janiya, a recent MacBook recipient and a Freshman at McKinley Tech is planning on studying Information Technology, Accounting & Finance in college. Another MacBook recipient, Desmond, is 1 of 10 DC public school students awarded a full tuition scholarship to American University. We also directed donations in the following ways: To support American Indian scholarship students in Spring 2020 with pandemic related Emergency Relief Funds; a student, Thomas (Muscogee Nation) expressing gratitude, remarked, “…thank you for the support and for believing in me and the rest of my people because we need change, and without education there will be no change.” ; Top-notch college prep programming for DC high school students who live in the city’s poorest neighborhoods, many with so much potential. I reflect on Anthony Anderson, pursuing a degree in music toward a profession in opera on full scholarship at Oberlin Conservatory. Had he not been a participant in an invaluable youth development program we supported, and immersed in a strong curriculum at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in DC, his gift and potential would not have flourished; To support American Indian scholarship students with Stay In School funds to help Native students stay in school and earn college degrees. American Indian students are among the most underserved when it comes to education. Without computers and internet access when forced to leave campus, their classes, housing, meals, and jobs, the pandemic related campus closures put students in even more precarious situations: job losses, housing and food insecurity, and college degrees at risk; A Supplemental Scholarship Award of an iPad to Anthony Anderson, a Junior at Oberlin Conservatory. Our mac wizard remarked, “an iPad for Anthony is like giving a musician an instrument!" Listen to his solo, “Deep River. Bottom line … these students with limited to no financial resources receive the support and help from others like us and you, their “village”, that their wealthier peers' families cover with ease. More to Do for 2021Donate now toward College Access & Supplemental Scholarship Funds that continue to support student programming for Juniors & Seniors in pursuit of higher education and upward mobility. We’ll also fulfill essential needs as they arise. For example, London, a past award recipient at Emory University, once again faces a scholarship/work-study/Pell Grant/student loan tuition gap that could impact his enrollment for spring semester if the additional $5,600 doesn’t materialize from small scholarships he’s applied for. Once he reports back in by early January what he was rewarded, any balance remaining will be covered and sent to Emory.Spread the Word via Instagram & Facebook Please help cultivate awareness of our students' conundrums and the importance of College Access Funds. Thank You to All Who Made Our 2020 Impact Possible!
MaryAnn, Chief Engagement Officer and Founder AllOutForChange® "For cyclist, trek with his new pal is the cat's meow" KidsPost, The Washington Post, November 17, 2020 Enjoy and hang onto the smile from this fun thought provoking very short story. For us, it’s fun, and also illustrates allegorically what a difference it makes in one and an other’s life when one seizes the opportunity to give a hand ... the mutual gift it cultivates. For example, through All Out for Change®, our supporters, Beth, Mitch and I, all experience the gift of knowing what a difference donations and refurbished computers will make in ambitious students’ lives … hope, high school diplomas, higher education scholarships and degrees, fulfilling careers and upward mobility. Would you like to start a supplemental scholarship award in your or someone else's name to support an ambitious student scholar in need? Why Supplemental Scholarship Awards? Education in the US, unlike other developed countries, is fraught with systemic injustice, built-in roadblocks for youth from families with limited financial resources. All Out for Change®, via organizations and students we support with College Access Funds and Supplemental Scholarship Funds, helps break through the roadblocks along the journey to achievement and upward mobility. Spread the Word via Instagram & Facebook Please help cultivate awareness of All Out for Change® and supplemental scholarship funds. In late summer 2017 I learned of a gifted student, full of talent and potential, who faced financial conundrums that threatened his aspirations to be an opera singer. I knew immediately upon meeting Anthony that we had stumbled upon our first grant recipient. WHY? See and hear for yourself- listen to his solo, “Deep River. And while you’re at it, spend a few more minutes listening to the eye-opening Today Show segment to learn more about Anthony and the challenges he and his peers with dreams and potential face in the pursuit of upward mobility and professional goals.  This fall I reached out to Anthony to see what he’s been up to and if he needed help with anything. An iPad was on his wish list but not within his tight budget. Our mac wizard remarked, “an iPad for Anthony is like giving a musician an instrument!" Thanks to a few donors we provided him with another grant in October for an iPad. We’re looking forward to Anthony's updates, additional solos, and the zoom opera he’s working on this semester that will explore homelessness through the pandemic. Stay Tuned! And while you're on the inspiring Stories page, give a shoutout for our student scholar, Anthony, via the Like/Share and Follow icons. London, an Aspiring Orthopedic Surgeon's $5,616 ConundrumLondon's tuition gap of $5,616 if not filled will prevent his enrollment spring semester. We helped London out of a pickle in August 2019 when he couldn't have registered for freshman year at Emory University without our grant to cover a scholarship tuition gap. He faces another shortfall for spring semester of $5,616, the balance due after the university's scholarship, Pell grant, student loans, and work-study aid. Every semester he submits numerous applications with essays seeking small obscure scholarship awards to cover the shortfall. London commented, "It creates a whole level of stress because you don't know who's going to help and when you'll hear from them. You may hear back eventually from one or two." We agreed to assist with whatever gap remains at year end; so some portion of College Access Fund donations may be directed towards his need. To donate, click on the button below. “We do not have to save the entire world on our own, but we can each repair some small corner of it,” writes former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick in his book, A Reason to Believe, Lessons from an Improbable Life. YOUR DONATION IN ITS ENTIRETY IS INVESTED IN OUR STUDENT SCHOLARS Gratitude From All of Us!We, our students and their college counselors, program directors and tutors are grateful for all who have pitched in to support aspiring student scholars. Your help is essential! Unfortunately our dysfunctional educational system necessitates we step up to the plate for our students from working poor families to facilitate the pursuit of their dreams and upward mobility. There are too many youth in our country with potential that may never come to fruition. Our educational system not only does a grave disservice to many students, but it also fails to provide access to much needed technology. Thanks to Mac-alchemist Mitch, of MacsOnDemand, we can tackle the digital divide. Thus far, we've provided 46 refurbished mac laptops and desktops to students in need. This essential and invaluable tool allows 46 college-bound and college students to work virtually with tutors and college counselors, and stay on track for their degrees while classes have switched online. All Out for Change® is committed to standing behind all of them, and trust they will have great success on their journey. Would you like to start a supplemental scholarship award in your or someone else's name to support an ambitious student scholar in need? Please call or email to explore possibilities. Spread the Word via Instagram & Facebook Please help cultivate awareness of All Out for Change® and supplemental scholarship funds. Stay well and help make independence and achievement happen! MaryAnn, Chief Engagement Officer and Founder AllOutForChange® |
MaryAnn PuglisiChief Engagement Officer, AllOutForChange.org Categories |
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All Out for Change® raises awareness of less privileged high school students’ hurdles, supports high school graduates and college prep programs, and gives students more opportunities to pursue degrees, professions,
and upward mobility. 1431 21st St. NW · Suite 302 | Washington, DC 20036 | 202-857-8384 All Out for Change® is a registered 501(c)(3) charity: donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. |