A SPECIALTY PUBLICATION OF THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH

2014

First, we change lives. Then we change the future.www.partnershipforthefuture.org

CHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH

14

Brian BallPartnerWilliams Mullen

Linda NashFounder and Chief Execu ve Offi cerPartnerMD

Paul LevengoodPresidentThe Rotary Club of Richmond

Tom FarrellCEODominion

PFF CLASS OF 2015

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS

PFF CLASS OF 2016

Aaron SparrowAdraine UpshawA Grace Place Adult Care CenterAlan HutsonAlan KirshnerAltria Group, Inc.Altria Companies Employee Community

FundAlzheimer’s AssociationAmanda HarrisonAmber MayesAmerican Red Cross Greater Richmond

ChapterAMF AutomationAmurconAndrea WassmerAnonymous DonorsAnthemAnthony BurtonART 180Association for Corporate GrowthAtlantic Specialty Lines, Inc.Avail MarketingBank of AmericaBetter Housing CoalitionBon Secours Richmond Health SystemBoy Scouts of AmericaBritt GlissonBrookfi eld FoundationBurke KingCapital One Services, Inc.CarMaxCarMax FoundationChaquitta BarbeeCharleita M. RichardsonChild SaversClarke Financial AssociatesClaudia BurneyCombined Federal CampaignCommonwealth of Virginia CampaignCommunities In SchoolsConnie CuffeeCornell UniversityCREW RichmondDamion & Fatima NashDaniel HonsbergerDanielle GilbertDebra Ferguson

Deena BrummellDominion Resources Services, Inc.Dominion FoundationEssemer LyonsEssie Hill WeissExtreme PizzaFatima BanguraFeed MoreGeoff McDonald and AssociatesGeorge J. and Effi e L. Seay FoundationGerry AlbaneseGillian LugbillGoodwill of Central VirginiaGrant RisslerGwathmey Memorial TrustGwen CreightonHampden-Sydney CollegeHampton UniversityHarold FitrerHealth Diagnostic LaboratoryHenrico County Public SchoolsHenrico Education FoundationHigher AchievementHighwoods Properties, Inc.Hilda JonesIalantha ParkerJackson FoundationJames Madison UniversityJen KostyniukJessica TaylorJimmy H. LeeJohn S. CoccagnaJohnathan ZurJoyce KingJunior Achievement of Central Virginia,

Inc.Kadeja AbbottKaren MotleyKathy KozakKelley PowellKeyona HendersonKoval Family FundKPMGLakesha JohnsonLatisher GainesLaTonya WilliamsLawrence & Tammy CummingsLeadership Metro Richmond

Linda NashLinn Pierce KreckmanLocal Government & Schools CampaignLong & Foster RealtorsLora LoftisMacy’sMarcus WeinsteinMarilyn BotaMarkel CorporationMarla KhalfaniMartz GroupMath Science Innovation CenterMaya SmartMeadWestvaco CorporationMemorial Foundation for ChildrenM.H. Dodie FixMichelle PritchettMolly FranklinMorton ConsultingMs. S Camp GoodwinNancy EarlNatalie SmithNational College Access NetworkNew Generations Credit UnionNewsome Family Fund of The

Community FoundationNikki AdkinsNolan Griffi nOld Dominion Home HealthOwens and MinorPartnerMDPatricia LewisPeter Paul Development CenterPFF AlumniPFF StudentsPFF VolunteersPricewaterhouseCoopersRachel AdcockRandolph-Macon CollegeRaphaela HicaroR.E.B. FoundationRemo Family FundRichard S. DickersonRichmond Ambulance AuthorityRichmond Public SchoolsRichmond Residential ServicesRichmond StrikersRobert R. Lindgren

Rosalind JacksonRoss LittleRotary Club of RichmondRuss PearceRussell D. MooreSamuel L. TarrySamantha WhiteSandra ThomasSCANScience Museum of VirginiaSenior Center of Greater Richmond, Inc.Sheldon YoungSouthside Child Development CenterStephanie G. WhiteSteven A. MarkelSt. John’s Church FoundationSusan GaynerSusan ThomasSyndra YanceyTammie PulliamTelmyr LeeTerry MooreThe College of William & MaryThe Community FoundationThe Faison School for AutismThe Monument GroupThomas DezegoThomasina HatcherTiffany ThomasTimothy MayTommy “Beth” Woodfi nTonia SharpeTricycle GardensTuckahoe Family YMCAUjima Legacy FundUkrop’s Endowment FundUnited Way of Greater Richmond &

PetersburgUniversity of Richmond DowntownUniversity of VirginiaUPS FoundationUPS FreightVA Nonprofi t Housing CoalitionVCU Extreme PizzaVirginia Center for Inclusive CommunitiesVirginia College Savings PlanVirginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University (School of Business)

Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Virginia Historical SocietyVirginia House of DelegatesVirginia State UniversityVirginia Tech UniversityVirginia Wesleyan UniversityWells Fargo FoundationWestminster Canterbury RichmondWhitney BrooksYassah BallayanYMCA of Greater RichmondZachary Salmon

Myra Goodman SmithPresident and CEOLeadership Metro Richmond

Wally Stettinius InstructorVCU School of Business

Mac StuckeyPresident of The CarMax Founda- on, Assistant Vice President and

Deputy General Counsel

Partnership for the Future is celebra ng its

20th anniversaryFor more information about

giving or to help, please contact:Charleita Richardson, President

and CEOPartnership for the Future4521 Highwoods ParkwayGlen Allen, VA 23060-6148

(804) 967-2559partnershipforthefuture.org

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They’re partnering for the future. Are you?

MEET THE PFF TEAM

Charleita M. RichardsonPresident & CEOWhere did you graduate from college? Randolph-Macon CollegeWhy do you feel connected to PFF’s mission? While it may sound cliché, I believe “educa on is power.” As a graduate of Richmond Public Schools and a fi rst-genera on college student, I recognize that my educa on has helped to propel me. I am connected to the mission because I want my PFF students to realize that they too have the ability to u lize their educa on as a method to write their own life story.If there is one thing that you want others to know about PFF, what would that be? PFF is more than just a college access and success organiza on. We operate in the spirit of excellence and hold our standards high for all involved. With this founda on, we are able to con nue to celebrate the success of our students.

Tiff any D. ThomasDirector of ProgramsWhere did you graduate from college? Virginia Commonwealth UniversityWhy do you feel connected to PFF’s mission? I feel connected to PFF’s mission because someone helped me prepare and gain admission into college. Now, I’m able to give back and return the favor to many high school students in this program.If there is one thing that you want others to know about PFF, what would that be? I would want people to know that the staff is invested in our young people, and we genuinely care about their future. We go above and beyond to help them reach their educa onal dreams of college, which means we never accept no as the fi nal answer.

Whitney L. BrooksRela onship Manager (PFF Class of 2009)Where did you graduate from college? Mary Baldwin CollegeWhy do you feel connected to PFF’s mission? As a fi rst-genera on college student and a graduate of Richmond Public Schools, I know what it is like to feel lost, confused and overwhelmed about the college applica on process. But as an alumna of PFF, I also know what it is like to have those fears relieved. And because PFF provided me with the resources I needed to successfully matriculate to college, I am forever indebted to the organiza on and feel a great duty to help other students (much like me) pursue their educa onal and career aspira ons. If there is one thing that you want others to know about PFF, what would that be? PFF prides itself on providing exposure to our students that they otherwise would not receive. The greatest opportuni es that we provide are paid internships at local corpora ons and nonprofi ts. This type of exposure in the workforce allows our students to develop essen al business acumen early on, not only enabling them to be compe ve among their peers, but also providing them with a sense of confi dence needed to matriculate to and succeed in college.

Tiera J. McGuireProgram CoordinatorWhere did you graduate from college? Virginia Commonwealth University Why do you feel connected to PFF’s mission? I feel connected to PFF’s mission because I am constantly learning something new, while helping the students achieve academic, career and personal success. It’s a great feeling. If there is one thing that you want others to know about PFF, what would

that be? I want others to know that PFF creates a solid founda on for students by exposing them to many opportuni es and allowing them to create their own iden ty.

Tonia R. SharpeTransi on CoordinatorWhere did you graduate from college? Virginia Commonwealth University Why do you feel connected to PFF’s mission? I feel connected to the PFF mission because I am a product of the Richmond City Public School system. I had great teachers, counselors and mentors to help shape and provide me with the needed founda on to a end and be successful in college. PFF provides all of the following and so much more to our students and the community. If there is one thing that you want others to know about PFF, what would that be? I want others to know we are SMART: S=sensi ve, M=mindful, A=advocates, R=responsible and T-tough on all of our students because they can succeed.

Shandrilya LewisAdministra ve Assistant (PFF Class of 2006)Where did you graduate from college? Howard UniversityWhy do you feel connected to PFF’s mission? I’ve personally felt the eff ects of growing up in an underprivileged environment, so being a part of an organiza on that enriches youth and gives them the necessary resources to help bridge the economic gap is empowering. If there is one thing that you want others to know about PFF, what would that be? PFF is a family. From the students to the execu ves, everyone has the same goal in mind— to succeed. W

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November 2014 | Partnership for the Future | A Specialty Publication of the Richmond Times-Dispatch A Specialty Publication of the Richmond Times-Dispatch | Partnership for the Future | November 2014

Kirshner’s vision helped pave the way for PFF’s successBy Harrison GregorySpecial Correspondent

One morning 20 years ago, Alan Kirshner was reading a story in the Wall Street Journal about a young student named Cedric Jennings. An underprivileged kid from Washington D.C., Jennings dreamed of

a ending MIT, but found that despite his academic abili es, his socio-economic background hindered his chances of being accepted. With the help of dedicated teachers and mentors, Jennings eventually enrolled at Brown and then Harvard and achieved his dream, though his triumph was more the excep on than the rule at the me. Kirshner, the CEO of Markel Corp., was

immediately moved by Jennings’ story.“It suddenly struck me that industry

could have a bigger role in helping to solve problems for students like Cedric,” he said in a recent interview.

The basic concept that Kirshner developed, with the help of other local business leaders, was to establish a contract with students s pula ng that if they maintained their grades and stayed out of trouble, they would receive a guaranteed company job over three summers in exchange. In that span, the students would work four days a week, and on the fi h day, they would be tutored in college and life skills. The businesses would then match what the students personally saved for college.

Heidi Metcalf Li le, the former policy advisor for public safety to the governor of Virginia who helped run Partnership for the Future in its early days, recalled that “Alan was a force behind you. We were provided essen ally a blank slate with a needs and goals framework, and that allowed us to change kids’ lives. In many cases, it also changed the lives of people in the companies who really got to know these kids.”

“We were able to help them build social capital that other kids from be er socio-economic backgrounds might already have,” Kirshner said. “The programming was focused on building business and character skills that they would need in the future.”

Today, PFF helps 150 students a year on average, providing them with paid internships, college prep courses, personal development workshops, mentoring and savings seminars. Seventy-two percent of PFF students come from households with incomes of $40,000 or less, with 87 percent of them being the fi rst in their families to a end college.

“The key thing for any nonprofi t organiza on is developing a culture that says, ‘We’ll be the best at what we do,’ and s cking to that culture over me,” Kirshner said. “And this program helps people who want to help themselves. It’s a good thing. Everyone should have an opportunity to go to college, no ma er where you come from.”

“Alan’s a dreamer,” Metcalf Li le said. “Being able to see how something might work be er in the future is his gi . It’s who he is.”

“It’s an important program,” Kirshner said. “Someone invests in you, and it changes your life.”

Partnership for the Future (PFF) is a four-year program that provides cri cal life skills and educa on through internship placements and college prepara on training. Our mission is to provide high-poten al students who from challenging circumstances in metro Richmond-area schools with the abili es and experiences necessary to a ain college degrees. Here are some alumni success stories that highlight the importance of our organiza on.

Zachary Lane, Class of 2006Partnership for the Future has had a remarkable impact on my life. Thanks to PFF, I was able to a end and graduate from James Madison University (JMU). One of my fondest memories of the program took place during my senior year of high school. PFF took some students on an overnight college visit to JMU to expose us to what

college life was really like. We were partnered with current JMU students to show us what a typical day on campus was like. We a ended classes, ate at the dining halls and stayed in the dormitories. This was a great experience for me and it led me to apply to JMU. I was accepted and went on to a end JMU. A ending JMU turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. If it were not for PFF, I probably would not have a ended JMU. Currently, I work at the Science Museum of Virginia as an assistant manager.

Sampson Townes, Class of 2007 I currently work in insurance at Markel as an underwri ng technician where my role has expanded to underwri ng a por on of the fi nancial advisors that we insure. PFF was instrumental in helping develop real world connec ons and fi ne-tuning my academic ambi ons. I graduated with a B.S. from Cornell’s

Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management.

Britney Finn, Class of 2008Partnership for the Future has made an enormous impact on my life. They provided me with the founda on to become successful in today’s society. I was taught how to network and build meaningful rela onships with peers and adults. I learned the basics for being successful in college

and was introduced to resources that are s ll valuable to me today. I could go on and on about the many things that PFF introduced me to but I’m just going to say that it was the best enrichment program that I was ever involved in. I am a graduate of James Madison University and am currently in my second year of teaching at the very high school that I a ended, George Wythe High School. I come in contact with students in my building who are now in the program, and I constantly stress the value of the program to them, because it is an opportunity that many students are not aff orded.

Amanda Harrison, Class of 2009While in college, PFF helped me professionally and fi nancially. It impacted my life with a job and educa onal opportuni es. If it were not for PFF, I would not be where I am today as a Quartermaster, Rank 2LT in the U.S. Army. Going to Mary Baldwin College was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I

discovered who I was and what I wanted to do in life. PFF made that happen, and for that I am thankful.

Bri any Shaw, Class of 2009I am a proud Mary Baldwin College graduate who currently works as a lab technologist at Innova ve Diagnos c Laboratory. Like many graduates, I had a lot of goals and aspira ons but did not know exactly how everything would come together. PFF taught me that no dream is too big, and I have the resources to make them

achievable. For example, I had the strong desire to be a Peace Corps volunteer even if many around me thought it was absurd. Though I was accepted and decided not to go, the experience affi rmed that I can do anything I set my mind to. The world is my playground and there is absolutely nothing that will stop me from fulfi lling my dreams. My mindset was me culously fostered through my me at PFF.

Tyler Motley, Class of 2010PFF brought what was once extremely in mida ng to a level playing fi eld. More specifi cally, PFF built me into a man who now feels comfortable in a highly compe ve and demanding work environment. I credit much of my success in my career to the teachings and exposure that PFF aff orded me. I thank PFF

for teaching me how to network eff ec vely; I do not think I would have my current posi on as a Program Analyst with the U.S. Department of Transporta on had PFF not honed my communica on skills. Thanks to PFF, I entered the corporate world head fi rst and am leading, in one aspect of another, in every project that comes my way.

Charleita M. Richardson Tiff any D. Thomas Whitney L. Brooks Tiera J. McGuire Tonia R. Sharpe Shandrilya Lewis

PFF BY THE NUMBERS• 100 percent of the Class of 2014 matriculated to college

• 5 – the number of consecu ve years that PFF has produced a valedictorian

• 84 percent of students who enter PFF complete the program

• 259 – the average increase in SAT scores for PFF students

• 1,330 – the minimum amount of community service hours dedicated by PFF students collec vely each year

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF PFFPHOTOS: DARL BICKELPHOTO: DORIS ANN KANE