DEAR FRIENDS, As our collegians headed to

campus last month, their journeys

felt closer to home this year. My

nephew, Andrew, left for his first

year at Penn State on August 23.

We packed him off with lots of

Penn State gear, warm clothing, and

copious amounts of advice. Go to

class, study hard, take care of your

health, and make sure to call your

family (in our case, it’s best if he

calls his mother, my sister, first).

My pride in his accomplish-

ments is fierce, and I know that

feeling is shared by many of you

as you celebrate our Class of 2019

THE DIRECTOR’S

CORNER

continued on page 8

in this i s sue A Milestone Graduation Celebration, p. 2 Spotlight: Achieving College Success, p. 4-5 #MentorMonday, p. 7

continued on page 2

A Milestone Graduation CelebrationExcitement and pride radiated from the faces of the Philadelphia Futures students who entered

the auditorium and paraded down the aisles, launching a milestone 2019 Graduation Celebration

in honor of 151 scholars who had achieved so much with the help of so many.

These high school and college graduates were crossing a threshold that had seemed nearly

impossible only years before — overcoming many barriers to become the first in their families to make

attending and graduating from college their plan for success. The students’ entrance to the ceremony

was greeted with thunderous applause from beaming parents, mentors, sponsors, donors, volunteers,

education partners, and Futures staff, all of whom had played a pivotal role in this joyous moment.continued on page 2

Fall 2019FUTURESf e a t u r e s

College Admissions

MarathonThe rising high school seniors who attended Philadelphia Futures’

College Admissions Marathon this summer dug deep into their own

experiences to write compelling personal statements for their college

applications. The students worked together in small groups, drafting

and polishing their work with the guidance of writing professionals.

“In the past, the weeklong program had touched on many different

aspects of the application process,” said Ellen Ridyard, Futures

Associate Director of College Admission. “This year, we decided that

the students would concentrate on their personal statements.”

The statements are a critical part of

the competitive college application process,

a chance to describe a student’s unique

personal attributes, and to demonstrate

thinking and writing skills. Students who

finish their statements before the start of

their senior year have the advantage of having

a key piece of their college applications

completed before classes begin.

This year’s College Admissions

Marathon began on June 10 with two days

of workshops at Drexel University, followed

by four days at Haverford College. At both

campuses, the students broke into 12 small

groups to first brainstorm ideas for their

personal statements and then write and

revise their drafts over the course of the

week. Authors, writing teachers, and

college admission counselors — all of themvolunteers— and Futures staffers served

as coaches to the groups. At Haverford,

students also received an up-close viewof campus life, living in residence halls,

and eating in a dining center.

The program explored other topics

as well — workshops designed to help

students research their best-fit colleges—

academically, socially, and financially. Topics

included financial aid and scholarships, best

practices for competitive college candidates,and college visits during senior year. After

full days in the classroom, the students let

off steam with game nights and gym time

before lights out at 10:30 p.m.

College Connection Class of 2020 scholar

Carlos Garro reflected on the Marathon

saying, “It was a great overall experience that

helped me be one step further in my college

application, gave me an amazing college-like

experience, and helped me connect withnew people and make new friends. It was

an experience I will never forget.”

The week wrapped up with a celebratory

reception attended by students, family

members, mentors, and Futures staff.

The event marked the end of the Marathon

program and the beginning of the official

senior year admission process, a path

leading each student directly to high

school graduation and college.

ADMISSIONS MARATHON from page 1

2

There is no doubt that the electric buzz that swept the packed Irvine Auditorium

on University of Pennsylvania’s campus on June 5 stemmed partly from the number

of milestones being celebrated.

● Futures’ Sponsor-A-Scholar program, the flagship initiative that prepares students for

every aspect of going to and succeeding in college, was marking its 30th anniversary.● Recognition of founder Marciene Mattleman’s legacy and the renaming of the

College Perseverance Award in her honor.

● The entire High School Class of 2019 — 89 students in the Sponsor-A-Scholar

and College Connection programs — was graduating from high school and

matriculating to colleges and universities in the fall.

● The College Connection program, founded in 2013 to expand Futures’ reach,

honored its first cohort of students who were graduating from college.

● Sixty-two Futures college seniors — one of the largest classes ever— were

celebrated for graduating with associate or bachelor’s degrees.

“We are here tonight,” Philadelphia Futures Executive Director Sara Woods said,

“to celebrate the accomplishments of our students, who have exceeded expectationsand created change throughout our community.”

One of the student speakers, Quadrese’ M. Glass, a Dickinson College graduate and

member of the College Connection Class of 2015, applauded his fellow college graduates

for “arriving at the championship.” He then alluded to the struggles they had faced

within themselves during their college years, and encouraged them to continue to

defeat any self-doubt about what they can achieve.

“I’m talking about that voice that forces a 3 a.m. call home searching for our

grandma’s prayer because, honestly, everything is saying ‘You don’t belong!” and only

her sweet hallelujahs can soothe the doubt.”

Another speaker, Alexis Hampton, a member of the Class of 2019 Futures

Sponsor-A-Scholar program who is headed to Lehigh University this fall, told the

assembly that when she enrolled in Futures as a ninth grader, she had no idea she was

joining “a family that will last forever.”“This program has taught me that I will never be alone in any circumstance.”

Graduation Celebration from page 1

Coming in October: The 30th Editionof the Step Up

to College Guide!

3

Futures News Feed

Visiting a D.C. History MuseumFor the first time, the Drexel Futures summer program

scheduled a day trip to the National Museum of AfricanAmerican History and Culture and Howard University in

Washington, D.C. Students enrolled in the program received

enrichment in the writing, research, and study skills

needed to create a college-level historical research paper.

Staying Involved, Helping OthersPhiladelphia Futures alumni and recent college graduatesconnected with one another at an event at Spruce Street

Harbor Park on June 10. We’re thankful for our alums

who stay connected to Philadelphia Futures and serve as

role models for our current students. If you’d like to share

your story, lead a college trip, be a Career Day panelist,

or help out in other ways, you can stay in touch by

joining the Philadelphia Futures Alumni Association at

https://www.philadelphiafutures.org/alumni-network/.

Taking STEM Classes in College LabsSTEM Futures students explored their interests in science,

technology, engineering, and math in a summer program

that was held in college labs and classrooms. During

the closing program on August 8, hosted by PECO, teams

of students gave presentations about the issues they had

studied. We are grateful to PECO, Dr. Benjamin Dube, Dr. Ted Howell, and to our staff and interns, all of whom

were essential to the program’s success. We also want to

thank Eastern University and Drexel University for inviting

our students onto their campuses.

Getting a Lead on CareersRising high school juniors gave presentations about

possible careers as they completed the Career Research and Exploration Program at Temple University in August.

The students, who took part in the Temple Futures program,

had an opportunity to research industry-specific business

ventures, write career plans, and learn about best practices in

networking. We are grateful to Dr. Jonathan Scott and TempleUniversity’s Fox School of Business for their continued

support of this summer program benefitting our scholars.

Study Abroad in PhiladelphiaA French Connection field trip in August began with a

stop at Reading Terminal Market to buy bread and cheese

for a picnic. Then, it was off to tour the museum on the

Parkway that displays French sculptor Auguste Rodin’s

works. The French Connection program offers our scholars

an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of

France through its food, art, and language. We are grateful

to Elizabeth Rimington and James Ounsworth for their

continued leadership of this engaging summer program.

SPOT

LIGHT Scholars Beating the Odds and

Amy Perez, Director of College Success, had a simple yet heartfelt message for the 50 PhiladelphiaFutures students who were completing an academic program called the Summer Institute and who were only weeks away from heading off to college.

“I want you to know that you belong where you are going. You can do this,” she said, offering

encouragement to the recent high school graduates who had attended four weeks of college-level math

and English literature classes during July.

The Summer Institute is one of several programs that Futures holds between June and August to combat “Summer Melt,” a phenomenon in which high school seniors are accepted to colleges and place

their deposits in May, but fail to matriculate at college in the fall. The reasons for leaving the path to college

are varied, including a scholarship that failed to materialize, an illness or death in the family, or a student’s

hesitance to leave home.

Harvard University researchers Benjamin Castleman and Lindsay Page estimate that 10 to 40 percent

of students nationally do not enroll in college due to “Summer Melt,” and students from low-income

households face the highest risk of abandoning their college plans.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has cast a national spotlight on this problem, holding a national

Beating the Odds summit each summer for the last five years to give first-generation students additional

information and encouragement to stay the course and enroll in college.

The students enrolled at Futures — low-income and the first in their family to go to college — fare

far better, with “Summer Melt” derailing at most 1 in 100 students. These results stem, in part, from Futures’

comprehensive summer programming, which continues to support its students on their college journeys.

“We are very intentional about this,” Amy said.

“We know that keeping students academically engaged in the summer helps to ensure that they makethe transition to college. It also sets them up for success in their first semester of college,” she said.

For its Summer Institute, Futures hires college professors and instructors with college-level experience

to teach classes that are modeled after intensive college courses, complete with syllabi, homework, and exams.

Students attend classes daily at Drexel University for four weeks and are expected to work hard both inside

and outside the classroom.

“We tell students this is a safe space to take academic risks. They are not earning credits, and the

grades aren’t going on a college transcript. But they get a real taste of a college class,” Amy said.

• • • • • • • • • Much of the work of preparing high school students for college admission rests with the staff on

the College Access team. But in the late spring, as soon as the high school seniors decide which colleges

they will attend, a transition begins and the college advisors in the Office of College Success introduce

themselves to the future college freshmen. These emails and in-office meetings are the start

of relationships that will extend throughout the students’ college careers.

The “summer bridge programs,” directed by the Office of College Success, begin

formally after high school graduations are over in June. An orientation session is held

4

Achieving College Success to offer an overview of what the students are likely to experience on college campuses. Each student also

makes an appointment to meet one-to-one with his or her college advisor. Those appointments become

critical to solving any remaining problems in the college process, including final paperwork, financial issues,

and transportation questions.

Futures also keeps parents and guardians in mind during the summer, offering an information session

for them to ask questions about college financing and to discuss any concerns they might have about how

their student will make the transition to college.

During the summer, each student who is planning to live on campus receives a full complement of

linens — sheets, comforter, towels, and laundry bag. Meanwhile, each commuter student is given a $75 gift

certificate, to put towards indirect expenses. Every student receives a stipend to buy books each semester,beginning with their freshman year, along with a guide about how to save money on textbooks.

And by sponsoring meet-and-greets with college upperclassmen during the summer, Futures offers

recent high school graduates a chance to ask questions to fellow students at the colleges they will be attending.

The conversations are full of the details of college life, such as how to join clubs, land internships, and enroll

in semester abroad programs.

One of those events, the annual College Kickoff, drew about 160 Futures students — many of them

wearing their college T-shirts — to Temple University’s Mitten Hall on August 1. Keynote speaker ChrisBanks, who runs a nonprofit called the Banksgiving Company, presented an engaging program about

personal finance.

During a lively Q and A, several students had questions about building credit and the proper use of

credit cards. Pablo, an incoming freshman at Lycoming College, said afterward that his main takeaway from

the program was the value of paying off the interest on student debt while still in college.

Among the upperclassmen in attendance was Patience Elliott, a rising junior and education studies

major at Arcadia University. She said her best advice for incoming college freshmen was this:

“Time-management is everything,” she said. “It’s not healthy to stay up until 3 a.m. Do the things you

need to do for your classes during the day and rest at night.”

Futures Executive Director Sara Woods also encouraged students to make the choices that would set them

up for success, not only in academics but also in the areas of health, wellness, and extracurricular activities.

She reminded students that a robust network of people affiliated with Futures was committed to

supporting them throughout their journey to a college degree.

“There’s a large group of people who want to help you get to the finish line,” she said.

Those were encouraging words to Demaro, an incoming freshman at Gettysburg College. He said

the best advice he had heard at College Kickoff was that he should never be afraid to ask for assistance.

“The resources are here to help,” he said.

Back in the office a few weeks later, Amy Perez, the Director of College Success, was already thinking

ahead to the campus visits and other frequent check-ins that she and the other members of her team will

be making as they advise the 350 Futures collegians.

When asked what motivates her to help Futures students to realize their dreams of graduating from

college, she said she was inspired by the students themselves.

“I’m genuinely moved by the resilience of our own students. That’s why I do this,” she said.

5

6

SUPP

ORT

CORN

ER

Fall 2019HATS OFF TO OUR SUPPORTERSWe are very grateful to ourmany supporters for their generous gifts of time andresources. It is because of youthat our work is made possible.We extend our warmest thanks for the contributionsmade since the last issue of Futures Features.

FoundationsAmy’s Kisses Foundation

The Barra Foundation

Brook J. Lenfest Foundation

Breaking the Cycle Foundation

Christian R. and Mary F.

Lindback Foundation

Christopher Ludwick Foundation

Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation

Dr. Willie W. Echewa Scholarship

at the Philadelphia Foundation

The Horace W. Goldsmith

Foundation

The Joan C. Wells Fund at

The Philadelphia Foundation

Joseph Kennard Skilling Trust

Patricia Kind Family Foundation

The Philadelphia Ethical Society

The Philadelphia Foundation

Ruth and Eugene Screws Fund at

The Philadelphia Foundation

The Snider Foundation

Solomon & Sylvia

Bronstein Foundation

Valentine Foundation

CorporationsArdmore Music Hall

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

Capital Impact Partners

Deloitte

TJX Foundation

Other OrganizationsArcadia University

Bryn Mawr College

Cabrini University

Dickinson College

Gettysburg College

Gwynned Mercy University

Holy Family University

Lafayette College

Lycoming College

Millersville University

Muhlenberg College

Old Pine Presbyterian Church

The Philadelphia Ethical Society

Penn State University

Ursinus College

Individuals, FamilyFoundations and Donor-Advised Funds (Over $250)Anonymous (10)

Debbie and Charles Allen

Sharon and Craig Altman

Steven Averbuch and

Rachel Rivest

Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz

William and Laura Buck

Susan and Cummins Catherwood

Kate Collins and Ryan Perkins

Gloria Donnelly

DJ Gebauer Family Fund

Mary and Brian Duffy

Peter and Margaret Fleming

Paula Fuchsberg

Fynes Family Foundation

Stuart and Shannon George

Mary Goldman

Rosemarie Greco and

Susan Anderson

Carole Green

Otis and La-Toya Hackney

Rachel Haddock

Geoffrey Hayden and

Mary Fishburne Hayden

Allen and Nancy Jervey

Michael Johnson and

Mimi Copp Johnson

Andrew Keiser and Ellen Milgram

Jeffrey Landsman

John Langan and Judith Nadell

Mary and Robert Lawler

Irma Lerma

Llewellyn Family Foundation

Mary Anne Lucey and

M. Patricia Warner

Susan Lee

Carole and Joel Lukoff

Mimi and Doug Lurio

Lois and Kenneth Mammel

Herman Mattleman

Robert and Dorothy McCabe

Michael Menendez

Kimberly and Thomas Moon

Marie Natoli

Benjamin Persofsky

MayBelle and Alfred Rauch

Anne and Scott Reines

Andrew Rogoff and

Amy Ginensky

Gayle and Stuart Samuels

Pam and Tony Schneider

Brian Scott

Charles and Janette Scott

Robert and Diana Scott

Brian Scott

Keith Telesca

J.J. Van Name

Raisa Velthuis

Thomas Wall and Scott Conking

Debra Weiner

Janet and Alan Widra

Kathryn Williams

Donna Woelpper

Jacqueline and Thomas Zemaitis

Philadelphia FuturesScholarshipsLaurie J. Keeler Award

Lisa Marie Thomas

Memorial Scholarship

Destined for Success Scholarship

Dr. Willie W. Echewa Scholarship

The James W. and

Joan M. Keebler Scholarship

Lincoln Financial

Foundation Scholarship

Kim Freitag Memorial

Scholarship for

Awesome Achievement

Fynes Family Fund Scholarship

WELCOME TO NEW SPONSOR-A-SCHOLARSPONSORSSolomon & Sylvia Bronstein

Foundation*

Natalie and Jim Dyen*

Geoffrey Hayden and

Mary Fishburne Hayden*

In Memory of Marciene

Mattleman

Ruth Widmer Fund at

The Philadelphia Foundation*

* Have previously sponsored in the Program

WELCOME TO NEW SPONSOR-A-SCHOLARMENTORSClass of 2020Nancy Gephart

Kenneth Sher*

Class of 2021Mady Prowler

Class of 2022Tricia Light

Rebecca Solnit

Leslie Sullivan

* Have previously mentored in the Program

A SPECIAL THANK YOUWe extend our sincerest gratitude

to Glenmede for graciously

underwriting the Fall 2019

edition of Futures Features.

David Montgomery, a Family FriendPhiladelphia Futures mourns the loss of a great friend, David Montgomery, the beloved

Phillies Chairman and Philadelphia civic leader, who died on May 8 at age 72 after a battle withcancer. Dave treated everyone like family, and we were no exception. He and his family supportedour mission and our scholars for more than 20 years. We will miss seeing him, surrounded by ourstudents and his team’s baseball players, at our annual Get in the Game fundraiser. Our heartsremain with David’s family and the entire Phillies organization.

You may designate all or part of your

United Way campaign gift to Philadelphia Futures:

a union of White-Williams Scholars and

Philadelphia Futures. You can also help by

encouraging your co-workers, friends, and family

to support Futures through United Way.

Donor Choice #802

Thank you.

7

Our scholars and their mentorshad lots of fun together this summer as they explored the city, created art, and enjoyed yummy foods, all while engaging in plenty of conversation. Here are some snapshots that were posted on social media of the outings:

June 24 Two scholars and their mentors had double the fun exploring the city on theirSegways. They all hopped aboard the two-wheeled electrical vehicles during an outing.

July 22 What’s better than ice cream on a hot summer day? This Philadelphia Futures Class of 2019 graduate enjoyed a cold treat during one of his last outingswith his mentor before heading off to the University of Pennsylvania this fall.

August 5 At Cherry Street Pier, a student and her mentor painted abrightly colored panel of a communitymural that is destined for displaysomewhere in the city.

July 8 A Philadelphia Futures scholar and her mentor found Spruce Street Harbor Park, located along the city’s waterfront, to be the perfect place to cool off during an outing.

July 1 Delicious soup dumplings and a conversation about cooking were the main ingredients in a perfect mentor outing for this Class of 2020 scholar and his mentor.

#Men

torMon

day

230 S. Broad Street, 7th FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19102215-790-1666www.philadelphiafutures.org

www.facebook.com/philadelphiafutures@PhillyFutures@PhillyFutures

Board of Directors

Phil Weinberg, PresidentKevin R. Boyle, Vice PresidentJennifer Daley, TreasurerStephen C. Lis, Secretary

Pauline Abernathy Honorable Allan Domb Damian J. Fernandez Randy FreitagStuart M. GeorgeOtis D. Hackney, III Katrina High Michael Menendez Jeff W. OrlandoJanet G. PerryMichele A. PorterfieldWesley T. ProctorMargaret Sherry LurioRaj TewariRichard L. Williams

Sara Woods, Executive Director

continued from page 1THE DIRECTOR’S CORNER

8

scholars matriculating to their right-fit colleges. We have watched as they

went to class (despite circumstances that would derail most students),

studied hard (ignoring many distractions), and tried their best to take care

of themselves (supported by families, teachers, PF staff, and a community

who care deeply about their success). They are on their way, and it is

because of your support that our students will be able to thrive in college.

My nephew and I have agreed that we will see each other in

October, and he has consented to my early morning texts as I get my

daughters ready for school. At Philadelphia Futures, our College Success

team is in regular contact with all of our 300+ students, including campus

visits, FaceTime chats, telephone calls, text messages, and frequent emails.

For our first year students, that first month on campus is a critical

inflection point, so our communication is weekly and often daily. We

want to ensure we are doing everything we can to help them succeed.

Your help with this outreach is much appreciated. If you are

connected to one of our collegians, please be in touch with your student.

Your phone call, text message, or visit may be just what they need.

And remind them to call home once in a while....

Thank you for all that you do to support our scholars and

Philadelphia Futures.

Sincerely,

Sara Woods

Executive Director

MISSION To provide low-income, first-generation-to-college students with the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary for admission to and success in college.

VISION Philadelphia Futures will transform lives by breaking down barriers that have historically excluded our students from college success.

AnnualConferenceSaturday, January 4, 2020

Drexel University

Details to follow.

Save the Date