National Programs

A Better Chance *
Grades: 4-9
A Better Chance is the oldest and only national organization of its kind changing the life trajectory for academically talented youth of color via access to rigorous and prestigious educational opportunities for students in grades 6–12. Our mission is to increase substantially the number of well–educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. We carry out our mission through our signature College Preparatory Schools Program, which annually recruits, refers and supports about 500 Scholars at more than 300 Member Schools in 27 states.

After-School All-Stars
Ages: 7-17
After-School All-Stars provides comprehensive out-of-school programs that keep children safe and help them achieve in school and life. Our goal is to offer children positive alternatives to gangs, drugs and violence by providing opportunities in exciting non-traditional activities. All of our programs focus on developing skills in one or more of the following areas: technology, education, life skills and sports.

Breakthrough Collaborative
Grades: 6-8
Breakthrough offers underserved youth 240 hours of academic instruction over 6-week, intensive summer programs. Breakthrough students complete three summers of rigorous academic instruction in math, science, and literacy, as well as study skills, public speaking, and leadership. Students receive individual high-school options counseling to help them successfully earn admission to four-year colleges.

C5 Youth Foundation
Grades: 8-12
The mission of the C5 Youth Program is to inspire high-potential youth from risk-filled environments to pursue personal success, to prepare them for leadership roles in college, work and community, and to motivate them to become role models for others. We do this by engaging middle and high school students from under resourced communities in five years of intensive leadership experiences including year-round leadership development programs, signature summer activities, community service, and preparation for continuing education and career development.

Girls Inc.
Grades: 6-18
Girls Inc. delivers life-changing programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Research-based curricula, delivered by trained professionals, equip girls to achieve academically; lead healthy and physically active lives; manage money; navigate media messages; and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. The network of local Girls Inc. nonprofit organizations serves 136,000 girls ages 6-18 annually at over 1,400 sites in 350 cities across the United States and Canada.

Horizons
Grades: K-8
Horizons is a transformative, educational summer enrichment program serving low-income public school students with a broad range of academic abilities. At the heart of every Horizons community is a partnership with independent schools and/or colleges, local public schools and the Horizons program. Horizons students spend six weeks each summer on these campuses engaged in a program that blends high quality academics with cultural enrichment and confidence-building activities. Given an opportunity to attend for nine consecutive summers, Horizons students grow in skills and confidence returning to their own schools each fall better prepared.

“I Have a Dream” Foundation
Grades: K-12
The "I Have A Dream" Foundation provides long-term support to help children from low-income communities achieve their full potential by promoting personal empowerment, high school graduation, postsecondary success, and financial support for postsecondary education. Our approach is unique in that we sponsor cohorts of students in under-resourced public schools or housing developments, and work with these "Dreamers" from early elementary school all the way through high school. Upon high school graduation, each Dreamer receives guaranteed tuition assistance for higher education.

National Urban League
Grades: 6-12
The National Urban League works to provide economic empowerment, educational opportunities and the guarantee of civil rights for the underserved in America. The Education and Youth Development (EYD) division develops innovative programs to support academic achievement, civic involvement, and the physical and emotional development of children and youth. The EYD achieves its goal of fostering academic excellence through the development of policies and programs that focus on early childhood education, college preparedness and youth leadership programs.