Philadelphia’s high school graduation rate is approximately 50%. You read that correctly: only 50% of high school students in Philadelphia actually graduate (compared with 89% in the suburbs). The percentage of those Philadelphia students who actually go on to four year colleges and universities is much lower.
Philadelphia Futures is a local nonprofit that has been doing something about this for more than 20 years. What Futures does is match one student with one mentor, beginning in their freshman year. The student/mentor relationship continues until that student graduates high school. Futures provides academic support in the form of tutoring, SAT prep, college visits, advanced course work, and more. Apply now. They need at least 60 new mentors for their incoming class.
For the guys out there, Futures is desperately in need of male mentors. 60% of the drop outs in Philly are young men and boys. And in a city where many of these boys don’t have positive male role models, you bring an extra benefit to their lives.
As Geeks Who Give, we are all working to ensure the community continues to grow; the success of this city is dependent on the future of Philadelphia which must include equal opportunity for all. Be on the look out for more information and upcoming events from Geeks Who Give and Philadelphia Futures.
by Stephen Winkler, passionate Philadelphia Futures mentor & advocate.