The mission of Project GRAD is to ensure a quality public education for all students in economically disadvantaged communities so that high school and college graduation rates increase.
Project GRAD Houston
3000 Richmond, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77098
832-325-0325 (main)
Ann B. Stiles
Executive Director
832-325-0467
Email
Walk for Success
Project GRAD’s flagship event, the Walk for Success, utilizes thousands of volunteers on a Saturday morning each fall to conduct a door-to-door campaign visiting the homes of every new ninth grade student’s family in GRAD-partnering high schools in order to inform them of the college expectations of this program and to encourage their involvement with each child’s school. At this event, ninth graders and their families actually sign a “Scholarship Agreement” that enrolls them in the scholarship program.
Project GRAD’s 21st Annual
WALK FOR SUCCESS
On the morning of October 24, 2009, approximately 3,000 community volunteers visited almost 3,500 homes of Houston’s inner-city, at-risk students. This annual event is called Walk for Success and is hosted each year by Project GRAD in cooperation with the Houston I.S.D. and Communities In Schools. The purpose of The Walk is to let parents know that their child attends a Houston ISD school that offers GRAD services and the GRAD scholarship program.
The scholarship program is the capstone of Project GRAD Houston, a nationally recognized education reform effort that provides college readiness and college access services to school districts, teachers and families. Today, Project GRAD Houston partners with 67 HISD schools with 44,000+ participating students. Since its inception, Project GRAD Houston has offered $17 million in college scholarships to nearly 4,000 Houston ISD students.
This year’s 21st Annual Walk for Success door-to-door campaign visited 9th graders’ homes in these five Houston ISD schools – Davis, Yates, Wheatley, and Reagan High Schools and the Ninth Grade College Preparatory Academy. At that time, students and parents were asked to sign a pledge that will make the student eligible for a $4,000 non-competitive scholarship when they (a) graduate in four years or less with at least a 2.5 GPA, and (b) attend two GRAD sponsored college institutes during their high school tenure.
Project GRAD Houston staff members, Communities In Schools personnel, Houston ISD teachers, and community volunteers met at each of the previously mentioned high schools at 9:00 am and will begin their door-to-door home visits by 10:00 am after breakfast and a short training. Volunteers visit homes in groups of 2 or 3 with at least one group member familiar with the school or the GRAD program. Each group has the names, addresses, and maps of the 8 - 10 students/families that have been notified that The Walk group is coming. Volunteers return to the high school about noon for a free celebratory luncheon.
Walk for Success Contact Information:
Andrea Robertson, Administrative Assistant
Parent and Community Engagement
832-325-0360
arobertson@projectgradhouston.org