The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

The Morning After: Reflections on Oprah’s Million Dollar Gift

September 22, 2010 by Ryan Dolibois

I was thrilled to open up the Houston Chronicle this morning and see a YES Prep student on the front page, right next to our $1 million check from Oprah’s Angel Network. It has certainly been an exciting 24 hours for the entire YES Prep family! We have received a number of congratulatory emails and phone calls and also a number of questions about how all of this happened. I thought it would be fun to pull the back the curtain and provide some more context:

How was YES Prep selected for the show? Did YES have to apply to receive the gift?

Just over a month ago, a producer from Oprah’s show contacted our Director of Communications, Jill Willis, after watching a clip of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speaking at our Senior Signing Day ceremony. Over the month, our team stayed in almost daily contact with the show’s producers, sending video clips back and forth and answering dozens of questions about our model, our mission, and our students. In our wildest dreams, we thought Chris Barbic (our founder) was going to sit in the audience and potentially answer questions during one segment of the show. We were as shocked as the studio audience when, instead, Oprah invited Chris and the other school leaders on stage and handed everyone a check for $1 million.

How will YES Prep be using the funds?

As Oprah mentioned on her broadcast, “I know you will spend it well”. She’s right! Her contribution will help us continue our rapid expansion in Houston as we grow to annually serve 10,000 students and prepare all of them for college graduation. Her gift will enable us to add over 1,000 new students to our rolls next year by supporting the opening of new campuses and adding additional grade levels at our existing schools.   

Does this mean you don’t need to do any more fundraising?

Right now, we have as many students on our waiting list (4,000), as we have enrolled at our eight schools. Today, an average sixth grader in a Houston public school has less than a 10% chance of graduating from college. As the guests on the broadcast highlighted, our work is not done until we have reversed this trend in Houston. YES Prep is committed to opening more schools and serving more students so that we can change the odds for our city’s youth and ensure Houston’s future prosperity. Every dollar counts and your support helps make the dream of college success a reality for thousands more students. We invite you to join Oprah and make an investment in our students’ and our city’s future.  

What can I do to “join the movement”?

Of all of the questions and inquiries we’ve fielded over the past day, this is the question we enjoying answering the most. First, spread the news! We need more people in Houston to understand our city’s (and our nation’s) educational crisis. Use this blog and the other messages on our website to help others get plugged in. Second, I encourage you to visit one of our campuses. If you thought the Oprah broadcast was moving, wait until you see one of our schools in action! We can accommodate any size group and we would be thrilled to have you visit us in person. Click here to schedule a tour today. Finally, help us find the next generation of great classroom leaders. Visit the “work at YES” section on our website to find about how you or someone you know can become a member of our team.

We are so grateful to Oprah and all of the other leaders across the country who are taking a stand for improving our education system and refuse to be satisfied with the status quo.  It promises to be an exciting year for the entire YES Prep family as we continue to prove that college success is possible for all students, regardless of their zip code or the size of their bank account. Thank you for helping us make that mission possible!

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