ReachOut 56-81 Background/Highlights

• 1991:  ReachOut ’56 founded by members of the class of 1956 in the tradition of “Princeton in the Nation’s Service”

• 2001:  Representatives of ReachOut Pro-active (PROP) began active mentoring of Storytelling Art’s founder and serving on the SAI board in Princeton

• 2001:   Preliminary discussions with class of ’81 instituted about participation in ReachOut

• 2002:   Career and College guidance programs initiated by PROP at Paul Robeson High School  in Brooklyn

• 2002:   ReachOut Fellowship program initiated, awarding two fellowships ($25,000 each) per year

• 2003:   Dan Stover awarded fellowship to serve at Isles Inc. in Trenton

• 2003:   College Awareness program created and “Why College?” DVD produced

• 2004:   College Awareness program introduced at Paul Robeson High School in Brooklyn and the Foundation for Excellent Schools national convention and distributed to over 60 inner city and rural schools

• 2004:   Princeton Alumni Council Award for Community Service presented to ReachOut ’56;

• 2004:   Members of ’81 start participation in choosing fellows

• 2006:   College Awareness program introduced at the YouthBuild school of Isles, Inc. in Trenton and adapted to Learning for Life (vocational training) to meet needs of students. Special recognition was accorded to ReachOut ’56’s contribution by Isles management

• 2007:  “I Make A Difference Award” recognition by Citigroup/ Paul Robeson High School  for ReachOut contributions

• 2008:   ReachOut 56-81 joint board and entity established

• 2008:  Full time Executive Coordinator hired to integrate ’56 and ’81 classes together

• 2008:  Introduced College Awareness programs to:

  • newly established Academy of Innovative Technology High School in Brooklyn (led by ReachOut “friend” Principal Cynthia Fowlkes)

  • newly established Capital Preparatory Charter High School in Trenton

• 2010:  Development of the Princeton Social Entrepreneur Contest

• 2011:  The Class of 2006 joins the existing '56-'81 partnership to form ReachOut56-81-06

• On-going:  Searching for classmates to start programs in other location to broaden ReachOut’s footprint of service