Prep For Prep - Lilac Ball
Prep for Prep’s Lilac Ball celebrated the graduating class of Prep for Prep students, who are heading to universities across the country including Cornell (8 students!) Emory, Brown, Columbia, Duke, and Ithaca College, among others.
Prep for Prep is an organization dedicated to developing future leaders by creating access for young men and women of color in NYC to educational, leadership, and professional opportunities. Prep for Prep identifies the most promising students of color, many of whom are first-generation college students and prepares them for academic excellence at schools throughout the Northeast. Prep for Prep was founded in 1978 by Gary Simons, a teacher in a South Bronx school, with the support of Columbia University’s Teachers College, and started with 25 students and 3 teachers, with 11 schools committed to the program. Today, Prep for Prep partners with over 80 schools that enroll more than 700 Prep students each year, with the Prep Community exceeding over 5,000 students and alumni.
Benjamin Brown, Prep for Prep Honoree, Incoming Browning Prep Student
“The one thing no one can take from you is an education.”
During the evening, Prep students gave touching speeches about the impact Prep for Prep has had on their lives. Benjamin Brown, a member of Prep Contingent 44, cited Martin Luther King, explaining, “there is nothing better than doing something for others”. He expressed gratitude for his mother, who has the most important person in his Prep journey, who taught him the value of education, who constantly told him, “the one thing no one can take from you is an education.” Benjamin’s greatest victory from Prep of Prep was the development of his love for reading, and he is excited to be an incoming student at Browning Preparatory School, concluding, “I look forward to smaller classes at Browning where my voice can be heard and my ideas can explode.”
Jasmine Kaur, Prep for Prep Honoree, Incoming Freshman at Johns Hopkins
“She concluded explaining, “I don’t know what we’ll encounter in the next chapter in our lives, but I know we’re ready; we’ll be ready thanks to the investment Prep for Prep has made in our lives. Fredrick Douglas argued its easier to build strong children than to build broken men – Prep does just that. We’ll be leaders for tomorrow – not just repairing a broken world, but building a stronger one.””
Similarly, Jasmine Kaur, a first-generation student from India, shared her family’s story of immigrating to the United States from India with nothing. She attributed her work ethic and focus to teachings from her parents, which inspired her to do her best in school. After an accident led her to experience third degree burns, and a two-hour trip to the hospital, she became inspired to become a doctor to enforce change on the healthcare system. During her schooling, she became deflated from experiences of being different than her peers, burdened not only by the permanent burns that left scars but her ethnic differences, noting that, “the constant racism was accompanied with words that scabbed, scared, and reopened until I could no longer continue to be a part of this cycle.” Although burdened by the pain of her permanent burns and being socially ostracized for being different, Jasmine explained how one of her Prep for Prep counselors encouraged her to be the change she wished to see in the world, and she listened. She shared, “I took his advice and joined speech and debate. When I joined the team, I was an incredibly shy sophomore, incredibly shy in my own voice. Debate taught me to speak with conviction and clarity, to critique public policy but most importantly, to learn to advocate for myself and others. In just a couple of years of participation, I was ranked among top debaters in the country and I’m still top 5 in the state.” She concluded explaining, “I don’t know what we’ll encounter in the next chapter in our lives, but I know we’re ready; we’ll be ready thanks to the investment Prep for Prep has made in our lives. Fredrick Douglas argued its easier to build strong children than to build broken men – Prep does just that. We’ll be leaders for tomorrow – not just repairing a broken world, but building a stronger one.”
Eric Rothfeld, CEO of REI Capital, Prep for Prep Board Member
The evening also honored Eric Rothfeld, CEO of REI Capital LLC, who has been on the board of Prep for Prep for over 20 years. He’s also the sponsor of the Prep for Prep Alumni Prize, which recognizes dedicated serve to Prep for Prep. Ruth Jurgensen thanked Eric for his contributions, explaining, “You have taught us the value of risk-taking, truth-telling, community, connections and family. Thank you for all you do for Prep.” Rothfeld expressed his gratitude for the organization, sharing, “My greatest pleasure in being involved with Prep for the last 20-plus years has been getting to know so many alumni,” said Rothfeld. “These personal relationships truly enrich my life.”
The evening displayed the extraordinary impact Prep for Prep has on transforming the lives of young people who otherwise lack the economic and familial support required to excel in competitive schools in the Northeast, giving them educational, emotional, and professional guidance every step of the way.