We’ve had another successful year, thanks to you!
This has been a difficult year for all of us, and we hope you are doing well and staying safe. The pandemic has forced the Foundation to cancel all of its 2020 fundraising events. Despite that, and thanks to the support of our generous donors, we were able to continue our good work and provide extraordinary educational experiences for many students in need! In this newsletter we are sharing testimonials from our grantees, fellows and scholarship recipients expressing the Foundation’s impact on their lives.
Our 2021 fundraising events are still in flux, but we have reserved September 27th for our 2nd Annual Amanda Golf Classic and hope to hold our 3rd Annual Cocktail Reception in late Spring. We look forward to seeing you at an event in 2021 as we continue to change lives through education, one child at a time.
As you choose your year-end charitable causes, please consider making a donation to continue Amanda’s mission to level the playing field and enrich the lives of underserved students. Thank you again for your continued support!
NJLEEP Amanda Rose Laura Scholars
Our three NJLEEP Amanda Rose Laura Scholars started their first semesters of college. Our scholarship funded their college application process, and now it’s supporting their transition to college life.
| “My classes have been going well, I am taking five right now, hopefully intending to major in Biology for now. I just wanted to say how grateful I am to the foundation for their support during my college journey. College is already expensive as it is, and the additional fees that come along with the tuition begins to add up as well. I am beyond thankful to the Amanda Rose Laura Foundation for granting me the support to be able to purchase my own books and school supplies” – Remi, Smith College |
“I feel extremely blessed and fortunate to be an Amanda Rose Laura Foundation scholar. Learning about Ms. Laura’s admirable character and altruistic deeds has inspired me to strive to be at least as half as giving as Ms. Laura. As an Amanda Rose Laura Foundation scholar, I intend to be altruistic in the area of study that I am interested in: medicine.” – Jadsika, Smith College
| “I’m glad that being on-campus secures a place to study and places me in the right mindset to succeed. I am especially grateful that, through the Amanda Rose Laura foundation, I am able to opt for takeout with friends, buy hiking shoes to go to Gile Mountain, walk into the CVS confidently to buy last-minute dorm supplies, and get a coach bus ticket back home. I’ve never felt more secure and excited for my future at Dartmouth, go Big Green!” – Ashley, Dartmouth College |
Social emotional learning (SEL) at Chicago Math and Science Academy
We provided a grant to Chicago Math and Science Academy to enhance their social emotional learning curriculum through a program called Second Step.
Lauren Dalzin, a CMSA school counselor, explained “The Second Step curriculum has helped me better understand the appropriate language to use with middle school students on various SEL (social emotional learning) related topics. I feel more confident in my ability to deliver SEL lessons because I have Second Step as a guide.”
| “Second step is helpful but also fun. It’s nice to be able to have discussions with my classmates without feeling judged. The best thing that I learned with Second Step is calming strategies.” – Neeptah Naba, 7th grade |
| “The second step program helped me to learn about managing emotions and that it can be hard, but when you talk about the way that you’re feeling and ask for help, you can get through it. I also really like the second step activities and discussion questions.“ – Mia Vera, 8th Grade |
| BRICK Education Network BRICK is a charter management organization based in Newark, New Jersey. It invests in children to relentlessly knock down all barriers to students’ academic success. “On behalf of the BRICK Education Network (BEN), thank you so much for the wonderfully generous donation in support of BEN’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 crisis by providing essential services to the families and children of Newark’s South Ward.” – Nichelle Holder, Chief Program Officer, BEN |
| Gifted sweaters to our Chicago Math and Science Academy Ambassadors “All of us look forward to receiving this special gift as part of our graduation. Thank you Amanda Rose Laura Foundation for making it possible for the ambassadors to leave CMSA with a beautiful and meaningful token of appreciation. I love my sweater.” – Kimberly Dominguez, CMSA Ambassador |
Teach for America Amanda Rose Laura Fellows
| “Although this year was not what any of us expected, I am still so thankful to have had the opportunity and the platforms to continue teaching my students from a distance. I do believe each one of them now has a more positive attitude toward reading. To me, the Amanda Rose Laura Foundation’s contribution to my classroom has translated to flexible learning outside the classroom. I get pictures almost every day of the kids reading at home.” – Catarina Ribeira, ARL Teaching Fellow |
“Our two robotics teams placed within the top twenty teams in North Jersey. Our kids have been doing such an incredible job! Thanks to the Amanda Rose Laura Foundation’s grant we were able to register two competition teams and purchase two additional robots for the kids.”
– Aleanbh Finn, Community Charter School of Paterson
Let’s Get Ready Fellows
| “The Amanda Rose Foundation fellowship helped me support 30 high school seniors navigate college applications during a pandemic. I was able to build close relationships with my students and coach them through the college application process from the start of their senior year till the week before they started college. It was an amazing experience and I’m honored to have been a fellow.” – Jasmine Hassan, LGR Fellow |
| “I am very grateful to have had my position funded by the Amanda Rose Laura Foundation. It’s important to have support while transitioning to college, especially during this unprecedented time. I was able to support 30 students while providing them with reassurance by focusing on the positive side of things. This allowed us to continue to tackle the college application and decision process. Through support, positivity, and problem solving I was able to help them matriculate into their colleges.” – Rachelle St. Fleur, LGR Fellow |
| “The ARL Education Law Fellowship has enabled me to pursue my passion for education and work to advance educational equity in New York City public schools. I have worked with staff at Fordham Law’s Feerick Center and four of my fellow law students to launch a pilot to teach and engage middle school students at the Bronx School for Young Leaders on civic principles and opportunities for participation. I am deeply grateful for the generosity of the Amanda Rose Laura Foundation for this unique opportunity to collaborate with the Feerick Center and support my work to develop replicable civics lessons designed to equip young students from low-income, minority, and first-generation communities with the skills and knowledge they need to become effective advocates and participants in our democratic society.” – Brian Sarfo, Fordham Law Fellow |
Restorative Practices in Action
A program that cultivates leadership in students in urban schools by training educators to re-envision and restore student voice and empowerment in the classroom
“Your support opened up doors with other foundations and grant funders. Thanks to your belief in us and your initial support, we have now exceeded every financial and partnership goal for our first year in Philadelphia. We are partnering with 5 schools in West Philadelphia, bringing our programming to all of those teachers and students. Thank you so much to the Amanda Rose Laura Foundation for not only providing your financial support, but also for your belief in what is possible when we do this work together.”
– Claire Miller, Founder and CEO of RPIA
“My participation in RPIA has helped me to feel part of a larger educational community and provides me the chance to celebrate the joys of teaching and brainstorm with solutions-driven peers. I was drawn to RPIA’s mission and through participation in this organization, I can implement research-based practices to empower my students and hone leadership skills within young adults.”
– Eva Worsley, Overbrook School for the Blind, West Philadelphia