Achieve Apply Afford
A Capital Campaign for Crosby Scholars
The vision of the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership is for every Forsyth County public school student to have the opportunity to pursue education after high school. Crosby Scholars programming for 6th through 12th grade helps students ACHIEVE in and out of the classroom and contribute to the community through service. During the junior year, Crosby Scholars provides each student with an advisor to help student APPLY to college and scholarships. If a Crosby Scholar has unmet financial need to enroll in college, Crosby Scholars provides Last Dollar Grants to help graduates AFFORD college.
Since 1992, Crosby Scholars has helped more than 35,000 students in preparing for successful college enrollment. We are grateful for the community support that allows us to help students pursue their dreams and reach their full potential.
Crosby Scholars launches $10 million Capital Campaign
Over 100 people joined the Crosby Scholars Program at The Barn in Reynolda Village in October to kick off the community launch of its $10 million Achieve Apply Afford Capital Campaign.
Funding raised will ensure public school students in Forsyth County have the opportunity to enroll in college and other post-secondary educational opportunities. The Campaign coincides with the 30-year anniversary of the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership, which began in 1992 at Carver and Glenn High Schools.
“Post high school education is the single best predictor of social and economic stability,” said Paul Fulton, long-time education advocate and philanthropist. “Crosby Scholars opens that door, not just providing money but also helping students on that path. Every kid out there has the opportunity to make a plan to go to college.”
Fulton, former president of Sara Lee Corporation, is one of the visionaries who helped found the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership. He noted that since 1993, Crosby has graduated more than 11,000 students, and 98% report they intend to enroll in 4- or 2-year colleges. Crosby Scholars has awarded more than $10.1 million in Last Dollar Grants and scholarships and leveraged $93 million. The Program requires students to become involved in their community.
The Campaign is led by Chairs Danny Newcomb, Anc Newman and Jason Wenker, who recently were recognized as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers by the North Carloina Triad Chapter of the Association of Professional Fundraisers.
“I joined the Crosby Scholars Board in 2009—what a ride,” Newcomb said. “We had 5,000 kids in the program and six employees and were focused on preparing students to succeed in school and pursuing a college degree.”
Through the years, Crosby Scholars added middle school programming, one-to-one advising for every senior and focused programming for Hispanic and African-American students.
In 2012 Crosby Scholars affiliated with Goodwill of Northwest NC, which Newcomb said “helped stabilize us financially.”
“I’ve watched how Crosby Scholars has strategically grown,” Newcomb said. Crosby Scholars' last campaign raised $5.2 million and was planned to support the nonprofit for five years. “We work efficiently and effectively, and with that, plus Goodwill, we stretched that more than eight years.”
This Campaign is needed to support several goals, Newcomb said:
- To expand programs and engage more parents;
- expand the advising program into the junior year;
- and to implement student-based technology that will increase enrollment and retention in Crosby Scholars so that more high-need populations may benefit from Crosby’s programming.
The Campaign will also enable Crosby to enhance workshops in academic skills, leadership development, ACT/SAT prep and financial planning, increase cultural relevance and increase need-based Last Dollar Grants. Crosby Scholars plans to designate $1 million to build an endowment to access when needed, Newcomb said.
“Our financial forecast projects our Campaign of $10 million will allow Crosby Scholars to continue to grow and serve the community at least 10 more years before we ask again,” he said.
Crosby Scholars' President & CEO Mona W. Lovett said that when she started working at Crosby Scholars, she was one of three staff members on a team that served 500 students. That staff has grown to just under 60 full-time and part-time staff. Lovett cited the vital affiliation with Goodwill and the partnership with WS/FCS, and she recognized alumni who have returned to work and serve in the community.
Several alums now work for Crosby Scholars, including Marketing and Engagement Officer Hayley Sink, who was recently recognized as one of Winston-Salem’s top 25 leaders under 40 years old, and Israel Suarez, who now serves on Crosby Scholars' Board of Directors and recently completed his doctorate in medicinal chemistry at Wake Forest University. Both were first-generation college students.
“I’m here to celebrate our alums,” Lovett said. “We’re proud of our alums and our students. They’re doing amazing things.”
Crosby Scholars alumnus Dr. Karrie Dixon, Chancellor of Elizabeth City State University, graduated in 1993 from Carver High School’s first class of Crosby graduates.
“I salute you for your strategic and visionary effort in creating a pathway for our youth to pursue a bright future,” Dixon said via video.“ Crosby Scholars' mission is paramount as you endeavor to elevate the lives of students. Access to a higher education degree is transformational for students. Education is a game-changer; it is the great equalizer. Students cannot wait until high school to prepare. They must start in middle school. This is the reason programs such as Crosby Scholars are necessary. You are building pathways to a brighter tomorrow. To quote Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.’”