President Obama Donates Portion of Nobel Peace Prize Money to Posse

Posted March 12, 2010 Posse Press

On March 11, 2010, The Posse Foundation became one of only 10 organizations selected by President Barack Obama to receive a portion of the president’s $1.4 million Nobel Peace Prize award money, which he elected to donate to charitable causes. The news that Posse will receive a generous gift of $125,000 came via a White House announcement.

“These organizations do extraordinary work in the United States and abroad helping students, veterans and countless others in need,” said President Obama. “I’m proud to support their work.”

The other nine organizations who will receive donations ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 are: AfriCare, the American Indian College Fund, the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation, the Central Asia Institute, the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, College Summit, Fisher House, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the United Negro College Fund.

“On behalf of the entire Posse Foundation, I thank President Obama for this incredible acknowledgment and support,” says Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial. “For 20 years, Posse has been finding outstanding young people and connecting them to the great education they so deserve. The president’s support is more than financial; it is a message to the country that these young people are not only important, but needed as leaders. We are beyond thrilled.”

Scholars + Alumni Thank President Obama

Download a book of excerpts from the hundreds of messages received from Posse Scholars and Alumni who wanted to thank President Obama personally for his incredible gift and recognition.

Pepperdine Signs On and Hamilton Expands — The Posse Foundation

Pepperdine Signs On and Hamilton Expands

Posted September 15, 2009 Posse Press

Pepperdine University has become Posse’s newest partner institution, bringing the number of college and university partners to 37. In addition, longtime partner Hamilton College, already paired with Posse Boston, has expanded its partnership to become the third partner school for newly launched Posse Miami.

Pepperdine, located in Malibu, California, on an 830-acre campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean, will welcome its first cohort from Posse D.C. in fall 2010. As a Christian institution committed to the highest standards of academic excellence, its students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service and leadership.

“There is so much symmetry between the mission and values of The Posse Foundation and those of Pepperdine University,” says Pepperdine President Andrew Benton. “As a leading Christian institution of higher education, we care deeply about issues of equity and access and are keenly aware of the tremendous benefits, both intellectual and spiritual, to having a diverse campus community.”

Pepperdine’s undergraduate school, Seaver College, has a student population of over 3,000. Students have over 100 majors and degree programs to choose from, the most popular of which include business, communications and natural and social sciences.

As Pepperdine prepares to welcome its first Posse, Hamilton will welcome its 10th Posse from Boston and first from Miami this fall. “Posse students are leaders on campus,” says Hamilton President Joan Hinde Stewart. “We are pleased to have partnered with the Posse Program since 2001 and look forward to welcoming students from Miami in the fall.”

With this exciting expansion, Hamilton becomes Posse’s seventh dual-city partner institution.

“Hamilton has been an outstanding partner on every level, and we are thrilled that Posse Scholars from Boston and now Miami will benefit from a first-rate Hamilton education,” says Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial. “We are equally fortunate to be collaborating with Pepperdine and President Benton. The university’s deep commitment to excellence and service will be invaluable to the enrichment and success of our Scholars.”

Mount Holyoke, Penn, UCLA Join Posse, Bucknell Expands Partnership — The Posse Foundation

Mount Holyoke, Penn, UCLA Join Posse, Bucknell Expands Partnership

Posted August 07, 2009 Posse Press

Mount Holyoke, University of Pennsylvania (Penn), and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have partnered with The Posse Foundation. Penn and Mount Holyoke will recruit students from Posse’s newest program site in Miami, while UCLA will take students from Los Angeles.

Existing partner Bucknell University has also signed on with the Los Angeles chapter. Bucknell, which already recruits from Boston and D.C., has become Posse’s second tri-city school, joining the University of Wisconsin-Madison in recruiting 30 Scholars each year.

“These universities are doing something remarkable,” says Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial. “They’re helping to redefine merit in higher education and, by example, demonstrating alternative ways of achieving equity while maintaining the highest standards. That takes extraordinary vision and leadership.”

Penn is the first Ivy League institution to join Posse’s roster of leading colleges and universities.

“Our partnership with The Posse Foundation,” says Penn President Amy Gutmann, “advances our goal of making Penn more accessible to exceptional students who otherwise could not afford an Ivy League education. More and more evidence indicates that excellence and diversity go hand in hand, and I am confident that Posse Miami Scholars will contribute their talents, leadership and passion to make our great University ever better, just as Penn will transform their lives for the better.”

With UC Berkeley signing on in 2008, UCLA is now the second institution within the University of California system to participate in the Posse Program.

“There is so much overlap between the mission and values of The Posse Foundation and those of UCLA,” says UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. “Making sure that qualified students from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue a first-rate education is a priority for us. Our partnership with Posse is a natural fit.”

Bucknell and Mount Holyoke are the first partner schools to recruit Scholars to participate in Posse’s new Civic Engagement Program, designed to prepare students to effectively engage social justice issues. Scholars will be selected based on their demonstrated commitment to activism and to building community in their neighborhoods. Throughout their pre-collegiate training and every summer during college, each member of the Posse will intern at an organization that addresses social justice issues.

“We are looking forward to selecting our first cohort of Scholars,” says Jane Brown, Mount Holyoke’s vice president for enrollment and college relations. “The range of traits that Posse screens for—such as leadership, resourcefulness, the ability to work well in a team and creative problem solving—are qualities that we value at Mount Holyoke and believe are key to a successful college experience.”

Miami Becomes Posse’s Seventh Site — The Posse Foundation

Miami Becomes Posse’s Seventh Site

Posted July 30, 2009 Posse Press

The Posse Foundation has opened its seventh site in the city of Miami, Florida, the fourth largest school district in the country. With over 350,000 students that make up a richly diverse public school system and community, Miami is an ideal home for Posse’s newest chapter.

The new site was largely funded by a generous grant from The New World Foundation in partnership with the Novo Foundation, which each issued a challenge grant of $250,000. At Posse’s annual gala this May, an additional $300,000 was pledged by support the first three years of operation of Posse Miami.

With recruitment already underway, Posse Miami has partnered with Mount Holyoke College and the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and will send the first two cohorts of Miami students to their campuses next fall.

The official announcement of Posse Miami’s opening came at a launch event on July 8 at the Viceroy Miami Hotel, where Florida Department of Education Chairman T. Willard Fair, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and Penn Dean of Admissions Eric Furda joined Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial, Posse staff and supporters.

“Our students today are our leaders tomorrow,” said Superintendent Carvalho. “There’s no better program in the country to help ensure that students who show promise and intelligence have access to a first-rate college education.”

First Science Posse Excels at Brandeis University — The Posse Foundation

First Science Posse Excels at Brandeis University

Posted May 06, 2009 Posse Press

Ten Scholars from New York headed to Brandeis University in Massachusetts last fall as members of the first Science Posse, a specialized cohort dedicated to pursuing majors in science. Now in their second semester on campus they are excelling socially and academically—with a majority making the dean’s list.

Irving Epstein, a chemistry professor at Brandeis and the architect of this initiative, was awarded a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in 2006 to improve science education and increase interest in the field among underrepresented students. Having been provost of Brandeis at the onset of its partnership with The Posse Foundation more than 10 years ago and very familiar with Posse’s track record, Epstein collaborated with the Foundation to replicate its successful model and establish Science Posses.

“Through this unique Posse experience, Brandeis gains a much more diverse set of students in the sciences and is able to attract students who otherwise might not have come here,” says Epstein. “The Scholars’ eyes are opened to the many ways they can use an education in the sciences.”

Beyond their rigorous science curriculum and general coursework, members of Brandeis Science Posse 1 have also found time to participate in activities as wide-ranging as Bhangra dancing, volleyball and spoken word.

This summer, three Scholars will participate in competitive academic enrichment programs. Both Angel Garcia and Gloriya Nedler were accepted into the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program which has program sites at various institutions throughout the country. Angel will attend the program at Case Western University and Gloriya at Yale. Rebekah LaFontant will study at Tufts’ Summer Medical Research Program.

These trailblazing Scholars are undoubtedly paving the way for the next Posse, leaving big shoes to fill. Brandeis Science Posse 2 Scholars are currently in pre-collegiate training at Posse and will matriculate this fall.

Photo by Jorge Meyer for Howard Hughes Medical Institute

430 Students in Six Cities Win $43 Million in Scholarships — The Posse Foundation

430 Students in Six Cities Win $43 Million in Scholarships

Posted January 16, 2009 Posse Press

This year, from a pool of over 9,000 nominees, 430 new Posse Scholars won $43 million in scholarships from Posse’s partner colleges and universities.

Throughout December and January, Awards Ceremonies took place in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. to welcome Posse’s Class of 2013.

As they were applauded by their families, guidance counselors, community mentors and college administrators, each Scholar accepted a white rose—a symbol of the passing of the torch to the next class of Scholars—and took their place on stage to meet their Posse for the first time. A significant portion of each ceremony was also dedicated to giving both Scholars and members of their families the opportunity to publicly share their sentiments of pride, excitement and gratitude.

Over the past 20 years, Posse’s college and university partners have awarded more than $265 million in Posse Scholarships to 2,650 students across the country.

UC Berkeley Partners with Posse — The Posse Foundation

UC Berkeley Partners with Posse

Posted December 15, 2008 Posse Press

University of California, Berkeley—the country’s highest-ranked public university according to U.S. News & World Report—has joined Posse’s growing roster of partner colleges and universities. Partnered with Posse Los Angeles, Berkeley will welcome its first Posse at the start of the 2009 academic year.

As the flagship campus of the University of California, Berkeley has an undergraduate student body of more than 25,000, yet boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1, with more than 75 percent of the undergraduate courses holding fewer than 30 students.

A worldwide leader in undergraduate education, Berkeley students enjoy a 1,232 acre campus, more than 130 academic departments and over 7,000 courses in 350 degree programs. Berkeley is also known for housing the most top-ranked graduate programs and for producing more Ph.D.s annually than any other U.S. university.

“Berkeley is a leader in academic excellence and in its commitment to social justice—values that are central to Posse’s mission, says Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial. “I am thrilled to be collaborating with Chancellor Birgeneau on what I’m sure will be a phenomenal partnership.”

In addition to its distinguished academic reputation, Berkeley fosters a commitment to service. In any given year, more than 4,000 of its students do volunteer work. In fact, Berkeley continues to be the only school in the country to have produced more than 3,000 Peace Corps volunteers.

Bill Clinton Taps Posse for Global Initiative — The Posse Foundation

Bill Clinton Taps Posse for Global Initiative

Posted December 09, 2008 Posse Press

At the 2008 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting—a gathering of a diverse community of heads of state and nonprofit, business and religious leaders from around the world—Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial weighed in on the state of education in the United States. Deborah was invited to represent The Posse Foundation as a member of CGI and speak on a panel entitled, Providing Real Choices: What Works for At-risk Adolescent Girls and Boys?

The Clinton Global Initiative was started in 2005 by President Bill Clinton to strategize and employ innovative solutions to some of the world’s most critical challenges. Over the past two years, CGI’s efforts have focused on education, energy and climate change, global health and poverty alleviation. “The Clinton Global Initiative is a tremendously important leader in promoting philanthropy worldwide,” says Deborah. “Posse is extremely honored by President Clinton’s recognition and by the opportunity to partner with CGI as we continue our work to ensure diversity and equal access in higher education.”

CGI’s action-oriented approach to addressing global ills relies on its members to develop commitments to action that focus on effective, problem-solving measures that can be implemented and productively evaluated. In addition to presenting at the meeting, Deborah announced Posse’s commitment to double its national footprint and increase its impact exponentially within the next 10 years. Toward that goal, Posse has embarked on a major venture philanthropy initiative which aims to raise $50 million over the next five years.

Power of 10 Events — The Posse Foundation

Power of 10 Events

In Every Posse City
October 2010 Atlanta | Boston | Chicago | D.C.
Los Angeles | Miami | New York

Power of 10 signifies the strength of a Posse, which is compromised of 10 students, and the event is held in October, the 10th month of the year in each Posse city. This memorable evening will celebrate diversity, equity, and leadership in higher education and the workforce.

Atlanta Power of 10

Thursday, October 21, 2010 | Capital City Club – Brookhaven

Posse’s signature fundraiser is the annual Power of 10. Each year, Posse Atlanta welcomes over 150 guests in celebration of diversity and equity in education and to honor a philanthropic leader in education. Click here for details and to register to the event.

Boston Power of 10

Monday, October 4, 2010 | Intercontinental Boston

Please join Posse Boston at its second annual Power of 10, an unforgettable celebration of diversity and equity in higher education and the workforce, community leadership and the growth of our Alumni Network. Click here for details and to register to the event.

Chicago Power of 10

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 | The Ivy Room

Posse Chicago’s signature event is the annual Power of 10. Each year, Posse Chicago welcomes over 250 guests in celebration of diversity and equity in education and to honor a philanthropic leader in education. Click here for details and to register to the event.

D.C. Power of 10

Wednesday, October 6, 2010 | National Press Club, First Amendment Lounge

Please join Posse D.C. at its third annual Power of 10 celebrating Posse in the press. This year, Posse D.C. honors two prominent media figures and welcomes more than 100 guests in celebration of diversity and equity in higher education and the workforce. Click here for details and to register to the event.

Los Angeles Power of 10

Wednesday, October 6, 2010 | Montage Beverly Hills, Rooftop Conservatory

Posse Los Angeles’ inaugural Power of 10 event will be an extraordinary celebration of diversity and equity in higher education. Join us, along with more than 100 prominent community, corporate and philanthropic leaders, as we showcase the promise of Posse in Los Angeles. Click here for details and to register to the event.

New York Power of 10

Monday, October 4, 2010 | The Lighthouse, Pier 61, Chelsea Piers.

Please join 100+ guests—including local corporate, philanthropic, and community leaders—at Posse New York’s inaugural Power of 10 event. Click here for details and to register to the event.

2009 Posse Foundation Annual Report — The Posse Foundation

2009 Posse Foundation Annual Report

Posted August 17, 2010 Download File


Since its founding, The Posse Foundation has experienced incredible growth and a steady broadening of its national footprint. What started in 1989 as an initiative to send five public high school students from New York City to attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, has become a national movement that serves thousands of remarkable young leaders from all across the country each year. Today, Posse boasts partnerships with 38 top colleges and universities, sites in seven of the country’s largest cities, more than 3,000 selected Scholars and over 1,200 Alumni.

As Posse has grown, so, too, has the impact of Posse Scholars on campuses and of Posse Alumni in the workforce. Our Scholars have built a reputation for outstanding student achievement and represent a uniquely diverse pipeline of talent. As Alumni, they are succeeding in fields such as finance, fine arts, education and medicine, and ensuring a brighter future for all Americans.

We have always known that there are many more incredibly gifted students than there are ways to identify them—which is why it is Posse’s mission to cast a finer net, to help reach promising young people who are full of aptitude but too often lacking in opportunity.

This year’s annual report celebrates Posse’s 20th anniversary. But the journey is far from over. By the year 2020, Posse will operate sites in 10 cities, work with 80 college and university partners, and claim over 6,000 professionals in the workforce as Alumni. To get there, we will rely on the strength of our partnerships, the generosity of our supporters and the firmness of our conviction that diverse teams of driven individuals can accomplish amazing things.

Lawrence Scholar Alfredo Duque Featured on CNN — The Posse Foundation

Lawrence Scholar Alfredo Duque Featured on CNN

Posted April 26, 2010

A member of the newest class of Posse Scholars, Alfredo Duque, Lawrence Posse 4, is a senior at Newcomers High School, an academy for recent immigrants in Long Island City, New York. Since immigrating to the United States three years ago from Mexico, Alfredo has excelled both academically and socially and is today an active member of student government, an athlete on the volleyball team and a burgeoning saxophone player. He was recently featured on CNN in a story about the success of Newcomers High School.

Click here to view the video.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is a Fan of Posse — The Posse Foundation

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is a Fan of Posse

Posted April 23, 2010

On April 17, 2010, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan participated in a town hall meeting called “Fixing America’s Schools,” where he responded to a question about college persistence from Posse Atlanta Director Charisse Williams. “Like the president, I’m a huge fan of Posse,” he said. “You guys have done an unbelievable job and your graduation rates are through the roof and it’s a really innovative, thoughtful program, so I just appreciate your commitment so much.”

Click here to view the entire video. The exchange begins at the 1:50 mark.

Sixth Annual Posse Chicago Golf Outing — The Posse Foundation

Sixth Annual Posse Chicago Golf Outing

Monday, September 13, 2010
Skokie Country Club
Shotgun start 12:30 p.m.
Reception 6 p.m. 500 Washington Avenue
Glencoe, IL 60022

Play at one of the top 10 golf courses in Illinois and one of the top 100 classic courses in the nation. This exclusive event accommodates a limited number of foursomes on the course.

All Day Event Schedule includes:

  • Registration and access to the driving range: 11 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
  • Shotgun Start: 12:30 p.m.
  • Reception (business casual) featuring cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and program with silent and live auctions: 6 p.m.
  • Full use of facilities, including showers and locker rooms to change attire for the reception

2010 Participation Levels

  • Gold Level, $5,000: Includes two foursomes and two hole sponsorships
  • Silver Level, $3,000: Includes one foursome and one hole sponsorship
  • Bronze Level, $2,000: Includes one foursome
  • Individual Player, $500
  • Hole Sponsor, $1,000: Includes logo displayed at tee box and two tickets to reception (does not include play on golf course)

Click here to sign up for the event or to make a donation to Posse Chicago.

Major sponsorship opportunities including reception sponsor, golf cart sponsor, and driving range sponsor are also available. Please contact Senior Development Officer Rudy Ash at (312) 566-9790 for more information.

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President Obama Donates Portion of Nobel Peace Prize Money to Posse

Posted March 12, 2010

The Posse Foundation is one of only 10 organizations selected by President Barack Obama to receive a portion of the president’s $1.4 million Nobel Peace Prize award money. News that Posse will receive a generous gift of $125,000 came via a White House announcement. Read More

Pepperdine Signs On and Hamilton Expands

Posted September 15, 2009

Pepperdine University has become Posse’s newest partner institution. In addition, longtime partner Hamilton College, already paired with Posse Boston, has expanded its partnership to become the third partner school for newly launched Posse Miami. Read More

Mount Holyoke, Penn, UCLA Join Posse, Bucknell Expands Partnership

Posted August 07, 2009

Mount Holyoke and The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) have partnered with Posse to recruit students from Miami. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and existing partner Bucknell University have also signed on with the Los Angeles chapter. Read More

CNN Segment on Posse — The Posse Foundation

CNN Segment on Posse

Posted May 27, 2009 Posse Press

Retired Goldman Partner Champions Wisconsin Posse — The Posse Foundation

Retired Goldman Partner Champions Wisconsin Posse

Posted December 09, 2008 Posse Press

As a current member and past chair of the University of Wisconsin Foundation Board of Directors, Wade Fetzer is largely the reason that this fall there are 120 Posse Scholars on campus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Together with the generosity and leadership of Wisconsin’s former Chancellor John D. Wiley, Wade’s nearly 10-year relationship with Posse has resulted in our first tri-city partnership. Partnering first with Posse Chicago in 2000, Wisconsin now also accepts Scholars from Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Wade and his wife Beverly became involved with Posse in 1999 when they enthusiastically agreed to support the opening of Posse Chicago. Over the next two years, Wade spearheaded Posse’s first public university partnership and helped select the first two Chicago Posses to attend Wisconsin, with then Chancellor Wiley accepting all 20 finalists. Wade not only works to expand support for Wisconsin Scholars, he also awards laptops to Scholars who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA after their first year. “I love being involved in the community,” Wade says. “But over the years, the two things that have really stuck with me are the passion I have for Wisconsin and Posse. To be able to merge the two, to me, is the best of all.”

Wade holds a bachelor’s degree from Wisconsin and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where he currently serves on the Alumni Advisory Board. After more than 20 years at Goldman Sachs, Wade retired as a partner and is pleased to have more time to focus on charitable work.

Kellogg, Northwestern Law Sign On — The Posse Foundation

Kellogg, Northwestern Law Sign On

Posted December 09, 2008 Posse Press

A testament to Posse’s growing reputation for excellence among institutions of higher education has been the expansion of graduate school opportunities for Posse Alumni.

This fall, Posse established partnerships with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and Law School. Additionally, we have expanded our partnership with the University of Washington (UW) to include the College of Education, the Information School and the School of Social Work. All five of these programs have pledged to provide scholarships and stipends to support graduate study for Posse Alumni each year. Last year, University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs began offering an annual, full-tuition graduate fellowship opportunity for Posse Alumni.

Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern

Kellogg is one of the most prestigious business schools in the world. U.S. News & World Report ranks it No. 1 for its Executive M.B.A. program. With over 50,000 alumni—including Posse Board members Wade Fetzer, Barbara Janulis, Steven Lefkowitz, Jeff Ubben and Tim Ubben—Kellogg has 12 recognized research centers and affiliations with business schools in China, India, Germany, Israel and other countries.

School of Law, Northwestern

Northwestern Law School has a strong commitment to public service and one of the most diverse student populations among law schools nationwide—in large part due to its unique process of evaluating candidates based not only on academic potential, but on interpersonal skills, judgment and maturity as well.

College of Education, UW

UW’s College of Education has a small, yet diverse student body of less than 1,000 students. One of its leading academic specialties is educational leadership and policy studies, which draws from political science, economics, sociology and other disciplines to work towards creating a more equitable and attainable education system for all students.

Information School, UW

Offering advanced degree programs in information management as well as library and information science, the Information School focuses on the relationship between information, technology and people. Its sustained engagement with global communities and commitment to multiculturalism attracts a diverse student body and faculty, and results in relevant, cutting-edge work.

School of Social Work, UW

The School of Social Work maintains a challenging curriculum that emphasizes the core principles of educating practitioners to promote a more humane society; conducting research that engenders understanding of complex social issues; and encouraging public service that enhances the health, well-being, and empowerment of disadvantaged communities locally and globally.

Posse President, Founder Wins MacArthur ‘Genius’ Award — The Posse Foundation

Posse President, Founder Wins MacArthur ‘Genius’ Award

Posted October 01, 2007 Posse Press

This September, Deborah Bial, president and founder of The Posse Foundation, was awarded a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship from the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Deborah, along with 23 other awardees, will receive a $500,000 “no-strings-attached” grant to support her work over the next five years.

“It’s an incredible gift,” says Deborah. “It will change my life, and I hope it will change Posse’s life.”

In 1989, Deborah founded Posse in response to a student who said that he never would have dropped out of college if he’d had his posse with him. Today, Posse is among the most sought-after college access and youth leadership development organizations in the country.

“Deborah is the most visionary young leader I’ve worked with in my career,” says Posse Chair Michael Ainslie. “She is most deserving of this award.”

The MacArthur Fellowship will help bring attention to the work of Posse. “The MacArthur Foundation supports highly creative individuals and institutions with the ability and the promise to make a difference in shaping and improving our future,” says MacArthur President Jonathan Fanton.

Deborah, who holds a bachelor’s from Brandeis University and a doctorate in education from Harvard University, views the award as a reflection of the strength of Posse as an organization.

“This is such a collective effort,” Deborah says. “I’m so honored that I got recognized, but it’s a recognition of our entire team, the colleges and universities and Scholars, because we’re all working together.”

CBS News Story on Posse — The Posse Foundation

CBS News Story on Posse