November 23, 2011
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We are all familiar with the classic film The Miracle Worker, the story of how Helen Keller learned to communicate. But it is often forgotten that the one who worked miracles was not Helen Keller, but rather her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Likewise, the miracles performed byMinneapolisNEXT would not happen without the hard work, sacrifices and collaborative efforts of many, including you.
MinneapolisNEXT has grown from two students on high school scholarship in 1998, to more than 50 in the fall of 2011. We are also a key financial supporter of an acclaimed North Minneapolis girls’ dance studio, and other urban youth activities. When Anne Sullivan said “people seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most insignificant success is achieved,” she could have been talking about our growth and accomplishment over the past decade. On behalf of all of those who have benefited along the way, we offer a collective “thank you” for your support.
And what is the root of our magic? It’s MinneapolisNEXT‘s innovative operating philosophy, which represents a new breed of venture philanthropy – one that, simply put, doesn’t accept the status quo, but instead thinks differently on how to best serve the needs of the community as they are today, not as they have been. With urban high school dropout rates approaching 60% at MinneapolisNEXT‘s founding, we knew it was time for a more bottom-up approach, one that would extend opportunities to promising youth at the outset of their high school careers, in order to best prepare them for a college education and the satisfying, prosperous careers and healthy family-building that can follow. The best first step on that path is, as it always has been, a quality education.
As Brookings Institute Economist Ron Haskins noted in his study on the non-economic factors of poverty: “If young people do three things – graduate high school, get a job, and get married and wait until they’re 21 before having a baby – they have an almost 75% chance of making it into the middle class.” The results of MinneapolisNEXT‘s efforts, and your contributions, speak for themselves, with wave after wave of our scholarship students matriculating to colleges and universities.
It is for this reason that we ask for your continued support in building the next generation of leaders, and to keep making this magic. Please remember that 100% of your donation goes to programs that directly benefit kids in need, as all of the organization’s operating expenses are paid in full by the Board of Directors. Your contribution, in any amount, is greatly appreciated.
Best wishes,
Rexford Holland
President, MinneapolisNEXT
P.S. If you prefer, please visit us at www.minneapolisnext.org to make a donation online via credit card. We’re also enclosing a brochure that we hope you’ll share with a friend or family member who is not yet acquainted with our organization. Thanks!