Wishbone and Uncommon Schools Campaign to Send Students to Top Summer Programs

Wishbone, a nonprofit that gives students the chance to pursue their passions through online crowdfunding and program coordination, and Uncommon Schools, a network of 42 public charter schools, are teaming up to raise $90,000 to send 104 low-income high school students to a summer program of their choosing — including Summer@Brown, National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, National Student Leadership Conference Law and Advocacy, and Ecology Project International. The campaign, which runs through May, tells the stories of each student and allows the public to donate online.

“We know from experience that giving low-income students the opportunity to attend summer programs helps them find their passions, achieve their goals and level the playing field. That’s why we’re partnering with Uncommon Schools to break down barriers and give more than 100 truly exceptional students a life-changing opportunity that will help them find their inspiration,” said Beth Schmidt, founder and executive director of Wishbone, in a statement.

The Uncommon Schools students selected for this campaign all come from high poverty areas in New York City and Newark, New Jersey. Across Uncommon’s 42 high-performing college prep charter schools, its students are reversing the achievement gap.

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“Our students demonstrate their commitment to their own education, day in and day out. But many of them can’t afford to go to the summer programs that would help expand their world and further enhance their skills and interests,” said Brett Peiser, CEO of Uncommon Schools. “We saw Wishbone’s positive impact on students, strong relationships with top institutions and unique ability to raise funds and wanted to give more of our students the types of opportunities Wishbone makes possible.”

To read more about each of the students and to donate to the campaign, visit www.Wishbone.org and www.Wishbone.org/uncommon-summer.

Wishbone is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco that helps high-potential, low-income high school students from New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles reach their full potential. Through an online crowdfunding platform, the organization has helped 315 students pursue their passions at notable summer programs. Wishbone was founded by former Teach for America English teacher Beth Schmidt.

Uncommon Schools starts and manages 42 high-performing urban charter public schools that close the achievement gap and prepare low-income students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college. For more information go to www.UncommonSchools.org.