RHONDA WALKER FOUNDATION

MENTORING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH - THE FOUNDATION UNDERSTANDS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT TEENS HAVE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS IN ADULTS WITH WHOM THEY CAN DISCUSS THEIR CHALLENGES, SUCCESSES, AND FUTURE GOALS. EACH YEAR, THE FOUNDATION MATCHES TEENS WITH A CAREFULLY SCREENED PROFESSIONAL MENTOR WHO PROVIDES SUPPORT AND CRITICAL GUIDANCE. ALTHOUGH THE FOUNDATION ASKS ITS VOLUNTEER MENTORS TO COMMIT FOR ONE YEAR, THE BOND BECOMES STRONG ENOUGH SO THAT THEY STAY TO SEE THEIR MENTEE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS THIS SPIRIT OF GIVING BACK THAT THE FOUNDATION STRIVES TO INSTILL IN EVERY TEEN WHO IS A PART OF THE "GIRLS INTO WOMEN" PROGRAM. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.THROUGH THE FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY SERVICE AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, THESE TEENS VOLUNTEER AT LOCAL CHARITIES, WORK WITH THE HOMELESS, CREATE GIFTS FOR AILING CHILDREN, AND VISIT ELDERS IN NURSING HOMES.

COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM - WITH THE ALARMING ACHIEVEMENT RATES IN MOST PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE TEENS IT SERVES ARE COLLEGE-READY UPON GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THE FOUNDATION'S COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM ENSURES THAT EVERY TEEN HAS ACCESS TO YEAR-ROUND TUTORING IN ALL SUBJECTS AND ACT/SAT PREPARATION COURSES THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH "ENACT YOUR FUTURE". COLLEGE TOURS TAKE THE TEENS THE FOUNDATION SERVES NOT ONLY ACROSS THE STATE BUT ALSO ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO TOUR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. THE FOUNDATION STRIVES TO PROVIDE THE TEENS IT SERVES WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO MAKE A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE THROUGH FINANCIAL AID SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS ON THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS, MENTORING, AND COACHING.