Prep for Prep’s 2025 Lilac Ball Celebrates Leadership, Raises $4.3 Million to Support the Next Generation

On Monday, June 9, nearly 1,000 members of the Prep for Prep Community gathered at the New York Marriott Marquis to celebrate the promise and potential of young leaders at the Lilac Ball. The event raised an impressive $4.3 million, ensuring that Prep’s transformative academic, leadership, and professional development programs remain accessible to thousands of talented students and alumni.

The evening was marked by moments of inspiration, reflection, and pride as the community came together to honor Christopher (CJ) James (IX/Riverdale ’93, Duke ’97) JD, Harvard ’02. As the Global Head of Tactical Opportunities and Co-President of the Prep for Prep Board of Trustees, CJ is an inspirational example of the power of Prep and a catalyst in ensuring that future generations have access to the same opportunities he has had. 

In his remarks, CJ spoke about the life-changing impact of Prep:

“My fifth-grade teacher, Ms. Shirley Weiner, introduced me to Prep for Prep. For some reason I’ll never know, she picked me out of her class of 40 kids at P.S. 75 and told me and my parents there was a program that could facilitate a better education for me. My parents didn’t know anything about schools in NYC, they had each just independently moved here from very different places in Trinidad and Pittsburgh, but on the back of that referral they checked it out, I applied and was admitted, and it profoundly changed my life. 

Sometimes, I get a bit meta and think about the massive implications of Mrs. Weiner caring and taking some of her limited time and attention to put me up on Prep. I don’t think there is any other thought someone has had for me in my life that has been as impactful.”

The Lilac Ball also showcased the voices of Prep’s newest leaders. Two students and an early career alum offered a glimpse into the future—a future shaped by Prep’s commitment to educational equity and leadership development.

Dania M. (VLVII) shared the new path she has been on since starting the Preparatory Component last summer. “My journey is far from over. I still have my second summer of the Preparatory Component ahead, after which I will be attending the Groton School. I will be leaving my family and my Prep Community to walk The Circle for the next five years. I will add to Groton’s rich cultural tapestry while preserving my identity and heritage. I’m excited to meet new people and explore new passions and interests. I don’t know what the future holds, but because of all of the support and resources Prep has provided me, I’m more than ready.”

Josh E. (P9 XXXIV/Andover ’25, Tufts) detailed how Prep has helped him become a leader. “The leadership Prep instilled in me blossomed at Andover, where opportunities to lead are everywhere. I became president of the music production club, a leader for more than 200 Andover students, and president of the Brotherhood affinity space for Black and Latino students. Through my involvement, I found older students who guided me, younger students whom I could mentor, and realized that I could help people by simply doing what I loved.”

Ida Thomas (XXXII/Spence ’15, Penn ’19) MA, NYU ’24 described the community she has found as a Prep student, alum, and employee. “Prep’s unspoken fifth value, Community, is less unspoken than we think. Community is in calling my Prep friends, like Bianca Howell, first when any exciting news occurs. It's in my students teaching me new Gen-Alpha terms (apparently Sigma is not just a letter in the Greek alphabet now) and asking me how I’m doing before I can ask them. It’s in teaching a class and knowing that my own brilliant former Prep advisor, Nina Watson Johnson, is teaching right next door. It’s in working with the Post-Placement Counseling Team, who are some of the most empathetic, kind-hearted people in this world. Lastly, it’s in Prep’s Director of Academic Programs, Ms. Nikole Smith,... a woman who I call a second mother to me. She watched me grow up, inspired me, and poured into me when I did not have the strength to pour into myself.”

In the fall, Prep and PREP 9 graduating high school seniors will enroll in some of the top colleges and universities in the country. Top college choices include Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Lehigh, Tufts, Washington University in St. Louis, Williams, and Yale. View the full college list. 

As guests mingled, reconnected, and reflected on the night’s messages, it was clear that the Prep for Prep Community remains a powerful force for change. With more than 5,600 students and alumni, the network continues to grow—enriching industries, institutions, and communities across the country.

Thanks to the remarkable success of this year’s Lilac Ball, Prep for Prep can continue its mission to equip the next generation of changemakers with the skills, experiences, and support they need to lead with courage and conviction.

View photos from the evening. 

 

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Since 1986, the Lilac Ball has served as Prep’s signature annual fundraising event. It honors leaders committed to education and youth and celebrates Prep’s graduating high school seniors. All funds raised through the Lilac Ball go directly to Prep programming; event-related expenses are underwritten by the Board.

The Lilac Ball is made possible through generous donations from Altman Family Foundation • Dr. Kathryn Beal & Bruce Beal Jr. • Jean Beard • The Blackstone Charitable Foundation • David & Allison Blitzer • Bloomberg Philanthropies • Diógenes Brito (XXIII) & Doralyn Brito • Debra & Ken Caplan • Lisa & Dick Cashin • Jim DeMare, Bank of America • Gouri & Alexander Edlich, McKinsey & Company • EY LLP • Gray Foundation • John Hall and Nicole Levin Mesard, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP • Jessica & Christopher James (IX) • M. Robin Krasny • The Maher Family Foundation • Daniel M. Neidich & Brooke Garber Foundation • Kate & Bob Niehaus • Yesim & Dusty Philip • Schwarzman Foundation • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP • John and Barbara Vogelstein Foundation • Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz: Susan & Martin Lipton, Karessa L. Cain & Michael Hay, Jeannemarie O'Brien & Yves-Achille Casimir, and Kevin Schwartz & Samantha Lipton • Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and many additional donors. (View the digital journal.) Proceeds from the event support Prep’s efforts to develop ethical and effective leaders who reflect our diverse society.