Prep for Prep’s Lilac Ball Honors Champions of Opportunity, Raises $4.7 Million to Develop Future Leaders

On Monday June 8, Prep for Prep welcomed nearly 1,000 students, families, alumni, and supporters to the New York Marriott Marquis for the 2026 Lilac Ball, the organization's signature annual fundraising and high school graduation celebration. The evening honored the achievements of the Class of 2026, recognized the extraordinary contributions of Frank K. Bynum, Jr., and Kelso & Company, L.P., and raised $4.7 million to support Prep for Prep programming.

The celebration reflected the power of Prep for Prep's mission and the community that has sustained it for nearly five decades.

"There is as much need for Prep today as there was 48 years ago…," said Prep for Prep CEO Diahann J. Billings (VI/Grace Church, Poly Prep, Yale) JD, Columbia. “No entity will identify and prepare the ethical and effective leaders of tomorrow better than Prep for Prep. To paraphrase the words of this year’s Alumni Prize winner, Thomas Alston, Prep will continue to be a place that sees students before they have the language to fully describe themselves. We will identify hopeful, ambitious kids from across this city and equip them with the tools, confidence, and imagination to walk into rooms that may not have been designed with them in mind and to do so with no doubt that they belong there.”

A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Frank K. Bynum, Jr., whose commitment to Prep for Prep spans more than 25 years.  A member of the Board of Trustees and Vice President, Bynum has long championed the transformative power of educational opportunity. His dedication to service is reflected not only in his leadership at Prep for Prep but also in his longstanding involvement with the University of Virginia, where he earned his bachelor's degree in history and later served as a Trustee of the College of Arts & Sciences Foundation, a member of its Executive Committee, and Chairman of its Emeritus Trustees.

Professionally, Bynum is a Senior Advisory Partner at Kelso & Company, L.P., a leading private equity firm he joined in 1987. He and his wife, Nancy, are the proud parents of three children who attended independent schools alongside Prep for Prep students, deepening their family's personal connection to the organization's mission.

“When I reflect on my life and whatever successes I’ve had, I see one common denominator: someone gave me the opportunity to prove myself….” said Frank. “Providing those opportunities is exactly what Prep does. Prep does not hand out success, it unlocks it. Prep identifies talented, driven young people and gives them access to opportunities that allow them to realize their full potential.”

Prep for Prep also honored Kelso & Company, L.P., whose relationship with the organization extends back more than 30 years. Founded on the principles of partnership and alignment of interest championed by Louis Kelso, the inventor of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, the firm has invested more than $14 billion in capital across 11 primary funds and completed more than 140 platform investments since 1980.

Today, five Kelso executives serve on Prep for Prep's Board of Trustees and Associates Council, underscoring the firm's enduring commitment to expanding opportunity for talented young people.

"That idea that talent is everywhere, but access has to be fought for is the thread that ties together Prep for Prep and Kelso & Company,” said Sandy Orborne, an Investment Partner at Kelso & Company L.P. “In quite different ways, both institutions are built around the belief that when talented people are given meaningful access to opportunity, and then given the time and support to develop, extraordinary things can happen."

The evening featured remarks from students representing different stages of the Prep for Prep journey.

Clarissa J. (XLVIII), who is currently enrolled in Prep for Prep's rigorous 14-month Preparatory Component, spoke about her experience in the program and the growth she has already experienced.

"This program has helped me discover strengths I didn’t know I had,” said Clarissa, who will enroll at The Horace Mann School this fall. “I am proud of what I have accomplished, thankful for the Prep community, and ready for what comes next."

Representing the graduating Class of 2026, Pablo R.-S. (XLII/Browning) reflected on the resilience and accomplishments of his classmates.

"Our stories, our Prep narratives, our lives in our neighborhoods, do not represent shame but testify to our courage and determination to navigate novel environments,” said Pablo, who will be the first student from Browning to attend Princeton University in a decade. “Our accomplishments thus far have left the most brilliant, indelible stains on our world.”

The evening also included the debut of The Transformative Power of Prep for Prep, a five-minute film that follows the Ambrossi family and illustrates how Prep for Prep's impact extends far beyond the individual student. With three children who have gone through the program, the family offers a powerful testament to how one family's connection to Prep for Prep can shape the trajectory of an entire household across generations.

As the evening celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026, it also reaffirmed the enduring impact of Prep for Prep's mission: identifying talented students, expanding access to opportunity, and empowering the next generation of leaders. We invite you to relive the night through the picture gallery below. 

Since 1986, the Lilac Ball has served at Prep for Prep’s signature annual fundraising event. It honors leaders committed to education and youth and celebrates Prep for 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 2026 Lilac Ball was made possible through the generous support of the event's Underwriters (Lisa & Dick Cashin and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz), Event Chairs (Bank of America, Nancy & Frank Bynum, Debevoise & Plimpton, Baily & Nate Kempner, Kristina & Frank Loverro, The Maher Family Foundation, The Daniel M. Neidich & Brooke Garber Foundation, Kate & Bob Niehaus, Virginia & Sandy Osborne, The Schaps Family Foundation, and The John and Barbara Vogelstein Foundation), and Event Co-Chairs (Mr. & Mrs. Anson H. Beard, Jean J. Beard, Philip E. Berney & Jane Pollock, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Diógenes Brito (XXIII) & Doralyn Brito, Jorge A. Calderon, Debra & Ken Caplan, Catherine & Charlie Cole, Judy & Chris Collins, Richard d'Albert & Catherine Greenman, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Gouri & Alexander Edlich, McKinsey & Company, Parisa Jaffer & Salim Ramji, Jessica & Christopher James (IX), M. Robin Krasny, The Ortega Family, Frida Polli & Conor Bastable, Fay & Bill Shutzer, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Joyce and George Wein Foundation, and Anita Volz Wien), along with many additional donors.