Leadership and Educational Enrichment Fund Supports Prep Students’ Passion Projects

Prep for Prep programming is guided by our mission to give young people of color access to educational, professional advancement, and leadership development opportunities. The Leadership and Educational Enrichment Fund (LEEF) seeks to expand this access. Prep’s Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships, Rebecca Ervey, describes the program as “the missing link to ensure Prep students are empowered to choose and pursue their own path and have the resources to do so. I’m so proud of our work to fill this need and provide access to more opportunities even beyond the robust programming that Prep already provides.” 

LEEF will help address inequities in access to educational and enrichment opportunities for students of color via mini-grants and support for Prep programming. Too often disparity exists between Prep students and their peers in accessing opportunities to diversify their academic and professional interests in the arts, science, and educational enrichment. The fees for a university summer study course or the costs associated with an independent study or thesis project can put opportunities out of reach for our students. “This is a chance to alleviate most students’ financial hardship while pursuing, among other areas, self-guided research, art projects, or travel,” said Director of Leadership Development Opportunities Cindy Perez. Prep high school and college students are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 of LEEF funding per semester.

“I am so excited to offer Prep students the opportunity to fund passion projects and take ideas to fruition,” said Prep for Prep CEO Ruth Jurgensen. “LEEF is an expansion of what Prep offers for our students, and gives them even more direct support as they navigate what success looks like and means to them.” 

The first LEEF recipients will be selected for the summer of 2023.