Boys Hope Girls Hope scholars have a world of potential within them. Education is the key that unlocks it.
Did you graduate from high school? Many people will think the answer to this question is obvious, but some young people see it as a goal that cannot be achieved. In 2011, there were 16,800 students in Colorado who dropped out of high school. In fact, dropouts from the class of 2011 will cost Colorado almost $2.9 billion in lost wages over their lifetimes.
But each of these students has a story, a background, or a family situation that makes graduating from high school and going on to college very difficult, if not impossible. How can we address this obvious need in a meaningful way? Helping promising children realize their potential is at the core of what Boys Hope Girls Hope does.
Creating Futures.
Boys Hope Girls Hope exists to give opportunities to young men and women who have significant academic potential but do not have the family or community resources to reach college. Our BHGH scholars have significant risk factors as potential high school dropouts. Those high school dropouts are more likely to be unemployed, have poor health, live in poverty, receive public assistance, be single parents or be incarcerated.
Most scholars will be the first generation in their families to complete high school and 100% of our graduating scholars go on to college or military service.
Comprehensive Support.
Placement in our homes is voluntary on the part of the child and their family. Our scholars are community volunteers, have jobs, participate in additional activities such as sports, and maintain a high GPA.
This is not an inexpensive program. It costs approximately $45,000 per child per year to provide long-term, comprehensive support at Boys Hope Girls Hope. Failure to provide this support has an even higher cost to society. Currently, the state of Colorado spends approximately $60,000 per year on youth in the criminal justice system and the U.S. spends roughly $20 billion per year in payment for income maintenance, health care and nutrition to support families begun by teenage parents. Which investment would you rather make?
You Can Help.
We depend solely on private contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations to provide educational, counseling, and residential expenses for our scholars. The Giving Hope Campaign will provide operating expenses. Our goal is $250,000 in cash and pledges by June 30th.
In the upcoming months you will be receiving information about the Giving Hope Campaign and ways to be involved.
Please continue to help us provide everything they need to be the success story we all want to write. Boys Hope Girls Hope provides a significant financial benefit to society by empowering young people to fulfill their academic potential and to overcome the risk factors faced by others who share their demographics. Their lives are changed forever when they enter our program.
Together, we can make a difference. Thank you!