"It may very well be that the work of Freedom House will never be done. Yet, it is our deepest hope that as long as there is need, there will always be dedicated, committed people who will continue to respond. For us personally, the greatest gift of all would be the assurance that Freedom House will stand for years to come as a respected community institution, a symbol of hope and inspiration and a medium for bringing together all people who care about this and future generations."
     - Otto & Muriel Snowden, Founders

Sponsors and Donors

Freedom House promotes education, economic development, adult enrichment and civic participation, and helps develop and strengthen social capital in the community. You can help us work toward greater community empowerment by making a donation, today!

Freedom House stands as a beacon and symbol of hope in the community, remembering our glorious past, while inviting the community to help us forge a brighter future. Your donation helps ensure young people meet and surpass educational expectations, opening the door to a brighter future. You ensure seniors can use technology to stay connected to family and friends far away. There will always be a place in the community where people can gather and respond to community needs, with your help.

There are numerous ways you can help Freedom House work toward a better tomorrow. You can learn more about and making a donation or volunteering.

Dear Friend of Freedom House:

This has been a year of promising steps to move Freedom House forward including new programs and staffing, completion of plans for the new building and  a clear articulation of our purpose to transform the economic and cultural fabric of Boston's high need communities through education and our mission to put young people on a path out of poverty.  Freedom House helps students develop the skills, strategies and support networks necessary to complete both high school and college and ultimately gain access to better career options and opportunities.

Recently in recognition of our hard work, we received a $75,000 grant from the Barr Foundation and a promise to renew next year if we match it.  Our Annual Appeal goal this year is $25,000 which will put us closer to meeting the match. Your gift this year will have a huge impact and multiplier effect and will support programs for students like Vaneesha, who has been part of our high school program for the past three years.  Vaneesha has dealt with several hardships and detours in her path to success, but through Freedom House’s holistic approach, she is flourishing in both her academic and personal pursuits.  Never one to give up on herself; she has enrolled in Boston Day & Evening Academy and is on course to graduate in March of 2013.  Vaneesha plans to attend the University of Massachusetts Boston and hopes to major in criminology.  Her long-term career goal is to become a social worker, so that she might help other young women facing similar circumstances.    Won’t you help us meet our $25,000 challenge appeal this year?  Please join with us in this very important work by making a contribution using the DONATE TODAY link above, or by mail to 5 Crawford Street, Dorchester, MA 02121.

A Need for Equity Now
Tens of thousands of students in this country face significant social and economic injustice.  A major component of this injustice is that despite talent and motivation, they lack access to a quality education. At the same time, our economy and the current job market require skilled college graduates who can compete on the global stage. This generation of young adults is suffering the most and underserved youth are less able than ever to access crucial resources and support, but we are determined to find a way to help them achieve their aspirations.  These are troubling realities but they represent a tremendous opportunity to increase mobility and income equity in low-income communities of color.

For over 20 years, starting with Project Reach, we have provided high quality college preparation courses, financial aid information and support services to ensure the successful graduation of program participants from high school and enrollment in and graduation from 2- and 4-year colleges.  Yet, we noticed a disturbing reality. While the majority of our students who reside in poor neighborhoods were able to complete high school (despite attending underperforming schools) and enroll in college, many did not go on to graduate. Dr. Richard Freeland, Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education, recently  released a report which noted that high school students’ abilities do not line up with college’s expectations and 65% of community college students need at least one remedial course before they can take on college-level, credit-bearing work. 

Closing the Opportunity Divide
Freedom House seesthat extreme disparities in wealth, income and power make it impossible to keep the promise of equality of opportunity for everyone. Closing the opportunity divide and eliminating disparities in educational attainment are civil rights issues and community development challenges.  In a country where the population is shifting to “majority-minority,” we have an urgent need to aggressively address the problems that Freedom House has so successfully tackled over so many decades.  Raising college graduation rates is a critical strategy for the success of low-income families of color in our knowledge-driven economy.  Given this critical community need, Freedom House has developed PUSH - Preparing Urban Students for Success in High School and Higher Education to improve high school and college graduation rates for BPS graduates, develop college-ready behaviors, establish realistic career goals and foster an understanding of the connections between college completion and economic competitiveness.   Serving the broader needs of the community is part of our DNA and we connect individual success to strengthening the community with a cadre of educated people giving back and becoming leaders.

American businesses, increasingly competing in a global context, are demanding a rising number of highly-skilled, knowledgeable workers – a high school diploma is not enough in this 21st century economy. Our strategies and services support students through the individual challenges that stand in the way of successfully earning a post-secondary degree and entering the workforce. Students focus on communication, critical thinking, teamwork and community organizing. Our work has multiple impacts: individual students are helped to graduate from high school, to access and persist in college, and increase their lifetime earnings.  A college degree has a positive impact on family structure, health, contributing to the tax base and lowering governmental transfer programs.

Three-Year Plan for Achieving Scale
We plan, with your help, to increase the number of students we serve from 100 to 400 per year by 2015. Freedom House is a legendary community organization with a history of civic engagement and leadership, particularly where education is concerned.  We hope that you share our vision and feel that these programs are critical.

I’m asking for your partnership to better prepare our community’s young adults for the mounting challenges of our global economy. 
Hoping you will consider making a donation using the DONATE TODAY link above.

Thank you for your commitment to Freedom House,

Gail Snowden
CEO

We are proud of the commitment of our sponsors and donors, including:

Bank of America
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Foundation
The Boston Red Sox
The Boston Globe Foundation
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Boston University
Bushrod Campbell and Hall Charity Trust
Cambridge College
Central Boston Elder Services
Charles M. Cox Foundation
Chase Trust
Citizens Bank
City of Boston, Dept. of Neighborhood Development
Harvard University
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation
Haymarket People’s Fund
John Hancock Financial Services
The Hyams Foundation
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
Agnes M. Lindsey Trust
State Street Global Philanthropy
Verizon Communications

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