women of tomorrow mentor & scholarship program
TRANSCRIPT
A word fromour Founder
““
Changing the world Changing the world one young woman at one young woman at a timea time, since 1997, since 1997
‒Jennifer Valoppi
Jennifer ValoppiFounder & President
It’s hard to believe it’s been over 20 years since a core group of some of our community’s most accomplished professional women, got together to help at-risk young women live up to their full potential. Today, the Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship Program mentors 4000 at-risk young girls in more than 160 public schools. Thanks to our amazing mentors, we have a 96% high school graduation rate amongst an at-risk population and more than 20,000 young women have been touched by this life-changing program. Many graduates are now back as Women of Tomorrow mentors. We are excited to continue making a differences in the communities we serve. On behalf of all of us at Women of Tomorrow, thank you for helping us break the cycle of violence, poverty and abuse by uplifting the lives of the young women who are raising the next generation.
Our History
The inspiration and design for Women of Tomorrow is based on the organization’s Founder and President Jennifer Valoppi’s college years studying Psychology of Women. Jennifer says: “The research was clear - the real problem with true equality for women is not so much that men think that women are inferior, but that women agreed. The women who do make it to the top like being the only ones there and don’t do anything to help other women along.” Studies show that research still holds true today. Jennifer wanted to change that. So, in 1997 while she was the main news anchor at NBC 6 in Miami, she designed a unique program for highly accomplished professional women to reach out to at-risk girls. With the support of then NBC 6 President & General Manager Don Browne, a longtime supporter of women and minorities in the workplace and also of mentoring, the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program was created.
Jennifer hand selected the inaugural 23 Founding Women of Tomorrow Mentors who worked within in 6 public high schools. That same year, an independent psychologist was also commissioned to conduct pre and post self-esteem tests of the mentees participating in the program. It was concluded that program was working, showcasing a statistically significant increase in self-esteem amongst this at-risk population.
Today, Women of Tomorrow impacts 4000 young women annually in more than 160 public schools with a network of nearly 350 mentors.
Kathy Fernandez-Rundle
What Makes Us Unique
Women of Tomorrow pairs professional and highly accomplished women who inspire, motivate, and teach critical life skills to at-risk students through mentoring sessions. All mentoring activities are in small groups, conducted during school hours and are in partnership with public school systems to empower the young women to be successful, graduate from high school and go on to further education. The mentees are selected by the schools for the program based on a variety of criteria including low income, abuse, disability, likelihood of dropping out, gang involvement, criminal activity, teenage pregnancy risk and academic, medical, and behavioral issues. Each group is diverse in its composition with girls in 9th-12th grade who have various strengths and weaknesses so they can also learn from and empower each other.
Our Program Includes:
• Monthly Mentoring Sessions• Career-Focused Field Trips• Specialized College Campus Tours• Scholarship Opportunities
Jennifer Valoppi Don Browne
23 founding members
launched theprogram in 6 South
Florida publichigh schools
2017 202020111997
2014 20192000 Women ofTomorrow celebrates20 years
20,000 mentees
served since inception
Women of Tomorrow
launches in Greater
Philadelphia
The organization surpassed
$7 million inscholarships
awarded
Inaugural graduating class receives close to $10,000 in scholarship
awards
Women of Tomorrow launches in Metro Detroit
Our Mission
The Women of Tomorrow mission is to inspire, motivate, and empower at-risk young women to live up to their full potential through a unique group mentoring program with highly accomplished professional women and scholarship opportunities.
Our Numbers Tackling the Rootof the Cause
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 80% of students graduate on time from high school in the United States. The problem is worse for racial and ethnic minority students where less than 60% graduate high school on time. This leads to a cycle of poverty that can last a lifetime. Our program is specifically designed to meet the needs of at-risk teenage girls in our nation’s public high schools. It helps them turn obstacles into opportunities by providing the exposure, motivation and confidence to create a better future for themselves, their families, and society.
Educational Partners
Part of what makes Women of Tomorrow unique are the strong partnerships with the public school systems in the following communities:• Miami-Dade County• Metropolitan Detroit• Broward County• Palm Beach County
“ “Women of Tomorrow positively affected my life by Women of Tomorrow positively affected my life by motivatingmotivating me, making me me, making me work hardwork hard for what I for what I want, and want, and not to give up.not to give up.
‒Women of Tomorrow Graduate
Women of Tomorrow has Women of Tomorrow has impactedimpacted 20,00020,000 ++ mentees mentees and awardedand awarded $7.6 million$7.6 million in college scholarshipsin college scholarshipssince inceptionsince inception
mentees served each year
4,000
public high schools160+
mentors annually350+ Women of Tomorrow
mentees areminority students88%+
What We Do: Monthly Mentoring
What We Do: Fieldtrips & College Visits
Career focused fieldtrips introduce mentees to career options they may not have considered or even heard of before. Fieldtrips include facility tours, discussion of the profession or industry, and speakers sharing their career paths, experiences and advice. College campus visits expose the mentees to higher education opportunities typically unavailable or unknown to them, thus encouraging them to dream beyond their current limits. Nearly half of Women of Tomorrow mentees are first in their family to graduate from high school and 64% are first generation to pursue higher education.
In a deliberate departure from traditional one-on-one mentoring, our program is structured as a group-mentoring model, with one mentor for every 10 to 15 girls, which reinforces the social skills learned in mentoring sessions and provides ongoing positive peer support. Our group-mentoring environment creates a sustained program in which mentees enjoy daily contact with each other over a period of at least 3 years.
What We Do:Scholarships
$7.6 millionIn scholarships awarded
Statistically significant
increases in grade point
averages (GPA) each year
Statistically significant
improvement in self-esteem
More than nine out of ten mentees have pursued higher education, supported in part by more than $7.6 million in scholarships awarded to graduating seniors.
“
“
This award means a lot to me This award means a lot to me because it gives girls like me because it gives girls like me a a chance to follow their dreamschance to follow their dreams, , even if it’s big, even if it’s small...even if it’s big, even if it’s small...‒Kiera Brown, 2019 Scholarship Recipient
Mentees that report the program has had a significant impact
on their lives
97%
Mentees that say they have firm
plans to enroll in higher education
91%
Mentees that report the program helped
them graduate
96%
High school graduation rate vs. less than 67% for a similar demographic in the US
Proven Results
Women of Tomorrow...
Creates pathways out
of poverty
Prevents high school
dropouts
Builds the community’s
workforce
Increases access to
higher education
graduates that report they are first generation to pursue higher education64%
Our Mentees Our Mentees
I joined Women of Tomorrow (WOT) my freshman year in high school. At the time, I had recently lost my grandmother who had raised my five siblings and I. Her life was taken by my mother’s boyfriend. This was unexpected, devastating, and changed my entire life. My mother and father could not care for us due to drug addiction. My siblings & I were separated and I was placed with a church member. My freshman year, I suffered from low self-esteem and I was overwhelmed with sadness. One of my teachers recommended me to the Women of Tomorrow Program. From my freshman year to my senior year I blossomed from a child who had low self-esteem and in a dropout prevention program to a young lady who was doing well in honor roll classes. WOT empowered me and surrounded me with professional women who encouraged me and supported me in my dreams and goals. I was exposed to various guest speakers and places via our field trips. Despite being homeless my senior year, I managed to get back and forth to school on buses and trains. I always wanted to be a nurse. My passion is caring for others, but I did not know how I could make that dream come true. WOT surprisingly awarded me with a nursing scholarship my senior year. With the help of WOT, I am now a part-time registered nurse. I am also a mom, a wife, and also a WOT Mentor. WOT has taught me the importance of supporting and encouraging others.
Before I joined the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program, I didn’t take school seriously. I used to skip school and I thought I was never going to make it in life. I
thought I was worthless. The person you see today and the person I was are so completely
different that you wouldn’t even think we were the same person. I grew up around a lot of negativity, violence and depression.
However, I have made it a point in my life to not allow these aspects to mold my future. Several in my family demanded my time to keep the household intact. It took a while,
but I finally learned that in order to take care of my family, I had to take care of myself
first. I won a 4 year college scholarship from Women of Tomorrow and I am currently at
FIU completing my Bachelor’s degree in biology. I can honestly say if it weren’t for
Women of Tomorrow’s constant support, I would not be attending college today and I
would be lost somewhere in this world. Now, my goal is to become a veterinarian. As I
work toward that goal, I also became a notary, I have my public adjusting license, I’ve started my own dog sitting business, and on the weekends, I volunteer at a veterinary hospital. Women of Tomorrow
has made me into the confident woman I am today - a woman determined to succeed. Words cannot express how forever thankful I am to this organization for everything that they’ve done for me.
Abby’s Story Nathalie’s Story
Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
“I support Women of Tomorrowbecause it works.”
Kadisha K., Mentor
“The best part of mentoring is seeing my girls confidence levelgrow over the school year and become true leaders.” Testimonials
“This is a wonderful program. You can trust them with anything. You will not be discriminated against or judged. It has
definitely changed my life. I would recommend it to
anyone interested.”Women of Tomorrow Mentee
“I was part of Women of Tomorrow in high school. I learned so much from this program.I learned how to be confident in myself and tips on how to be successful in the future.
We had some incredible guests come and talk to us, including a breast cancer survivor.I was definitely empowered by their stories.”
Women of Tomorrow Graduate
“Women of Tomorrow is a powerful force that empowers young women, ignites their potential and
helps their dreams and aspirations come true.”
Don Browne, Telemundo Network Former President & Women of Tomorrow Founder
Our Mentors Our Mentors
South Florida
Miami-Dade CountyAdrian DubowAlexandra ValentinAllison FreidinAna ManticaAndrea ShosfyAngela KelseyAnne Marie Allen Arlenys GuillenAqueelah Mitchell Aymee Zubizarreta Belinda Gonzalez-Leone Bernice RothBernita KingBetty WohlCarolyn ReyesCatherina BirkelandChevonne AlburyDahlia BendavidDaniela SwaebeDebbie Leibowitz Debby CohenDebby ZabludowskiDeborah SpiegelmanDiana PintoDoris SuttinDr. Libby SchellerDr. Margo Brilliant Dr. Randy SchenkmanEileen YoutieElaine Feldman Elise Scheck Bonwitt Ferne Toccin Flora SeffDr. Frances Colon
Gail PinonGina E. VogtGina Jamurath Heather JohnsonHelen LeonHelena PoleoHolly CohenHor. Andrea WolfsonIvonn GoihmanJaclyn MesaJana RutherfordJayne Weintraub Jeanne Rothfield Jennifer Cerami Jennifer JacksonJudge Gina BeovidesJudge Sarah ZabelJudith Ratzan Julia CarterJulie FranklinKara BurnstineKaren Kammer Katherine Davis Kathy KramerKaty StokaKelly Hernandez Keondra SimmonsKnox ShulerLaura MillerLaura VladLana Bernstein LaShannon Petit Lasonya Rogers LaTasha DuctantLauren BeallLauren FishbaneLayda HernandezLeslie Rowe
Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman Liza GalindoLoretta McNeirLourdes AbadinMarcia ReismanMarcy CoxMaria SaninMariann MarinbergMarie IzquierdoMarisol RodriguezMaya Rodriguez Meredith Wolf Michele Criden Michelle AndersonMichelle ErezMontejoMihaela IsacMillinda SinnreichMindy WilnerMirit Teifeld Monica Wagenburg Myra Solomon Nancy CohenNancy Frehling Natalie CebolleroNicole Cunningham Pam Knox-Shuler Pauline Green Raquel Richardson Reeba Hartley-Belle Rena KliotRhonda A. RodRobin Ringel Rochelle WeinsteinRosie PalomaresRosie SepulvedaSabrina MontillaSherria Williams
Stephanie Don (LeBow) Susan Catania OdessSusan TramontSvetlan Gafurova Sylvia BaghalooTammy Woldenberg Tara WestTennika Jones Tracey UmanskyTrishana Sealy Vania Laguerre Wendy Elkin
Broward CountyAbby Wint Barbara RomanoBenisa ForteCarise CrevecoeurCaryl ShuhamChanel MathieuCynthia WohlDana SomersteinDildra Martin-Ogburn Donna KornEva TaylorFelicia Brunson Gale Butler Gladys MezrahiIris Kauffman Ivelices ThomasJanice ZaitzJeneca WillisJennifer FarahJill HorowitzJoan St. OngeJoyce Ferguson Joyce Nunez GaryJ’Quyra Moncur-Blue
Juliet Roulhac Junia Robinson Kadisha King Kadysha GuerinKathy CarltonKatie Healey Laura Miller Lilian Dominkovics LoweLinda Pratt Lisa Aronson Lydia Amy Marcy Bezark Margarita Castellon Maria AriasMaria Leon-MillsMarie St. MarcMarilyn FelosMarjorie Alexis Maxine BeckerMelissa Van Putten-HendersonMichel MorganMichelle Adams Michelle HaguesMindy BaerNadine HarrisonNancy CammarataNeki Mohan Nicha CumberbatchNickiesha Edman Nyasha HindsRachelle SpenceRashondia Gaines Renee-Bianca Casseus Robbin Newman Robin Tartarkin Robyn Perlman Sabrina Llera
Safiya Brea Shani Robinson Shanna Jordan Shenae HudsonSherrol Reynolds Sheryl GreenwaldSusan KahnTa’Veca Hinton Collins Tonya Frost Venessa Walker Viola JudonWendy Chayet
Palm Beach CountyAlma Henry-MormanAngela CarrascoBarbara Cambia Bianca VernonCaryn StevensDebbie Manigat Dilma Bennett Donia Roberts Donielle JonesErica DaleyGail AsarchJill RickelJo “Rosita” KaufmanJulia Higgs Julie PeytonKaren CoverKarolina BednarskaKate GrangardKenya MadisonLaurie Silvers Lori Gonzalez Marsha GuthrieMelanie TilchenNadine White-Boyd
Nancy Peña-BrinkNicole Hunt Jackson Nikki Martin Phyllis Shuster Robin Tartarkin Shaundelyn Emerson Susan Weinblatt Tara L. ZuckermanVerdenia Baker
Metro DetroitAlex MayAmanda LaphamAmina BellAndrea CarolloAndrea C. BittingerAngie JacksonAnika JacksonAnn O’NeillAnne ParsonsArvis WilliamsBeth BlackBeth Ann BayusBobbi LovinsBrenna KaufmanBrittany PapciakCallie RootCandice BowmanCarla HawkinsCarolyn MillerCharlene McPeakChastity YoungbloodChethna SuryakumarChrista LayChristina BiacheCindy BrownColleen FreeburgCourtney Shipp
Dacia CrumDana Mosure-JudgeDelphine CooleyElaine LewisElise YuEllen Hill ZeringueElsy Sofia CastellanosErica PeresmanEsha Price-MullinsEsther ThomasGarnet ConerwayGracie Van HuffelJamie ZinserJaunice KellarJen BernsteinJenn KalmanJessica SprovtsoffJessica ZacharskiJoan ReiberJoanne FaycurryJudith TrepeckJulie KenarKelly KayKim DoverspikeKim Voet-PotterKristin HrynczukKristin CameronKristina DjokicKrystal PalmerLanetra KellarLaney CavazosLauren PlaweckiLauren RiceLaurene HorisznyLee Ann OdomLeona MedleyLeslie SheidlerLisa Snoeberger
Lisbeth KeastLundrell JohnsonMarcie DeriemackerMargaret TalburttMarissa CraigheadMary BourkeMeghan StoreyMelinda MolinaMelissa ChapmanMichelle FanroyMichelle Johnson TidjaniMiho Koshido-DowneyNancy PhilippartNicole BonnevilleNina MoranNorma Jean EvansPatricia WhitePatti McCallPeggy GreeneRenee PrewittRobyn LiddellRosario RivasSathab AbboShellie MediciStephanie BurnsteinSusie SillmanSuzanne WahlTatiana GrantTiffani AbramsTina BartonTina FarhatTina Stuart-HuriteToi BeaversTyra TomlinVeronique Thirot-LafondVikki TormalaYesenia RamosZakya Minifee
Founding Board & MentorsAdrienne ArshtAudrey SolomonBetty AmosCarole WeissChris RileyConnie Banko**
Debbie OhanianDon BrowneDonna FeldmanDora PuigDr. Debra PriceDr. Diane WalderDr. Randy SchenkmanGale ButlerHon. Katherine Fernandez RundleIrene MarieJennifer ValoppiJudith KreegerKaren KammerKathleen HoagueLea BlackMariita Srebnick FeldenkreisMarti Huizenga**
Meg GreenMeri Framer-ZidelMillinda SinnreichMycki RatzanRobyn PerlmanSandi PowersSherry WilliamsSonia GibsonStephanie Sayfie-Aagaard
**In memoriam
Program Founders
Philanthropy Chair
Jennifer Valoppi, FounderTelevision Journalist & Author
Don BrowneFormer President, Telemundo Network
Hon. Kathy Fernandez-RundleMiami-Dade State Attorney
National Board of Directors
Hon. KathyFernandez-Rundle
Miami-DadeState Attorney
Don BrowneFormer President,
Telemundo Network
Jamie Byington Partner, Tax Services, Cherry Bekaert LLP
Robbin Newman Partner, Newman
Law Office & Danburg Management Corp.
Jennifer ValoppiTelevision Journalist
& Author
Trina Robinson Anchor, WTVJ NBC6
Mark Schnapp Special Counsel, Baker Donelson
Daniela Swaebe President/Founder
DSODesignsMarisa Toccin Lucas
Philanthropist & Linea Luxe Lifestyle President
Metro Detroit Board of Directors Miami-Dade Leadership Council &Palm Beach Leadership Council
Miami-Dade Leadership CouncilJennifer Valoppi, Co-chairMarisa Toccin Lucas, Co-chairSuzy Buckley Woodward, Co-chairCarol Iacovelli, Co-chairDaniela Swaebe, Co-chairPearl Baker-KatzLauren BeallMaria BeguiristainSusanne BirbragherLesli BrownEilah Campbell-BeaversJennifer Chaplin TolkinCindy ClaymanMichele CridenMichele ErezHeidi HeinauAlexa IacovelliCandise Shanbron CernitzDana ShearTara SolomonLauren Sturges-FernandezAlexa WolmanAlison Zhuk
Palm Beach Leadership CouncilRobbin Newman, ChairKarolina BednarskaAna CastilloAlexandra GonzalezRosita “Jo” KaufmanTracy LouvJulie PeytonDr. Krista RosenbergLaurie SilversJudith Temple
Jennifer AdderleyPhilanthropist
Ellen HillZeringue
Board Chair, VP Marketing, Detroit Tigers
Laurie Cunnington
Partner, Cunnington & Cunnington
Melissa Kozyra Philanthropist
Jennifer ValoppiTelevision Journalist
& Author
Kate MacNevinGlobal Chief Executive
Officer, MRM
Cathy LassiterRet. Psychologist
Florine Mark President/Chairman
WW Group
Therese Peace Agboh
VP, Talent & Culture, KIRCO president, T.M.
Peace & Associates, Inc.
Lisa Phillips Principal,
Cass Technical High School
Julie FoxRet. Nurse
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“
Women of Tomorrow impacted my Women of Tomorrow impacted my life in life in every way possibleevery way possible... my ... my mentors remind me that mentors remind me that reward reward comes to those who work hardcomes to those who work hard‒Women of Tomorrow Mentee
Our Value
Women of Tomorrow answered the need for new bridges to connect at-risk teenagers with high impact resources. Women of Tomorrow provides at risk youth with mentor relationships that are both caring and stable. Mentors provide the investment of time in a prescribed consistent structure to build the necessary sense of trust. The strong relational base provides the platform for the mentor to be a source of enduring and cherished advice to a student. It takes time and commitment on both ends. It requires adequate funding, recruitment, and ongoing management.
“ “Women of Tomorrow Women of Tomorrow makes me makes me believe in believe in myself moremyself more
How to Get Involved
Cost to the Program
Supports a year of mentoring for 1 mentee$500
$2,000$10,000$40,000
Supports a mentee to complete all 4 years of the program
Supports 1 year of mentoring for an entire mentoring class
Supports an entire mentoring class to complete 4 years of the program
Donate
Volunteer
Host a Field Trip
Host an Event
We would loveto connect with you connect with you
womenoftomorrow.org
Metro DetroitJill Harris, Executive Director
248-430-4095
National Headquarters & South FloridaAnita Mattner, Executive Director
305-371-3330
@womenoftomorrow