Like everything else this year, this is a strange December. The absence of in-person holiday parties, concerts, and extended family gatherings have us rethinking how we connect and celebrate. I am impressed with the innovation that I have witnessed. On Monday evening, we hosted a virtual Fireside Chat (described in more detail in the article below.) Through the miracle of Zoom, we were able to gather a more diverse audience than we’ve ever assembled -- Scholars, Alumni, members of NPEA, staff, friends, and donors. While we are all looking forward to gradually getting back to normal in 2021, we’ll never forget the lessons learned in 2020. -- Kelly Glew
The saying goes, do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life. Ask game data analyst Emely Cedano about her work, and one thing is instantly clear: she loves what she does. 

Since graduating from Babson College in May 2020, the Steppingstone Alumna dove into analyzing game data for Warner Brothers Games. Is it hard work? Definitely. That’s both the challenge and the fun of it.

When John Simon looks at the sweep of what Steppingstone has accomplished across three decades, he can’t help but be inspired. 

Thinking back to its early days, he remembers how his cofounder, the late Michael Danziger, would often talk about the power of “high expectations, high results.” The two friends believed wholeheartedly that Scholars could “achieve great things.” So, too, could their fledgling nonprofit.
Scholars are Going to College!
Going remote has posed many challenges for Steppingstone staff. The College Services team is working hard to make sure that Scholars who are graduating from high school in 2021 are ready to move on to the next phase of their educational journey. 

The College Services team supports Scholars who are preparing to graduate from high school as well as Scholars who are enrolled in college. In the fall, they held remote meetings with families to support them with FAFSA preparation. Many colleges and universities have waived the requirement for the SAT and ACT, and Scholars have been struggling with whether or not they should take these standardized tests multiple times or even at all. 

Most seniors started school late this year, which means they had one month to get Early Admission and Early Decision application materials together. Most of those materials rely heavily on the school officials getting pieces together for them. Many Scholars will apply “regular decision” because the idea of committing to a college without seeing a financial aid package first is very scary -- even more so this year. They want to have a chance to compare financial aid across multiple schools before deciding. 

Steppingstone’s College Services advisors are working harder than ever to make sure that Scholars will be able to achieve their college goals, despite the obstacles presented by the pandemic. We look forward to seeing these resilient Scholars going to college in-person next fall!
Fireside Chat: Dr. Anthony Jack
For many college applicants, admission is not the same as acceptance.

That was just one of many takeaways from this week’s lively and candid virtual discussion with Dr. Anthony Jack, sponsored by the Steppingstone Foundation and the National Partnership for Educational Access. As he told the hundreds of attendees, if colleges are to serve as “springboards” of opportunity for all students, they need to embrace change. 

The Dec.14 “fireside chat” drew education professionals, program Alumni, and supporters for a timely conversation about race, class, equity, and advocacy for change. Deftly guiding the evening was Dr. Mariel Novas '00, a Steppingstone Alumna and the Assistant Director of Partnerships and Engagement for Massachusetts at The Education Trust. 

To watch a recording of the event, please click here.
Access Passcode: Fireside2020!
Chef Douglass Williams: Giving Back Generously
Chef Douglass Williams, a member of Steppingstone's Board of Ambassadors, is the owner of MIDA, which means "he gives me" in Italian. Located in Boston's South End, MIDA is inspired by classic Italian culinary traditions. Building even further off its name, Williams has worked to infuse an ethos of generosity and community into all aspects of his restaurant. 

Recently named by Food & Wine as one of the top 10 Best New Chefs in America 2020, Williams is one of Boston’s only Black male chefs working in fine dining. No matter where he goes, from Paris and Thailand to New York and Boston, Douglass always finds a place to cook, and 15 years of global experience informs every meal he makes.

Busy these days, working hard to keep his staff safe and employed, Chef Douglass is also working on a new restaurant in Newton set to open next year. Next week, Chef Douglass and the MIDA staff will be preparing holiday meals for some of Steppingstone’s Scholars and their families. We are so grateful for this incredible act of kindness during these difficult times for the restaurant industry. If you are looking for a special meal this holiday season, check out MIDA here.
Throughout the upcoming academic year, we’ll commemorate three decades of Scholars and their dreams of college — and imagine all the future holds for them.
 
30th Anniversary Highlights
  • Monthly emails featuring Scholars and Alumni
  • Special Annual Meeting
  • Our 1st ever Steppingstone Day of Giving
  • Online Q & A Forum with Leadership and Alumni
  • In-person event(s) when safe
Steppingstone Alumni Give Back
Thanks to the work of the Alumni Council, we are seeing unprecedented support from our Alumni community! Despite the financial uncertainty of 2020, Alumni giving increased six fold. Many Alumni choose to give a recurring monthly donation to provide ongoing support to current Scholars. Alumni often send us the most inspiring messages with their donations!

Thank you to our 30th Anniversary Partners!

$100,000+
Kate & Tom Gilbane
Isabelle & Ian Loring 
Mike & Hope Pascucci 
Medha Sinha & Bart Epker 

$50,000+
Anonymous (2)
Amy & John Berylson
Karen & Brian Conway
Debbie & Keith Gelb
Kaia Miller & Jonathan Goldstein
Hilary & Langley Steinert

$30,000+
Susan & Paisley Boney
Peggy & Dick Danziger 
Fidelity Investments 
Fabian & Suzanne Fondriest 
Ross & Bob Henderson
State Street Foundation
TJX Foundation, Inc.

$25,000
Anonymous
Steve & Debbie Barnes
Sandy & Paul Edgerley 
Pam & Bill Holding 

$10,000+
Nancy Adams & Scott Schoen
Katie & Don Bramley
Camille & David Carlstrom
Melanie & Jason Chiverton
Kerrie & James Coughlin
Mackenzie & Daniel Domb
Kate Enroth & Dana Schmaltz
Lucy & Steven Galbraith
Brittney & David Gammell 
Betsey & Charlie Gifford 
Mercée & Eric Glew 
Jackie & Blair Hendrix 
Char Joslin & Les Cheek
Karen Kames & Christopher Gaffney
Brooke & Conan Laughlin
Kate Lubin & Glendon Sutton
Barbara & Richard Melvoin
Alison & William Monaghan
Christine Olsen & Robert Small
Rachel Rock & Joshua Levy 
Pixley & Ken Schiciano
Virginia Shannon 
Jenny & Sandy Weymouth
Year End Giving: CARES Act
With the end of 2020 quickly approaching, many of our friends are making annual donations to help Scholars thrive. This year, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act gives some extra incentives to those who are able able to make a gift. Here is a high-level look at the changes: