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April 2008 Vol. 3 |
Welcome to Minds Matter, Inc.'s quarterly national newsletter!
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Minds Matter at a Glance: Minds Matter is a not-for-profit organization that brings high-achieving and motivated high school students from low-income families together with dedicated mentors to achieve academic excellence and expand educational horizons.
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Have an idea for a future newsletter? Contact us at info@mindsmatter.org.
For more information on the organization, please visit: http://www.mindsmatter.org
To donate online, please visit: http://mindsmatter.kintera.org
The Minds Matter office is located at:
1120 Avenue of the Americas 4th Floor New York, New York 10036
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In this issue:
- Student Spotlight
- Volunteers
- Moody's Global Volunteer Award
- L'Oreal of Paris Woman of Worth Award
- Fundraising Updates
- Chapter Updates
- New York
- Denver
Eric Ndikumana’s life got a new start on July 12, 2001. Eric is a native of
On July 12, 2001, Eric says he was reborn when he and his family were accepted as immigrants in the
Eric plans to use those life lessons to study medicine and eventually instruct other doctors around the world in hopes of bringing modern medicine to countries like his own. Currently, Eric is 17 years old and is in the 12th grade at
Due to the generosity of the volunteers and donors of Minds Matter, Eric has been able to attend multiple summer programs and hopes to pursue a degree in medicine at Stanford,
Williamson Recognized with Moody’s Global Volunteer Award
Chairman & CEO Ray McDaniel has announced that Sarah Williamson, Associate Analyst, Corporate Finance Group in
Moody's Global Volunteer Award was established in 2004 to honor two employees who have demonstrated outstanding involvement and commitment to making their communities better places to live and work. Nearly a dozen employees worldwide were nominated for this award for their dedication to their volunteer service. Awards of $2,500 will be made to Minds Matter on behalf of Williamson.
Sarah Williamson has volunteered with Minds Matter for seven years. Williamson began as a mentor in 2001 and was soon asked to become a team leader with the organization. She has assumed many leadership roles within Minds Matters, such as Treasurer and Director of Finance for the
“The growth of our organization would not have been possible without Sarah’s tireless commitment and focus,” said Rissa Durham, Executive Director of Minds Matter. “Sarah’s attention to detail allowed Minds Matter to operate with professional ease that eludes many nonprofits of our size. She has developed budgeting systems, investment guidelines and financial contingency plans that are more robust than those of many larger organizations, and continues to ensure that we are well positioned financially. She is truly committed and brings her passion to all our activities.”
Maffei Receives L’Oreal
Alexis Maffei, the Director of Fund Development at Minds Matter, has received the L’Oreal
L’Oreal launched the Employee of Worth program to recognize those who give back to their communities. A panel of judges from senior management in L'Oreal Paris reviewed the nominations and identified the winners – those who are inspiring volunteers, outstanding achievers, and making a difference in their community.
 Co-Director of Mentees, Brad Glessner, and Board member, Diana Hyde, pose for a picture at the NYC Soiree last Thursday. |
Over 1,000 guests attended Minds Matter of NYC's Seventh Annual Soiree on Thursday, March 27 at BLVD in SoHo, New York. The party was a huge success with a silent auction, catered food, a DJ, and tons of dancing.
Chicago Spring Fundraiser
Minds Matter of Chicago invites you to attend their Spring Fundraiser on Friday, April 11th.
When: April 11th from 6 to 9 pm
Where: Bella Lounge
New York City
Minds Matter of New York received national recognition in the December, 2007 issue of Lucky magazine and in the January, 2008 issue of Family Circle magazine.
To see the full articles, click here: Family Circle; Lucky.
Denver
Minds Matter of
Recently Minds Matter Co-Founder and Director of Test Preparation Director Jonathan Tofel interviewed students, alumni, and parents involved with the organization. The following excerpts help to capture the energy and dedication of the MMD community.
Rebecca Orona, MMD Alumna, and her mother Maria Orona (in Spanish, with Rebecca interpreting)
JT: Maria, what did you think about Minds Matter when you first heard about it?
MO: I thought it was an opportunity for Rebecca to get ahead in terms of going to college and checking out different summer programs. I was more excited about it than she was!
JT: What impact has MM had on Rebecca; has she changed?
RO: I used to be really shy, before I was in the program.
MO: They really brought her out.
RO: Now I’m not shy about asking questions, I ask them all the time. MM helped me to set my goals and head down one path. It kept me on track.
Rebecca now attends
Eric Ndikumana, Senior at North High School, and his mother Genereuse Ntirampeba (in Kirundi with Eric interpreting)
JT: Eric, tell me about your background.
EN: I was born in
JT: What were your plans when you got here?
EN: My dream was to become a doctor, especially a heart surgeon. In
JT: Genereuse, did you know how to go about getting Eric into college?
GN: No, no idea!
JT: Have you seen changes in him since he’s been involved with MM?
GN: He’s more focused than before, even working throughout the summer.
JT: Eric, what would you say to potential mentors about the program?
EN: This is the best chance you’ll have to help someone in life, to give these kids a chance at their dreams.
GN: I’m happy that we have someone to help with his college applications.
So far, Eric has been accepted at
Thank you for supporting Minds Matter!
Stay tuned for our quarterly electronic updates!!