Reader's Choice Award!

Thanks to our many supporters who wrote letters to G-The Magazine of Greenville, Bridges to a Brighter Future received the Reader's Choice Award! We are featured in the March/April Issue of the Growing by Giving Annual Guide to Charitable Events insert. Bridges will be recognized at the Giving Back Awards on April 23. Thank you supporters and G Magazine! Thank you also to our staff and students who work hard to have a phenomenal, life-changing program!

Thank you Michelin!!!

Michelin North America sponsored a very special event for Bridges to a Brighter Future on Saturday, February 14, 2009. Michelin purchased 100 tickets and provided pizza for Bridges students and families to attend the Furman v. Davidson Basketball game. Our students and families were very excited to attend this event together, as well as celebrate 10 graduating classes of Bridges to a Brighter Future. This event followed our monthly Saturday College program.

Bridges to a Brighter Future received special recognition at halftime. On the court to celebrate this recognition was Mr. Herb Johnson of Michelin North America, Dr. David Shi, President of Furman University, Dr. Gary Clark, Furman Athletic Director, Tobi Swartz, Director of Bridges to a Brighter Future, and nine Bridges graduates who are now enrolled at or have graduated from Furman University, Rosa Rivera, Dean Bailey, Victor Orozco, Cierra Riddle, Casey Crisp, Jorge Jimenez, Giovanna Gomez, Bree Alexander, and Sebastian Barbosa.

Here is a picture of Mr. Herb Johnson with the students:

The announcement made at halftime was:

Today Furman University is celebrating 10 years of graduates from the Bridges to a Brighter Future program. Bridges is a college-access program for high school students in Greenville County whose potential outdistances their circumstances.

Bridges began in 1997 and the first class graduated from the program in 1999. To date, 174 students have graduated from Bridges to a Brighter Future. 100% of those students graduated from high school and over 92% enrolled in colleges and universities in the State of South Carolina and beyond.

On court today to celebrate the life-changing impact of this program are: Dr. David Shi, President of Furman University, Furman Athletics Director Doctor Gary Clark, Herb Johnson of Michelin North America and Tobi Swartz, Director of Bridges to a Brighter Future. Joining them on-court are the Bridges graduates who are now enrolled at or have graduated from Furman University. Please welcome:

Rosa Rivera
Dean Bailey
Victor Orozco
Cierra Riddle
Casey Crisp
Jorge Jimenez
Giovanna Gomez
Bree Alexander
Sebastian Barbosa

Michelin North America is committed to education and particularly increasing the educational attainment of students in Greenville County. Michelin North America is proud to support this life-changing program and the program graduates who are making their dreams come true through higher education. Many of those graduates are attending today’s game as guests of Michelin North America and the Furman Paladins. Let’s give them all a big Furman round of applause for a job well done.

THANK YOU MICHELIN! This was a wonderful event for our families and we appreciate your generosity! Here are a few pictures of our families enjoying the game:

Lakeshia Ellis Recieves MLK Scholarship

Bridges Student, Lakeshia Ellis was awarded the Coretta Scott King Scholarship at the MLK Dream Weekend Diversity Banquet on Friday, January 16. She will use this $2,000 scholarship at USC Upstate this Fall 2009.

We are very proud of Lakeshia. She is a survivor! She endured great challenges as a young child to succeed as a young adult. She attends Carolina Academy where she is enrolled in dual credit college classes, is on Student Government, and maintains a part-time job. She is in the top ten of her class and is determined to succeed! Congratulations Keshia!

Pictured with her mom, Barbara Ellis:

Video of the award presentation: