The dreams of going to college for so many American teens may seem like long-shots, but when a billionaire philanthropist sets her sights on education, their stories may have a happy ending.
Enrique Pepén was born in Boston to Dominican immigrants who hoped to grab hold of the American dream, despite a language barrier that sometimes seemed insurmountable.
Growing up in public housing, Pepén had to help translate legal forms and food menus for his parents—and sometimes worried that the American dream would escape him. But he never gave up.
In high school, Pepén found assistance from Bottom Line, a nonprofit mentorship program that provides personalized guidance to first-generation college students and low-income youth.
Bottom Line, which has now served over 7,000 students, helped Pepén navigate all the forms and applications needed for college. He earned a full scholarship to Boston’s Suffolk University. From there, Bottom Line’s mentors supported him throughout his collegiate career.
Then, in 2023, Pepén was elected to the Boston City Council.
Pepén’s election arrived just one year after a massive $15 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott helped secure Bottom Line’s long-term future. Scott, Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife, provided monetary support for Bottom Line and 360 other charities and nonprofits through an operation named Yield Giving. Bottom Line’s gift will ensure that there are hundreds of other youths like Pepén who will gain enough support to grab a firm hold of the American dream.
“My parents left everything they knew when coming to the United States and I saw the mental toll of reinventing their lives. They believed in the power of education to make personal progress easier, and it was a belief they instilled in me,” Pepén said in Bottom Line’s most recent Annual Report.
“After walking my path and navigating the college process, if I could give any advice to students in similar shoes, I would say do not be afraid to ask for help!”
Founded in Boston in 1997, Bottom Line has achieved impressive results:
- 91.2% of Bottom Line’s high school students committed to college
- 68.2% made an affordable choice
- 93.5% of students persisted to their 2nd semester—a leading indicator of graduation rates
- 100% of students surveyed reported feeling more confident in their ability to build relationships and network with professionals
In its 28 years, the nonprofit has expanded to support students in New York, Chicago, and Ohio too. Later this summer, the program will officially launch in Detroit.
With funding from family foundations, as well as a $600,000 grant from GreenLight Fund Detroit, Bottom Line hopes to support 725 Detroit students annually by 2031.
CHECK OUT: Thank-You Cards Pile Up with Nowhere to Go After School District Receives Anonymous ‘Transformative’ Donation
It’s a worthy goal for a population faced with innumerable obstacles. Fewer than 20-percent of Detroit residents hold college degrees. The city’s median income averages just $37,000. And Michigan has one of the worst student-to-counselor ratios in the country.
But folks at Bottom Line never shrink from obstacles. They prefer to embrace them instead.
Just ask Danielle North, who was named Bottom Line Detroit’s first executive director. The Detroit native is a first-generation college student herself. A similar support program helped propel her through college and put her on a path to success about 20 years ago. Now, she’ll pay it forward to a new generation.
She already met with some prospective students at her alma mater Northwestern High School in December.
“I was already excited,” she said in an article appearing on ChalkBeat Detroit. ”But coming here and having the opportunity to interact with the staff and learn directly from the students what their experiences have been, to see the glimmer of light in their eyes, to see their future possibilities from their point of view, and to understand what they’re looking for, has really just cemented it for me.”
WATCH: Man Who Grew Up Without a Dad Supports Youth on ‘Dad, How Do I?’ YouTube Channel
They could take Pepén’s advice to heart: “There are a lot of opportunities out there that may seem difficult to obtain, but there are people and groups like Bottom Line who want you to succeed.”
Building on successful stories like Councilman Pepén’s in Boston, the next great chapters will be written in Detroit.
SHARE THE STORY to Inspire Youth With Dreams On Social Media…