Prep for Prep, one of the world's innovators in programme development, provides full scholarship to some of New York's finest private secondary schools for disadvantaged children. These students typically move on to extraordinary scholarship opportunities to attend some of America's finest colleges and universities.

PREP FOR PREP develops young leaders through access to superior education and life-changing opportunities. Since 1978, PREP has identified New York City's most promising students of colour and prepared them for placement in independent schools in the city and boarding schools throughout the US Northeast. PREP offers support and opportunities to ensure the academic accomplishment and personal growth of each student.

By expanding the nation's leadership resources, PREP aims to impact indirectly on a set of inter-related problems that threaten to rend US society. Recognized as one of the planet's leaders in interventionist educational programming, PREP's model of academic excellence has influenced the design and management of several other similarly outstanding programs around the world.

When CEDAR Foundation: International first began its sojourn into international endeavours, PREP FOR PREP was one of its first discoveries, providing an optimistic perspective to all that would follow. CEDAR thanks PREP for that.

www.prepforprep.org

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POSSE Foundation provides hundreds of worthy students with full-ride scholarships to the nation's finest colleges and universities. It ranks as one of the most notable academic "wonders of the world".

As Debbie Bial, the brilliant founder of POSSE Foundation states: "It started with the idea of a support group, but it has become much more than that. It's also
a leadership program, a diversity program and a program that has transformative powers—both on college campuses and in the workforce... POSSE is not a minority program... it's a diversity program. You can see every kind of kid in POSSE, every race, every religion."

To acknowledge the importance and uniqueness of the amazing accomplishment that is POSSE, President Barack Obama donated a sizeable portion of the prize money that accompanied his Nobel Peace Prize to this wonderful foundation.

By 2020, POSSE plans to be in 10 cities, partner with 80 universities, recruit 1,000 scholars annually, support 4,000 scholars on campus, work with 6,000 alumni, and serve an additional 10,000 students through POSSE Access... all because one day in 1989, Debbie Bial had a great idea!

CEDAR Foundation: International is proud of its long partnership with such a world class organization.

www.possefoundation.org

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Located throughout the USA, KIPP Schools is one of the world's leading charter school organizations. Known for its highly effective educational environment and the academic success of its young scholars, KIPP is growing across the US.

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) is a national network of 82 free, open enrolment college-preparatory charter schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life.

Currently there are 82 KIPP Schools in 20 US states serving over 20,000 students. Every day, KIPP students are proving that demographics do not define destiny. Nationally, more than 90% of KIPP Middle School students have gone on to college-preparatory high schools, and over 85% of KIPP alumni have gone on to college.

The emphasis on learning characterizes KIPP's "Commitment to Excellence", which ensures that the school will do whatever it takes to help its students learn.

CEDAR Foundation: International is proud to partner with two KIPP Schools in
the heart of the troubled South Los Angeles area: KIPP Academy of Opportunity and KIPP LA College Preparatory School. By providing its students with the opportunity to develop solid academic and social skills that build the character habits necessary for success at college and in life, KIPP schools are playing a part in building a better tomorrow for America's youth, schools, communities and the nation.

www.kipp.org

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A boys' high school in the Jesuit tradition though open to boys of all religious faiths, Verbum Dei High School is considered a beacon of hope in an urban area fraught with social challenges. It is remarkable for its innovative and unique student work program.

Verbum Dei High School is an all male, four-year career preparatory school in
the Jesuit tradition. Notably complemented by its unique corporate internship program, it serves the young men of Watts and surrounding communities who are economically and academically underserved. The school's goal is to develop self confident young men who are intellectually motivated, spiritual, contemplative and courageous in their pursuit of a more humane and just world.

The school's mission centres on empowering its students to help themselves attain intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual maturation toward becoming gentlemen who serve "with and for others." The innovative corporate work-study programme requires all students to work five days per month as a member of a four-student team. They are employed by local firms who pay the school for services rendered, a major means of financing the school's costs.

Serving close to 400 students each year, Verbum Dei has a teacher-student ratio of 1:12, enabling beneficial personal attention and care to each student. With its strong athletic tradition, Verbum Dei High School is also one of the most winning high schools in the area in football, soccer, track, basketball, cross-country and baseball.

CEDAR Foundation: International's partnership with Verbum Dei High School will be a long and exciting one.

www.verbumdei.us

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TALLER San Jose transforms troubled young people lost in the depths of crime and despair into educated, employable young adults who are prepared to discover the solid potential within.

TALLER San Jose is dedicated to walking wounded young people out of poverty. TALLER accomplishes life-changing results by providing undereducated and unskilled young adults who have got off track in life with the education, job training and rehabilitation necessary to build productive lives. With education received from TALLER's Medical Careers Academy, Office Careers Academy or Tech Construction Academy, graduates are able to restructure their lives and move forward. This is a support program for those who have no supports in their lives.

The program was established in 1995 in response to a high rate of crime and gang violence among the city of Santa Ana's youth, and the lack of resources available to young people who had dropped out of school or had been incarcerated. This innovative program offers the hope of a productive and self-reliant future. Its list of national and international awards speaks to its effectiveness at helping a generation of young people fulfill their potential and become healthy, successful adults.

CEDAR Foundation: International is proud to play a part in rebuilding lives and spirits. TALLER's remarkable history is a serious model for other challenged communities everywhere.

www.tallersanjose.org

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South Central Scholars makes it possible for close to 500 students each year to be able to attend colleges and universities of their choice by providing modest funding, advice, social development and a lot of love.

The South Central Scholars (SCS) program provides intelligent, motivated high school students from South Central Los Angeles with the opportunity to pursue a college and graduate school education, along with assistance in learning the difficult skills of engaging in the professional world.

The SCS program assists its students in relationship-building and networking. It provides students with opportunities to attend exceptional colleges and universities throughout the United States, thereby enhancing the quality of life for the students, their families and their communities.

This program is extraordinary in its desire and ability to combine a scholarship serving the needs of high school students with successful mentors in various occupations and internship opportunities in diverse industries. Students begin to network and find paths to long-term job placement and financial stability. Creating a bridge between the students from the inner-city with the surrounding community through education and employment, SCS plays a significant life-supporting role in the lives of these deserving young people.

CEDAR Foundation: International sees SCS as one of America's best examples of blending pragmatism with caring of the highest order.

www.southcentralscholars.org

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CEDAR SoCal Scholarship Program provides college and university scholarship support to deserving students from needy circumstances in the Los Angeles area.

The impoverished South Los Angeles neighbourhood struggles with a low high school graduation rate and the fewest college graduates in the US.

The CEDAR SoCal Scholarship Program provides promising but often overlooked high school graduates with the support necessary to go on to college. By providing multi-year college bursaries or scholarships to young people meeting academic and need-based criteria, CEDAR contributes to filling the gap in educational opportunities.

CEDAR Foundation: International looks forward to sharing in the joy and excitement as deserving scholarship recipients move forward to pursue their dreams.