It shouldn’t have succeeded. Not a chance.
Had our team listened to the “experts,” the doors never would have opened. Critics were loud and relentless.
Fortunately, we didn’t listen.
The year was 1997.
A 600-square-foot dilapidated row home sat on the corner of 36th and Rudderow Street in East Camden. One bathroom. Closet-sized bedrooms serving as classrooms. No air conditioning. Textbooks donated from local public schools. A retired English teacher as principal. An Irish missionary teaching French, Spanish and Bible Class…
Not exactly the formula for helping teenagers in one of America’s poorest cities—many who had dropped out of school—get back on track academically, graduate, and go to college.
That’s how the UrbanPromise Academy began, and now this will be our 30th school year!
What carried us through wasn’t our building or our budget. It was a small group of stubborn, faith-filled, statistic-defying, underpaid educators who boldly believed that extravagant individual attention, personal accountability, experiential learning, grace, faith, and high academic standards could change lives.
And they were right.
Our teachers refused to give up on these young people. And I’m grateful.
Otherwise, I never would have met remarkable alumni like Jenniffer Lopez…and hundreds of other graduates who have gone on to build meaningful lives over the past three decades.
“I was extremely shy when I entered the academy,” Jenniffer reflected recently.
“In middle school, I was afraid to ask for help because some teachers would get annoyed,” she continued. “The teachers were completely different at UrbanPromise. They were patient. They cared. And they were always available after school.”
But strong academics weren’t the only thing shaping Jenniffer’s future.
“Expeditionary learning made a big difference for me. I never would have climbed a mountain, camped alone for 24 hours, or paddled a canoe. Those experiences gave me the confidence I needed.”
Today, Jenniffer is a successful real estate agent for a South Jersey home builder. She’s married and raising a young family.
Our holistic approach to education works. I’ve witnessed its impact firsthand for three decades. Jenniffer is just one of countless stories that demonstrate what’s possible when young people are known, challenged, and encouraged.
But this kind of education takes significant financial resources.
Keeping student-to-teacher ratios low, providing transformational learning experiences beyond the classroom, and retaining exceptional teachers all require significant investment. At the same time, the median household income for families in our schools is just $33,000. Keeping tuition affordable isn’t simply important—it’s essential.
“Affordability definitely played a key role in keeping me at UrbanPromise,” Jenniffer added. “Without sponsors, I could not have stayed and graduated.
This fall, 150 students will walk through our school doors. Every one of them deserves the same safe, loving, faith-centered learning environment that helped Jenniffer discover her confidence and build the life she has today.
Making that possible takes a village. UrbanPromise doesn’t recieve state or federal funding. We don’t have a billionaire benefactor. What we do have is an incredible community of faithful friends like you who continue to show up for Camden’s young people year after year.
Our goal is to raise $100,000 to help keep tuition affordable for the families we serve.
The good news is that $48,000 has already been committed as a dollar-for-dollar matching grant. Every gift made by September 30 will be doubled, up to $48,000.
We’ve been given an extraordinary opportunity to help young people build the academic, social, and spiritual foundation they need to flourish. Together, let’s keep our doors wide open for those who need them most.
Thank you for your faithful support.
Bruce Main
Founder & President