Local Non-Profit Helps Urban High School Teens with Scholarships

25 years ago, Tom Cash of Short Hills, formally incorporated Student/Partner Alliance (S/PA) as a 501 (c) (3) organization. His vision – to help motivated high school students from nearby urban areas successfully complete a college prep education at a private school through a combination of financial and mentoring assistance – proved to be a much needed and unique concept. It quickly caught on among his friends and colleagues who soon became friends and supporters of S/PA.

Last Thursday night, a group of long-time supporters, many of whom were “there at the beginning” with S/PA, met at the Summit home of S/PA President Emmett Daly and his wife Regina, for a 25-Year Celebration. Both Dalys have been supporters and mentors to S/PA students for more than twenty years.

Mr. Daly welcomed over 50 supporters and Tom Cash started off the evening’s program, “Student/Partner Alliance: Past, Present and Future,” with a explanation of the origins and vision for an organization such as S/PA over 25 years ago. Next, Sr. June Favata, Principal at St. Vincent Academy (one of the original schools in the program) spoke about the past – and how the need strongly continues today. Sr. June stressed S/PA’s impact on the trajectory of these motivated students’ lives.

Westfield resident, Trustee and long-time Partner/Mentor Tim Heine spoke about where S/PA stands in the present. He highlighted S/PA’s growth into an impressively successful program comprised of over 50 Partners, 120 Mentors, 25 corporate, church and foundation funders that has awarded over 2000 scholarships since 1993. Maplewood resident, S/PA Trustee and Mentor Danna Jacobs, represented the future of S/PA. She and Mark Boffa of Morristown founded the Young Professionals Network (YPN), which recruits young professionals as mentors in 2013. Committed to meeting with their students over the course of the four high school years, the Young Professional Mentors provide valuable mentoring and guidance on issues such as academics, sports, relationships, goals and college aspirations. These young people represent future Mentors and Partners of S/PA.

Recent recipients of S/PA awards and long-time supporters Deborah Barker (Lifetime Commitment Award) and Joseph Della Rosa (Community Spirit Award) of Short Hills were present to celebrate this milestone.

S/PA Executive Director, Margaret Momber of Madison, closed the program with a recognition of the various members of the S/PA “team” of supporters– expressing the continued goal of another 25 years of assisting high school students to realize their dreams of improving their life opportunities through guidance and education.

This year, the 25th class of students who have received the S/PA scholarship and mentoring, will complete their academic programs touting a 100% graduation rate! 99% of the S/PA graduates have College plans for the fall, with one student entering the military.

Learn more about Student/Partner Alliance’s program, students and how you can help students too, by logging on to: www.studentpartneralliance.org or by contacting mmbusby@studentpartneralliance.org.