Sunshine Hope joins America’s Promise Alliance and its Grad Nation Campaign

Aug. 30, 2012 - PRLog -- Philadelphia, PA — August 29, 2012 — Sunshine Hope today announced they have become a partner of America’s Promise Alliance (America’s Promise) and will work with them to help reduce the nation’s high school dropout rate and ensure that America’s children and youth have the resources they need to lead healthy, successful lives.

Sunshine Hope is changing the DNA of tomorrow's adults by teaching today's kids about hope and possibility. By empowering children to live each day to the fullest, Sunshine Hope encourages children to think positively to achieve their goals and overcome any challenges. Together with America’s Promise Alliance, Sunshine Hope is committed to supporting young people in reaching their fullest potential.

Founded in 1997 with General Colin Powell as its founding chair, America’s Promise is the nation’s largest partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. Its strong national network of more than 400 partners is comprised of organizations representing all sectors of American life. Through America’s Promise, these partners are working together to end the dropout crisis and see that more children and youth experience the Five Promises in their lives—Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others.  

Kelley Osbourne Faust, Founder & CEO of Sunshine Hope, expresses her excitement to be partnering with America’s Promise stating, “We are so excited and grateful to be included among this amazing group of change agents committed to empowering the youth of the US.  Sunshine Hope empowers children to create huge goals, dreams, and visions for their lives and teaches them, in a step by step process, how to make their goals and dreams come true, which directly supports the work and mission of America’s Promise.”

As an official partner, Sunshine Hope will support and take part in the work of America’s Promise to ensure that more of the nation’s young people experience the Five Promises and are prepared to finish high school prepared for college and the 21st century workforce. Sunshine Hope will also be an active partner in supporting the work of the Grad Nation campaign, a large and growing movement of dedicated individuals, organizations and communities working together to end the dropout crisis. The goal of Grad Nation is to raise the national high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020, with no school graduating fewer than 80 percent of its students on time.

“Creating stronger communities where youth feel supported and encouraged is essential to America’s future strength and vitality,” said John Gomperts, president and CEO of America's Promise Alliance. “By coming together in common purpose, we demonstrate our commitment and the fact that we all have a role to play in the success of our children and youth, and we are infinitely more powerful as a united force.  We’re thrilled that Sunshine Hope has joined this movement.”

The work of America’s Promise includes signature initiatives like the 100 Best Communities for Young People competition and Grad Nation Communities. America’s Promise also supports and distributes numerous reports highlighting the latest research and data for communities and youth development practitioners. This includes the annual Building a Grad Nation report on the dropout crisis as well as resources on parental engagement, career exploration and communications.  As a partner, Sunshine Hope will have early access to all America’s Promise commissioned research, tools and information.