Press

• More than 1,100 students are enrolled in our programs every year. This includes scholarships to attend partner private high schools, mentorship, and college and career prep.
• Students in our programs attend partner private high schools across the city. Through a partnership with Moore Catholic High School on Staten Island, we recently expanded into all five boroughs.
• Our students are not the typical scholarship recipients because of their grades. Without our supportive community, these students would likely attend their zoned public high school, which would not offer the care and attention they need to reach their highest potential.
• All students accepted into our program come from low-income households ($10,000 per capita) and had average or below-average grades in middle school (70-85%).
• Impact by the numbers:
  • 85% of our students graduate high school on time.
  • 92% of graduates go on to attend college.
  • $26 million earned in aid, grants, and awards annually.
  • Mentors donate more than 8,880 hours every year.

City & State New York: The 2026 50 Over 50: The Age Disruptors Who Are at the Peak of Their Powers (2/17/26)

The Tablet: Insurance Career Path Forged by Cristo Rey Brooklyn, St. John’s & SSP (11/26/25)

BK Reader: St. John’s University Helps Brooklyn Teens Break Into Insurance Field (11/8/25)

BK Reader: BK Winner Tyler Drayton on What it Takes to Be ‘Mentor of the Year’ (9/20/22)

Harlem Community Newspapers: Queens Mentor Selected for Mentor of the Year Awards – p. 5 (9/24/21)

News 12 The Bronx: Student Sponsor Partners launches programs to keep kids, mentors connected (4/16/2020)

New York Times: Letter to the editor: Re “Lockdown Holds Dangers for Vulnerable Women” (4/6/2020)

National Catholic Reporter: Nonprofit opens door to Catholic schools for NYC’s low-income students (12/9/19)

Currents News: Former Foster Becomes Exec of Catholic Education Sponsorship Program (9/26/19)

NYN Media: Patch Profiled How One Woman Ended Up Running The Nonprofit That Helped Her As A Teenager (8/20/19)

Patch: An NYC Nonprofit Saved Her from Poverty: Now This Runaway Runs It (8/18/19)

Bronx Times: Mentoring Program Helps Low-Income High School Students (8/14/19)

BronxNet: Student Sponsor Partners (7/10/19) 

Fox 5 Good Day NY: Mentorship And Education Program Impacts NYC Youth (6/20/19) 

Crain’s (Snaps): Student Outreach (5/26/19) 

News 12 Bronx: Program Offers 300 Bronx Students Chance To Attend Free Private Schools (5/20/19)

Gotham Gazette: A Solution In New York City School Turnaround Is Simpler Than We Think (5/7/19)

NY Daily News: NYPD Cop Mentors, Coaches Teens; Inspires Others To Do The Same (4/29/19)

ABC 7: Twentieth Annual Founder’s Dinner (4/17/19)

Crain’s: The Real Scandal In College Admissions (4/2/19)

Inc: The Best Way to Make a Huge Impact as a Mentor (10/19/18)

Maria Asteinza, Director of Communications & Marketing

masteinza@sspnyc.org