About Us
Our Mission
Student Sponsor Partners harnesses the power of quality education and mentorship to help New York City youth in underserved communities escape the cycle of poverty and reach their highest potential.
History
In the midst of the high school dropout crisis of the 1970s, investment banker and former political aide Peter Flanigan piloted an idea to help New York City’s most at-risk youth graduate on time and escape the cycle of poverty. An advocate for education access and school choice, he paired students with caring individuals to fund their education at quality, private high schools and mentor them along the way. Seeing the results through the student successes, Peter decided to incorporate Student Sponsor Partners in 1986. The organization launched with 45 students and just two partner high schools and now has more than 1,100 students at 23 high schools across the city.
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The SSP Model
For more than 35 years, Student Sponsor Partners’ uniquely integrated programs have provided thousands of New York City students with a quality high school education and mentorship – tools to set them up for a future of endless possibilities. A combination of partner schools, sponsors who fund their scholarship and education programs, mentors who guide them along the way, and college and career prep offerings ensures a positive experience and lasting impact.
Who We Support
Our Programs
Scholarship & Education Programs
We work with private high schools across the city that save slots for our students who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend these college-preparatory schools. These schools have a long history of working with students from similar backgrounds, and have dedicated coordinators who monitor and meet with our students. We also have Engagement Managers who check in with students about their accomplishments and challenges and provide advisement to improve outcomes.
Mentorship
Student Sponsor Partners pairs students with trained mentors, and they all dedicate a total of more than 10,000 hours annually. The results are undeniable in both directions. At-risk students with mentors are more likely to have:
- Enhanced attitudes about school
- Boosted self-confidence
- Better behavior at home and school
College & Career Success
Many students are first in their families to attend college, which is where the College and Career Success program comes in – to help students and their families through the college process. This program offers SAT prep classes, college admissions advising, financial aid application assistance, and essay writing and interview workshops. It has been so successful that enrollment in college for Student Sponsor Partners graduates is higher than that for New York City public school students of similar demographics.
Peter M. Flanigan Scholarship
Thanks to the generous funding from The Kovner Foundation, Student Sponsor Partners launched the Peter M. Flanigan Scholarship in 2015. Since then, students who have a cumulative GPA of 90 or above are invited to apply for the scholarship. Students awarded the Peter M. Flanigan Scholarship receive scholarship funding of up to $10,000 per year for four years of college.
Partnerships
A combination of partner schools, sponsors, mentors, and college and career prep ensures a positive experience and lasting impact. And Student Sponsor Partners continues to update its offerings to meet changing needs.
