Dear Reader,

As we head into the final eight days of the year, I wanted to pause and share where we are — and where we’re going.

Thanks to supporters like you, Barrier Breakers is already 55% of the way to our year-end fundraising goal. That momentum has made stories like Annelly’s possible — and with your help, it can make many more possible before December 31.

🎥 Watch Annelly share her story here:

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Annelly came to Barrier Breakers with a deep commitment to justice and a clear vision for her future in law. Through her work in restorative justice and community-based reform, she saw firsthand how inequity shows up in people’s lives — and she knew she wanted to be part of changing those systems.

What she didn’t have was consistent access to the kind of guidance and professional exposure that makes the law school application process feel navigable rather than daunting.

Through Barrier Breakers, Annelly received:

• One-on-one support to craft a strong, competitive personal statement
• Guidance from experienced admissions advisors and directors
• A community of peers from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing law
• And hands-on exposure to the legal profession — including a visit to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office with other Barrier Breakers Scholars

For many of our students, experiences like this are transformational. Being inside these spaces — meeting professionals, asking questions, and seeing the careers they’ve been envisioning — helps turn ambition into confidence and clarity.

As Annelly shared:

Her story reflects what we see every day: when talented, driven students are met with the right support at the right time, the impact is profound.

Right now, just 20 people committing to sponsor one student would allow us to fully reach our year-end goal and build on the progress we’ve already made.

💙 $2,400 sponsors one student from application to graduation – four to six years of life-changing support

💙 Or $200/month provides that support in a manageable way

Those 20 commitments don’t just support 20 students — they strengthen a model that allows us to serve many more students who otherwise would not have access to this level of advising, mentorship, and opportunity.

If Annelly’s story resonates with you, I hope you’ll consider being part of what comes next.

Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing more student stories like Annelly’s — each one a reminder of what’s possible when access meets opportunity.

Why sponsorship matters

Behind every success story is someone who believed first. Every time one student accesses college, it changes their entire family’s future — breaking cycles of inequity and unlocking opportunity for generations.

At a time when educational systems are uncertain and support is being stripped away, we can choose to stand in the gap. We can choose access. We can choose hope. We can choose impact.

Today, we invite you to help us ensure that no student is left behind because of barriers they cannot control.

Thank you for being a part of our mission and for choosing a future where every student belongs, every dream matters, and every story deserves a chance to unfold.

💛 Make your gift today and be part of the story:​
👉🏽 https://givebutter.com/firstgen​

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