College is Real
www.collegeisreal.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Blackwell
lsblackwell@aol.com
Cell: (925) 980-5467
Danville real estate entrepreneur raises funds to change the lives of
Richmond High School students
Danville real estate developer, Brad Blake, set out in 2005 to help a few soccer
players at Richmond High School get into college , but along the way created an
organization called “College is Real” that is changing lives by enabling lowincome, mostly Latino, students become the first in their families to attend and
graduate from college. CIR serves about 100 students on campus each year and
continues to support its alumni when they graduate from high school and move
onto college.
15-year old Luis Mendoza, a 9th grader with a warm smile who dreams of
becoming a doctor to help cancer victims like his mother, is one of those
students. A quarter of his classmates at Richmond High will never graduate, but
Luis has an almost 100% chance of graduating and getting into college.
Students enrolled in College Is Real improve their high schools grade averages,
discover how to apply to colleges, learn how to prepare for SAT’s and entrance
exams and get savvy about applying for financial aid. At the same time, they
form strong bonds and support each other’s progress. Good grades and college
aspirations are regarded as cool.
Luis hopes to play soccer in college like his brother, Gerardo, and is extremely
close to his mom. Luis said, “I want very much to make my mother proud, just
like my big brother Gerardo.” Gerardo was the first in his family to go to college.
With the help of College is Real, Gerardo is now a student at St. Mary’s College.
Angelica Arriaga is the full time, on-site program director for College Is Real. Her
desk in Richmond High’s career and college development center is a magnet for
kids who never imagined they could make it to college. The students frequently
spend their lunch time with her and congregate after school to do homework
because they lack the space, environment, and often encouragement to do it at
home. Angie also counsels parents, many of whom are unfamiliar with, or
intimidated by, the prospect of sending their kids to college.
In a country where 25% of high school students drop out before graduating,
100% of College is Real students not only graduate from high school, but that
same number applies to and is admitted to college. 100%. In recent years, CIR
has grown to have all of its more than 25 seniors each year gain acceptance to
four-year colleges.
College is Real is changing lives and the community; one student at a time.
As of the fall of 2012, College Is Real had more than 90% of its more than 75
high school alumni attending college and its first group of college graduates with
diplomas from U.C. Berkeley and U.C. San Diego. A small group will graduate
from college this spring and within five years the program is likely to have more
than 100 of its members graduate from college.
Resources to support the program come mainly from individual and corporate
contributions, and a community volunteer created gala event. College Is Real
will hold its second annual Auction and Dinner Dance at Round Hill Country Club
April 27th at 6:00 pm. The event’s theme is “Run for the Roses” and will celebrate
the Kentucky Derby.
The event will feature wine tasting, dinner, a live auction and DJ. Attendees are
encouraged to dress in fancy hats, dresses and suits as if they were attending
the Kentucky Derby. Prizes will be awarded for best outfits.
“This evening has become a must-attend annual event, particularly after people
learned about College is Real and heard the stories of these amazing students
and all they have to overcome to attend college.”, said founder, Brad Blake.
Tickets to the event are $100 per person and are on sale now at the College is
Real website. Organizers say capacity is limited so don’t delay. They’re
anticipating much local media interest in the colorful event.
For more information
www.collegeisreal.org.
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