Earlier this month, the District of Columbia reported that graduation rates for the Class of 2015 reached 64%. Graduation rates at Eastern Senior High School, Companies for Causes’ partner, exceeded the District’s average reaching 69%. Companies for Causes partnered with Eastern in 2011 and our CEO’s hands-on efforts and financial support for Eastern High School have contributed to this success. However, we realize there is still more to do. 

Over the past year, Companies for Causes’ CEO’s have come to better understand the challenges that students face both inside and outside the classroom. In response, we have expanded the scope of our work to include the elementary and middle school communities that support Eastern Senior High School. Through our new 

All Roads Lead to Eastern campaign, we are investing in people and programs across the Eastern community to help students stay on the path to graduation and to, ultimately, succeed in college or the workplace.

As we continue our work with Eastern students to support Career & College Readiness and honor Academic Success. We’re expanding our support of The Brilliant Club –DC, one of the UK’s most successful inner city school programs, to put middle and high school students on track to top-tier universities. And, we’re helping to make middle school more engaging through an innovative partnership with Levine Music and by sponsoring S.T.E.M. clubs to participate in the 2015 Team America Rocketry Challenge.

To ensure academic success, we’re piloting two initiatives at Eliot-Hine Middle School to help students succeed in math and will soon launch an effort to ensure that elementary school students have access to books in their classrooms.

On behalf of our CEO's and our many partners, I thank you for your support. I hope that you’ll help us spread the word about our work and continue to #DoMore to make a difference in our community.