Boys Hope Girls Hope Works, Based on National Survey

In 2012, the Educational Policy Institute (EPI), a major Washington research thinktank, recognized Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) as 1 of 10 programs (out of 347 national programs in the study) to have proven success helping students from low income families complete college education.

“We’ve always known our organization works, now the nation does,” said BHGH Cincinnati Executive Director, Sara Schindler.

In April 2012, The EPI released the study “A Blueprint for Success: Case Studies of Successful Pre-College Outreach Programs” to highlight the best methods and practices to increase college access for those commonly underrepresented in postsecondary education and share them with similar organizations.

BHGH Cincinnati was featured in this six-month study, surveyed in 2011, for the program’s high expectations, comprehensive, long-term approach and first-year college success rate.

Students enter BHGH Cincinnati as young age 9 and remain until college graduation. Since 1991, 100 percent of BHGH Cincinnati graduates have enrolled in postsecondary education and up to 94 percent return their second year – 30 percent higher than the national average.

BHGH Cincinnati provides educational opportunities, stability and spiritual guidance to motivated, underserved youth through residential and community-based programs. Educational opportunities include tuition to private schools, summer enrichment programs and internship and job placement.

BHGH Cincinnati has served Greater Cincinnati since 1984, concentrating on Hamilton County. The program serves 33 scholars in Finneytown and Walnut Hills. Since inception, 15 BHGH Cincinnati scholars have graduated postsecondary education and 14 are currently enrolled.

BHGH is a religious, privately funded nonprofit with four affiliates in Latin America and 15 in U.S. metropolitans, including Cincinnati.

“Our success is based on our close relationships with scholars and their families,” said Schindler. “We follow scholars throughout their education to provide support – emotionally and financially.”