STRENGTHS OF OUR MODEL
RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION TRANSFORMS LIVES AND GENERATES POSITIVE OUTCOMES
OVER 500 SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY BASED REFERRAL SOURCES
OUR NATION NEEDS RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION
We use a proprietary risk and resiliency rubric in admissions to identify students on the cusp of success and failure, for whom a residential education is an area of need, not a luxury.AFFORDABLE COST PER STUDENT
VS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL EQUIVALENT
The math is simple… For the cost of providing one individual boarding school scholarship, we can provide a life-transforming residential education for two to three students.
STUDENT GPA DATA & MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
OVER FOUR YEARS OF PROGRAM DATA
Dramatic increases in student grade average, hours of study, community service hours and life-changing metrics from behavioral modification and wellness benchmarks.
MEETING THE MOST URGENT NEEDS OF MANY STRUGGLING STUDENTS
STOKES HEIRARCHY OF NEEDS
Two hours of study per day, mandatory extracurriculars participation, family style meals, daily chores, community service, proctors, tutors, safe full-time residential staff.
AGILE PARTNERSHIP MODEL
VS OTHER URBAN BOARDING MODELS
We are not in the business of building new schools or education frameworks. We partner w/ strong existing schools and deliver on all components of residential education.
REPLICABILITY AND SCALABILITY
AGILE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Real estate assets nationwide can be acquired, leased or otherwise leveraged, including Diocesan, municipal and private holdings, dorms in under-enrolled small colleges, etc.
BUILDING A NATIONAL NETWORK OF URBAN BOARDING SCHOOLS
WHO WE ARE
STOKES FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP TEAM
Ray Walker, Founder
Executive Director
and CEO
Ray Walker and his former Student Advisee, Unique Frazer Braithwaite, featured in Prep for Prep's 2012 Annual Report
With over 25 years of service to students and school communities, Ray notably served as founding Director of Residential Life at NYC’s 1st Urban Boarding School for Young Men in Brooklyn, NY.
Ray is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and proud alumnus of Prep for Prep, Deerfield Academy and Georgetown University and participated in cohort-based learning via PASE/American Express’ Executive Leadership Series. Ray began his career in Residential Services at Fountain House in midtown Manhattan, working as a Supportive Housing Counselor and Transitional Employment Manager for mentally ill adults and teens. In 2000, Ray moved to Massachusetts where he served as a Clinical Counselor, Residential Supervisor, and ultimately Residential Program Director of a 16-bed Crisis Stabilization Facility at YOU, Inc.’s Cottage Hill Academy. Upon returning to the tri-state area, Ray managed 34 afterschool programs for BuildOn before being recruited to design and implement all aspects of a comprehensive Urban Boarding School Program.
In terms of Board and Volunteer Service, Ray is a former Board Member at Martin De Porres Schools and Schomburg Charter School and served terms on the Alumni Executive Committees of both Deerfield Academy and Prep for Prep. Ray participated in and fully authored the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools’ accreditation of the Ocean Tides Residential School in Narragansett, Rhode Island. He currently leverages his background in Philanthropy in furtherance of Social Good, Equity and Access in the Film Industry through service on the Advisory Committee for the Santa Clarita International Film Festival (SCIFF).
Ray launched Stokes Foundation in 2011 and served as the organization’s founding Executive Director prior to taking a step back from the role to grow as a Development Officer, spending 6+ years reinforcing his Fundraising and Development toolbox by working in the top-flight Advancement Offices at Deerfield Academy, as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, and Cardinal Hayes High School as the school’s Director of Alumni Engagement and Development.
Ray lives and works full-time from his home office in Marlboro, New York with his wonderful partner and Stokes Foundation Trustee, Ms. Cindy M. Perez (see Ms. Perez’ full bio below) and their inquisitive toddler son, the youngest of Ray’s three remarkable children, the elder two of whom grew up in an Urban Boarding School setting themselves as faculty kids living in the Director’s Residence within the dormitory at Bishop Loughlin.
William S. Howe III, Ph.D.
Associate Executive Director
After over 40 years of service in secondary schools and universities, Dr. William “Bill” Howe joined the Stokes Foundation as the organization’s first Associate Executive Director. Through an extensive career in higher education, Dr. Howe has demonstrated a commitment to diverse and under-represented populations and to residential education across his career, as well as a passion for empowering all people and helping to develop diverse leaders.
Dr. Howe graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1967 when it was led by the subject of the book The Headmaster by John McPhee, Mr. Frank L. Boyden, whose open and available style informed Bill’s own leadership practices, teaching, and curriculum development within the field of Leadership Studies.
“Bill” (as he’s referred to by Stokes Foundation staff) holds 5 university degrees, including a master’s degree from Harvard University and a doctoral degree from Stanford University. He has worked collaboratively with colleagues to create innovative leadership programs, centers, and schools, and to ensure that those educational resources are available to help students of all backgrounds form meaningful, inter-connected, service-oriented lives as “whole people” who are prepared to contribute to their communities and to the welfare of society at large.
As one of the founding faculty at the nation’s first school of Leadership Studies, the Jepson School at the University of Richmond, Bill supervised and taught in the “Service Learning” program, developed leadership development programs with local secondary schools, and helped students cultivate leadership skills via travel to Mexico, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Bill also helped to develop leadership programs at the University of San Diego, National University, the University of California at San Diego, Thomas Edison State University, Claremont Lincoln University and Bethune-Cookman University, a HBCU located in Daytona Beach, Florida. Much of the groundwork for this service in universities was framed by Bill’s early experience as a teacher, administrator, coach, and dorm resident in secondary boarding schools – contexts that promote the holistic well-being of all enrolled students.
Stokes Foundation’s student-focused mission is firmly aligned with Bill’s experience and passions – “whole person” residential education and the welfare of diverse students, especially those who lack the resources to enroll at places like Deerfield Academy. “We have the opportunity to put Deerfield’s residential model in play as a catalyst for existing investments being made in education, schools and communities. This is uniquely transformative for our ideal applicants, who were previously unable to benefit from those invested resources due to adverse conditions at home or in their community.”
Meghan McAllister, MSc.
Director of Development and External Relations
Meghan is a graduate of Tulane University, where she was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority as well as an Altman Scholar in International Studies and Business, a cohort-based scholarship program that “prepares students with a flexible broad-based skill set to become leaders in today’s increasingly interconnected world.” Meghan completed her undergraduate studies with dual degrees– a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Management. Meghan participated in the Study Abroad Program at the ICADE Business School of Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain as well as several internships, including service as a Teaching Assistant at Tulane University, where she helped teach a Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance Course at the University. Other appointments in the Greater New Orleans Area included The Idea Village and Simmons & White, LLC, a Management Consulting Firm.
After her time at Tulane, Meghan went on to serve as a Data and Development Associate at BCNA (Business Center for New Americans) in New York City prior to holding several positions of increasing responsibility in Business Development at Hanover Research during her 3.5 years of tenure, which culminated in two years as a Development Director at the firm.
Meghan comes to Stokes Foundation after spending two years in furtherance of her education in the UK, where she completed the Master of Science Program in Development Studies at SOAS University of London. In her return state-side, Meghan arrived with her own unique passion for and belief in the efficacy and potential of Urban Boarding Schools to address systemic inefficiencies and inequities in education systems nationwide that leave some students at a clear disadvantage relative to their peers, as their most basic hierarchical needs as humans are not being addressed in any meaningful way– while they remain expected to learn and function in the classroom and study at home.
Meghan’s steadfast commitment to our fundraising efforts, to our external relations and outreach, and to tirelessly building upon and formalizing our mission and expansion methodology, serves as a welcome reminder that there are allies who are fully and genuinely committed to addressing inequities in education in the U.S. and around the globe.
Tom Fike, MBA, CFRE
Lead Development Consultant and Sustainability Advisor
Tom Fike is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and joins Stokes Foundation as the organization’s Lead Development Consultant and Sustainability Advisor. Tom holds the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation’s FSA Credential. The Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting Credential illustrates Tom’s capacity to apply industry-specific, financially material analysis to an organization’s sustainability performance.
Tom has more than 20 years’ experience in nonprofit management and fundraising. He has managed regional, national, and international fundraising efforts for religious, advocacy, healthcare, social service, and educational institutions including St. John’s University’s Tobin College of Business, where he served as Director of Development. Tom also served as Senior Director at Changing our World, Inc. and Managing Director of Development at John Cabot University among other leadership and consulting roles. Tom is a proud alumnus of Loyola University Chicago where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, as well as St. John’s University, where he earned an MBA in Finance.
Tom spent over six years of service on the Development Committee at Village Care in New York City and currently is a member of the Board of Directors of the Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos, California.
Tom also notably served as Vice President of Development at Cardinal Hayes High School and was the architect of the school’s Forever Hayes Campaign. Prior to returning to work in Higher Education, Tom was responsible for appointing Stokes’ Executive Director, Ray Walker as the school’s Director of Alumni Relations. Along with former Cardinal Hayes High School Trustee, Dr. Rich Petriccione ’77 (currently Stokes Foundation’s interim Board VP and Chairperson of the Fundraising Sub-committee) we find a trio of fundraisers with history of collaboration who are proud to be “getting the band back together” in dedicated service to students in need.
Tom is committed to delivering Stokes Foundation’s future Urban Boarding School Programs “to scholars for whom a residential education would not be a luxury, but an urgent necessity.”
Braden Cassidy
Research and Database Administrator
Braden Cassidy comes to Stokes Foundation with over 20 years of dedicated service at Nationwide Insurance, initially with five years as a Commercial Technical Clerk, where he assisted colleagues with systems implementation during the company’s comprehensive transition to web-based platforms. Braden went on to spend another 15 years in Nationwide’s Commercial Lines Processing Department, where he primarily audited commercial policies to determine proper ratings and coverages and was further tasked with providing instruction for fellow Nationwide employees through continuing education offerings and web-based application trainings on the company’s various policy management systems, including NAPS, Workbench, AWD, Farm Bureau, FIPS, GRIT, and PL Inquira Programs.
Braden also spent time at Synchrony Bank and Charter Communications (Spectrum) prior to joining the Development Team at Stokes Foundation. He is an alumnus of Perry High School in Massilon, Ohio and Stark State College in North Canton, Ohio. True to his roots in the region, Braden is an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns and The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
Braden lives with “Halo” (the best cat ever) and, in addition to his purpose-driven work supporting students at Stokes Foundation, lists the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and other organizations tied to the research, treatment and diagnosis of the central nervous system disorder known as MS, among his charities of choice.
BOARD LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
Rich Petriccione, PhD
Interim Vice President and Fundraising Sub-Committee Chairperson
Dr. Rich Petriccione is a former Chief Development Officer of Iona College, White Plains Hospital, as well as Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. He also served as Senior Vice President for Philanthropy, Community Relations & Volunteers for the 2014 NFL Super Bowl Host Committee at MetLife Stadium, as well as Founder and Executive Director of the Snowflake Youth Foundation. Dr. Petriccione began his professional career as a NCAA College Basketball Coach at Iona College and Florida State University before being named the country’s youngest NCAA Division I Athletics Director.
Through his firm Concourse Consulting, Rich works with school leaders, non-profit executives, athletic directors, and development professionals to help them design and implement successful fundraising and cause-related programs. Rich is proud Hayesman and member of Cardinal Hayes High School’s Class of 1977. He earned his BA and MA from Iona College in Organizational Communication and Public Relations. In 2009, Rich was conferred his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Fordham University. He is a member of AFP, a volunteer fundraiser in the health industry and has a long history of Board Service at Cardinal Hayes.
Cindy M. Perez, M. Ed.
Interim Vice President and Student and Staff Support Sub-Committee Chairperson
Ms. Cindy M. Perez began service as Director of Leadership Development Opportunities at Prep for Prep in 2018. The organization identifies and prepares top New York City students for matriculation at highly selective independent day and boarding preparatory schools. In her current role, Ms. Perez serves on Prep for Prep’s Executive Leadership Team and manages the organization’s College Guidance Department, as well as its Leadership Development Opportunities (LDO) and Professional Advancement Teams. With over 20 years at the organizaation, Ms. Perez began in 2000 as an Undergraduate Affairs Officer before transitioning to the role of College Counselor. While earning her Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University (and serving as Executive Coordinator for the university’s study abroad programs) Cindy continued to teach Psychology in Prep for Prep’s summer Preparatory Component. Ms. Perez returned to Prep for Prep full-time in 2010 as Director of College Guidance while concurrently serving as adjunct Academic Advisor in the evenings at CUNY’s Guttmann Community College– continuing that role as recently as Spring 2023 as part of her commitment to helping first-generation college students navigate and find success in Higher Education.
Ms. Perez serves on the Board of Advisors at Emory University as a non-alumna. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Hamilton College and has served multiple terms on Hamilton Alumni Council’s Executive Committee. Through service to Hamilton, Cindy was formally listed as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair of the school’s ambitious $400MM Because:Hamilton Fundraising Campaign Launch. Ms. Perez’ other accreditations include both Myers-Briggs (MBTI) and Human Resources Management Certifications. She is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and College Board and the College Access Consortium of New York (CACNY) and has volunteered with StreetWise Partners, The Fresh Air Fund, and Free Arts NYC, among other organizations. Ms. Perez is known to be organized, meticulous and mindful in her work and her professional publications relative to her service at Stokes Foundation include Perez, C., Shaw Horton, S., and Siasoco, R. (2014). The Educational Lifecycle of African American and Latino/a Students: From Middle School Preparation to College Admission & Completion
Ariel Cordero, MHA
Interim Vice President and Co-Chairperson, Stokes Foundation Associates Council
Mr. Ariel Cordero brings a unique lens and voice to his service on Stokes Foundation’s Board of Trustees as an Urban Boarding School alumnus and beneficiary of Stokes Foundation’s residential education framework during his high school years. A first-generation immigrant from the Dominican Republic and proud alumnus of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School’s Class of 2010, Ariel went on to receive a B.A. in Biological Sciences from SUNY Albany in 2014 and a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree, with a concentration in Health Policy and Management, from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in 2018.
In addition to high-performing internships at NYS Department of Health, Mount Sinai Health System, and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Ariel began his professional career as a Healthcare Administrator as a Marketing Representative with MetroPlus Health Plan, followed by two years as the Lead Project Coordinator at NeedyMeds, helping families with medical concerns avoid choosing between the costs of food/housing, and healthcare expenses. In 2018, Ariel began service as Digital Health Project Coordinator at New York-Presbyterian Hospital’s main office where he managed the development and implementation of digital health platforms for NYP’s network of hospitals. Most recently, Ariel served as a Business Analyst at Acquis Consulting Group and was recently promoted to an Associate at the Healthcare Consulting Firm.
In lieu of subcommittee service as a trustee, Ariel serves as co-chairperson of Stokes Foundation’s Associate’s Council of Emergent Young Professionals.
In addition to his service with Stokes Foundation, Ariel has served multiple terms (dating back to 2014) as Regional Treasurer at National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) a non-profit association of diverse health care executives promoting the advancement and development of diverse health care leaders, and elevating the quality of health care services rendered to minority and underserved communities. A true Loughlinite, Ariel wholeheartedly believes in the Bishop Loughlin and Stokes Foundation ethos that “of the person to whom much has been given, much will be expected!”
Rene John Sandy
Special Events Sub-Committee Chairperson
Rene John-Sandy II holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Syracuse University. Rene currently leverages decades of entertainment management experience, love of music, and key industry relationships to impact and inspire youth as co-founder and CEO of Hip Hop Loves Foundation, a nonprofit foundation which produces educational seminars and special projects grounded in hip-hop culture around the globe. A native New Yorker, Rene currently resides in Rio de Janiero, Brasil for most of the year. In joining the Board of Trustees at Stokes Foundation, Rene brings over twenty years of experience in talent management, entertainment marketing and brand management across the sports, music, food and beverage industries. Some of Rene’s current and recent clients include Top Chef Master Marcus Samuelsson, Fox Business correspondent and political strategist Tara Dowdell, renowned DJ Jon Quick, boxer and artist Vanessa Chakour and a cadre of global hip hop artists who often help facilitate global workshops and music fundraisers for Hip Hop Loves Foundation and non-profit partners like the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, KY.
Rene has spearheaded Hip Hop Loves workshops in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ottawa, Canada and New York City, among other locales, has lectured on the powers of motivating youth through sports and hip-hop at Brown University, and has also been featured in Black Enterprise Magazine.
Some of Rene’s other professional successes include launching Spitkicker, an urban lifestyle company and Omega Artist Management, a talent management firm. Through both of these companies, Rene, organized and promoted concert tours and music industry events, produced a weekly urban radio show on XM Satellite Radio and worked directly with talent including comedian Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, Common, De La Soul, and Yasiin Bey, the artist and actor (with over 20 feature films including The Italian Job, Something the Lord Made, 16 Blocks) formerly known as Mos Def. Rene also is the co-founder of Supernodes, a multi-cultural wine networking group which regularly organizes social events for diverse professionals in cities across the United States.
Rene’s work keeps him abroad a good part of the year and he views service at Stokes Foundation as a meaningful way to remain connected to making a direct impact on education back in the United States. To support Hip Hop Loves Foundation’s current Favela Project, and listen to the pertinent project, please click here.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
We are currently in the process of re-formation for our Board of Trustees and recruitment for our Associates Council of young, emergent leaders in philanthropy, who may be interested in joining our Board of Trustees in the future.
Please contact us via email if you would like to self-nominate, or nominate an appropriate candidate for Board Service or our Associates Council of Young Professionals or perhaps volunteer on our Board of Advisors, the latter structure being our non-governing and non-fiduciary group of mentors and resources.
ASSOCIATES COUNCIL OF EMERGENT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Mr. Ariel Cordero, MHA (Co-Chairperson)
Associate, Aquis Consulting Group
Mr. George Dawson, Jr.
Director of Alumni Engagement and Assistant Football Coach, Cardinal Hayes High School
Member, Fordham University Alumni Association Advisory Board
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Mr. David Banks, Eagle Academy Founder and Chancellor, NYCDOE
Ms. Jay Newton-Small, Founder and CEO, MemoryWell, Time Magazine Correspondent, Author
Dr. Eric Widmer and Dr. Meera Viswanathan, Former Head of School, Deerfield Academy
Dr. Margarita Curtis and Dr. Manning Curtis, Former Head of School, Deerfield Academy
Mr. G. Alan Fraker, Former Dean, Deerfield Academy and Montclair-Kimberely Academy
Mr. Randal Williams, Entrepreneur and Pro Athlete, Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders
Mr. Ryan FitzSimons, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Gigunda Group
Prince Hussain Aga Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Focused On Nature
Mr. Lou Martino, Acheson Doyle Partners, Architecture Firm
Dr. Carrie Beckstein Vargas, Psychologist, Regional Director, Natchaug Hospital
Mr. Frazer Rice, Northeast Regional Mr. Director, Pendleton Square Trust Company
Mr. Garrett James, Senior Software Engineer/Manager, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Mr. David Thiel, Education Strategy and Communications Consultant, Aptonym
Former Head of School, Tilton Academy and Assistant Head of School, Deerfield Academy
Ms. Brigitte Anderson, Principal, Orange Vista Consulting, LLC
OUR TRADITION OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE
Stokes Foundation | Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks Project 2012
Stokes Foundation | Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks Project 2013
STORYTELLING AND OUTCOMES
Stokes Foundation’s model and all intellectual properties were designed by Ray Walker, through collaboration with school partners in NYC’s first Urban Boarding School for young men.
We benefit from five years of remarkable on-site program data and the uniquely compelling first-hand accounts of former students, now adult professionals, as well as narratives from their parents, guardians and teachers.
Oshane's Story
“I remember during his first two years, having to hunt for Oshane during Study Hall or confiscate his phone or video gaming devices. He spent this time struggling with mediocrity and lack of focus. During his junior year, Oshane returned to school determined to succeed and he was always found working hard at his desk unless he had a group project or actually needed the computer lab. By junior and senior year, Oshane went from a perpetual 74 student to an excellent 96.8 student, a proctor and a leader in the dormitory. He ultimately graduated 6th in his class of 277 students and went on to earn the prestigious (full) Ujima Scholarship at Northeastern University.”
Oshane Davis, Loughlin '10 and Northeastern '15 Director of Enterprise Accounts at Ambition
"The habits that I developed in the dorm are the tools for success I utilize today."
Aaron's Story
“I had a 69 average last year. I could not find room for homework. Plus, at home if I didn’t understand something, I’d close my book and say, ‘Okay, I’ll do it tomorrow.’ Here, there are tutors or I can ask a counselor for help. At home I didn’t have a schedule. Now I follow one. I want to be here. I figure college will be like this and when I get there I’ll already be adjusted to living by myself.” Aaron’s GPA, now 84, is indicative of how well he is doing.
Read the full article here.
Medical Professional Aaron Temple, Loughlin '08 and Virginia State '12 in Dubai, 2018
"To describe the (urban boarding school) experience as life-transforming is an understatement."
STUDENT ACADEMIC PROGRESS
STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY
“Urban Boarding Schools provide an adequate education to those students for whom the cohesive educational and residential environment of a boarding school would address the unique disadvantages presently hindering their educational attainment.”
WAYS TO GIVE
Make checks payable to Stokes Foundation, enclose a note or indicate on the check memo line any designation or gift-in-memoriam note (optional) and mail to:
Stokes Foundation
184 Poppy Lane
Marlboro, New York 12542
Make your one-time or recurring donation securely online by visiting our donation page by clicking here, which uses Blackbaud Merchant Services for your security, or call us at (413) 453-9204. We will gladly take your credit card donation by phone privately with respect for the security of your data. Please do not email or fax your credit card information or enter it on any website that is not SSL Secured, indicated by a lock or green indicator in the browser bar.
Our donation page is able to process one-time gifts or you can set up recurring ACH Electronic Funds Transfers securely via Blackbaud Merchant Services. Under “Payment Type” simply select the EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) option instead of Credit/Debit Card and you will be prompted to enter your banking information securely.
You can also contact us by phone at (413) 453-9204 to speak with a member of our staff.
For donations via SWIFT international wire transfer, please contact Ray Walker, Executive Director by phone at (508) 873-7967 and he will provide you with options for international transfer.
Gifts of long-term appreciated stock (owned for a year or longer) or mutual funds offer a quick, easy and tax efficient way to make a lasting gift to Stokes Foundation.
Please note that our default best practices are to liquidate all securities upon receipt, unless otherwise specified.
Before the Transfer Occurs
In order for us to accurately identify, allocate and acknowledge your gift, please take a moment to notify Ray Walker, Executive Director directly at (508) 873-7967. Please note that Stokes Foundation cannot sell any securities which are anonymously received so it is imperative that we know the identification of the donor.
For Securities Held by Your Broker
If your broker (or bank) holds your securities, your gift can be electronically transferred to Stokes Foundation. Please contact Ray Walker, Executive Director directly at (508) 873-7967 to arrange for an electronic transfer to our Investment Banking Account.
For Securities Held by You
If you, the donor, hold a security, please send the unendorsed certificates with a letter of transmittal giving name and address to:
Ray Walker
Executive Director
Stokes Foundation
184 Poppy Lane
Marlboro, NY 12542
Phone: 413-774-1597
Fax 413-772-1113
In a separate envelope, mail to the same address a signed stock or bond power. The stock or bond power should be signed exactly as the certificate is registered, and do not fill in any other information. Do not re-register the shares into the name of Stokes Foundation. You may obtain blank stock powers from your broker or bank. Please include a letter stating the purpose of your gift with the certificate(s).
NOTE: It is very important to mail the security certificate and the signed power separately and it is recommended that the certificate be sent by certified mail with return receipt. If you have any questions, please call Ray Walker, Executive Director directly at (508) 873-7967.
Information provided on this website is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Please be sure to consult a qualified financial advisor before making a gift.
Donors can help secure the long-term financial health of the Stokes Foundation through gifts that come to the organization in the future or over a period of years. If you have any questions about various Planned Giving instruments, including Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA’s) please call Ray Walker, Executive Director at (508) 873-7967 to begin a dialogue and find a solution that meets you and your family’s needs.
Stokes Foundation is actively soliciting Real Estate assets that could be utilized for dormitories (must accommodate 8+ students and 2-3 staff and exist within proximity to a solid middle school or high school) or sold to help with Capital Expenses associated with residential education for students in-need. Please call Ray Walker, Executive Director at (508) 873-7967 to begin a dialogue and find a solution that meets you and your family’s wishes.
If you or your spouse are affiliated with an organization or employer that will match gifts to 501(c)3 organizations, please forward the matching gift form (obtained from the organization’s personnel office) along with your gift to Stokes Foundation. If making your gift online, please mail the matching gift form (including your name, address, date and amount of gift) to Stokes Foundation, 184 Poppy Lane, Marlboro, NY 12542.
For more information about setting up an employer matched gift for Stokes Foundation, please contact Ray Walker, Executive Director at (508) 873-7967.
If you are over age 70 ½, contact your IRA administrator for instructions on making a direct transfer (“Qualified Charitable Distribution”) to Stokes Foundation that will be free of federal income tax.
If you give using Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable or BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund, and any other Donor Advised Funds that eventually partner with DAF Direct, you can contact your advisor to learn more or you can click the following link directly to make a gift to Stokes Foundation using DAF Direct if you are already familiar with how it works.
In most cases, it can be helpful to inform us when your Donor Advised Fund provider has been given instructions to make a gift to Stokes Foundation on your behalf. We are a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization and can provide documentation that your provider may need. If you are making a donation via Donor Advised Fund, please notify Ray Walker, Executive Director of the expected gift amount and Donor Advised Fund provider’s company name at (508) 873-7967.
If you would like to make a non-monetary gift or have your company serve as a sponsor for an upcoming event in exchange for advertising, please discuss feasibility with Ray Walker, Executive Director at (508) 873-7967.
To learn more about our current sponsorship opportunities for your business or brand, please visit https://stokesfoundation.org/sponsorships.
Stokes Foundation is constantly planning for future generations of students in the U.S.
If you would like to set up an Endowment Gift to Stokes Foundation, please contact Ray Walker at (508)873-7967 or email [email protected] Your gift’s principal would remain restricted and invested for the long-term, with the returns on that investment sustaining our foundation work perpetually or for a specified period of time.
A SNAPSHOT OF OUR MODEL
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE STUDENTS OF LASALLE HALL
ACADEMIC HONORS
• 1st and 2nd semester 4 of 20 students earned Academic Honors.
• 3rd semester 5 of 20 students earned Academic Honors.
• 4th semester 7 of 20 students earned Academic Honors.
• 3 of 20 students were able to consistently remain on Honor Roll for the entire year.
• 1 Junior (11th Grade) student earned the benchmark of First Honors (90+ Average) and was not an Honor Student at all in prior years.
STUDENT AND FAMILY DEMOGRAPHICS
• 16 of 20 students came from a single parent/guardian home.
• Average total yearly family income was $29,402.
• 6 of 20 families received some form of Public Assistance.
REASON FOR APPLYING TO AN URBAN BOARDING SCHOOL PROGRAM
• 68% of our students stated “to improve my grades…”
• 58% of our students stated “to experience college and dorm life…”
• 53% of our students stated “to prepare for college…”
• 44% of our students stated “getting away from difficulties at home or to be in a safe place…”
COLLEGE DISPOSITION AND TIME MANAGEMENT
• Prior to coming to the boarding program, only 47% of our students rated their likelihood of completing 4+ years of college as either 4 or 5 out of 5.
• After completing a year of urban boarding school life, 74% of our students rated their likelihood of completing 4+ years of college as 4 or 5 out of 5.
• Prior to coming to the boarding program, only 28% of our students stated their time management skills were “good or excellent”. After one year, 58% of our students feel their time management skills are now “good or excellent”.
• Prior to coming to the boarding program, 32% of our students rated their study habits as “poor”. After one year, only 16% of our students still feel their study habits are “poor”.
• Prior to coming to the boarding program, only 68% of our students stated that they completed at least ¾ of each night’s homework. After one year, 89% of our students state that they complete all of their homework assignments every night.
AFTER SCHOOL PARTICIPATION DATA
• Prior to coming to the boarding program, only 44% of our students stated that they participated in 5+ hours of after school programming per week.
• After joining the boarding program, 92% of our students state that they participate in 5+ hours of after school programming per week.
• In fact, data shows that our 20 students actually averaged 54.5 hours of afterschool programming per week last school year, prior to joining the boarding program.
•Data furthermore indicates that our 20 students currently average 166.5 hours of afterschool programming per week, which translates to an average of roughly 8 hours per week of after school engagement, per student.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
• Prior to coming to the boarding program 63% of our students stated that they exercised (at least 30 minutes of activity) at least three days per week. After joining the boarding program, 84% of our students state that they exercise at least three days per week.
• Prior to coming to the boarding program 59% of our students consistently ate at least two meals per day. Currently, 100% of our students respond that they consistently eat at least two meals per day.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Urban boarding schools are unique residential schools designed to serve the needs of students in under-resourced urban communities. While they offer the kind of structure, support, and commitment to academic excellence found in traditional boarding schools, they allow students to remain in local communities and encourage family engagement. They differ from residential programs or group residences that are remedial or rehabilitative in nature.
There are still only very few examples nationwide including Stokes Foundation, SEED Foundation, and a few others.
Students eat breakfast and then spend the day in class, just as they would at a regular day school. After school, they have a quick snack and participate in a mandatory athletic or extracurricular offering of choice at school. After returning to the dormitory and washing up, students sit down to a nutritious dinner in the dorm. After dinner, every student is required to return to their room or study areas for study hall. The dorm is quiet for two hours and senior students, tutors, and staff proctor the hours of study and are on hand to offer academic help to any student needing it. Urban boarding schools in our five day model are typically open Monday – Friday; students return home on weekends and over summer and school vacations unless weekend activities are on our calendar.
Yes. Research has shown that providing a structured routine, positive relationships with adult role models, high expectations and academic support can have an enormous effect on student achievement. Roland Fryer, Professor of Economics at Harvard, used SEED, a chain of urban boarding schools, as a model to study the issue and concluded, “The impact of SEED on student achievement is significantly larger than that of the average charter school.” Boarding students raised math and reading scores, improved their health, and were significantly more likely to attend college than their peers, even though admission, by lottery, is random. Read the full study:
An article in The Atlantic, “The Rise of Urban Public Boarding Schools,” discussed some of the other benefits residential schools can offer, like extra time to meet students’ emotional and psychological needs. Read the full article:
While all urban boarding schools share a commitment to supporting underserved youth, starting a school from the ground up and providing around-the-clock support is expensive. Stokes Foundation is unique because we bring the boarding component to existing day schools. A number of schools, particularly parochial schools in low-income neighborhoods, own buildings that are underused or empty. Partnering with these schools to convert existing buildings to dormitories and manage residential life is less expensive and more efficient than starting from scratch, and allows teachers to focus on what they do best – teaching. Rather than administering proprietary sports teams and extracurriculars, Stokes partners with city clubs and leagues, so often day students and boarding students at our partner schools have access to top-notch, city-wide programming without a huge price tag.
Larger programs using our model benefit from economies of scale that small programs might not receive. Our cost-per-student ranges from $28,000 to $40,000 including meals, staffing, tutoring, paid school tuition costs (if applicable) and all annual operating expenses divided by the total number of students in the program.
For the price of one scholarship to a highly selective Independent School, Stokes Foundation can provide a residential option for 2-3 students in-need.
The ability to build a small or large residential programs, depending on situational access to real estate assets, allows our overarching program model to remain highly agile.
Students attending, or planning to attend a partner school, who are referred by teachers, guidance counselors, or community resoruces can apply to the residential program. Generally, there is a sense that the student may be struggling or under-performing academically or behaviorally, but would thrive with some additional support.
Stokes Foundation utilizes a risk and resilience model for admissions process, working closely with school faculty, administrators and admissions staff to identify a mix of students who could benefit from the boarding experience, all of whom have some risk (a clear need) and also have demonstrated some of the core resiliencies required to succeed in a residential education setting.
In some cases our school partnerships involve tuition fees, Stokes Foundation provides a scholarship for the tuition expense, room and board, meals/snacks. Families are required to pay for school uniforms and books, if applicable (support is available). Families submit their Federal Tax Returns prior to admission and based on their AGI, remit an often-nominal family contribution based on a sliding scale.
Depending upon income, a low-income family could attend for free (public assistance recipients who also have no income).
“The moment Ray Walker and Stokes Foundation got involved with the PAL, sharing ideas, re-structuring our brand and website, and supporting our mission through funding, volunteers and resources, it was like our PAL had an infusion of energy and Stokes Foundation had army of volunteers in our facility for two consecutive summer renovation projects of the Jersey City YMCA Facility… Stokes is much more than just a funding source.”
-Lieutenant Frank Williams, Former Executive Director, Jersey City PAL
UPCOMING EVENTS
