Paying for It

Taking fifteen high schoolers to Rome will cost $27,000. Individual friends of the school and foundations are covering $24,000. Students' families are each paying $100. The remaining $1,500 is being raised by students themselves.

Recently, students identified likely funding sources in the community: Ron's Ice Cream Parlor. A favorite camp director. A church. They composed letters to these organziations and then solicited them in person.

A young man named Vladimir is our leading fundraiser to date: he's had some success with his local McDonalds, where the staff appreciate his unfailing courtesy.

I met Vladimir in February of 2004. That winter, I slogged across Boston with a laptop and a projector and shared a PowerPoint, recruiting students for our still nonexistent school. The night I staked out the Fields Corner library, Vladimir and his family were my entire audience. Yet they eagerly sat through my presentation with smiles on their faces. When I was done, Vladimir raised his hand: "Mr. McCue, will I be able to take advanced work at Boston Prep?" I assured him that he would, and he visibly relaxed.

School hasn't always been easy for Vladimir, but he's persevered and held his chin high. Now he's doing everything he can to get to Rome.

(Vladimir and his sister--the day he was admitted to BPCPS.)