Our Impact
high school graduation rate
100%
college enrollment
99%
of alumni earn a college degree within six years of high school graduation
74%
program alumni
345
current College Bound Program students
235
100% of NJ LEEP students graduate high school; 99% of them enroll in college and 74% of NJ LEEP alumni have graduated from college within six years of high school graduation.
The long-term personal financial and community effects of enrolling in and completing post-secondary education are significant, as is the ability for NJ LEEP’s work with students to have an impact on their longer-term economic mobility. A 2019 report by the College Board amplifies the positive financial outcomes for college graduates and the impacts on long-term finances and stability. Based on their research, in 2018, the median earnings of bachelor’s degree recipients with no advanced degree working full time were $24,900 higher than those of a high school graduate.
Student Spotlight
Samuel DaSilva, NJ LEEP Class of 2025
Finding His Voice
Sam came to NJ LEEP as a quiet freshman, uncertain about public speaking. Now, after winning Debater of the Year in 2023, he's helping other students find their voice. Through NJ LEEP's Debate program, Sam didn't just become a champion debater – he discovered a passion for public speaking and mentoring his peers. After enduring the pandemic, Sam found more than just a program in NJ LEEP; he found a family that sparked his love for learning and opened his eyes to new possibilities.
In Sam's Own Words: The Impact of NJ LEEP
"NJ LEEP was where I discovered the true power of a growth mindset. This mindset has become the anchor of my high school journey and extends into every aspect of my life. Through debate competitions and cultural exchanges, NJ LEEP has opened my eyes to new perspectives and enriched my understanding of the world. When I look back through my journal at how far I've come over these four years, I know my freshman self would be amazed. NJ LEEP showed me that success isn't just about talent – it's about dedication, hard work, and the willingness to learn from every experience."
NJ LEEP in the News
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NJ LEEP Collaborates with Corporations to Empower Newark’s Workforce
September 14, 2023
Panasonic North America collaborates with NJ LEEP to provide students with immersive week-long learning experiences at their headquarters, exposing them to diverse business areas and career paths.
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MacKenzie Scott Donates $2M to Newark's NJ LEEP Among $8M NJ Grants
March 20, 2024
NJ LEEP receives $2 million through MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Foundation 'Open Call' initiative. NJ LEEP is among five New Jersey nonprofits selected to share in $8 million in grants, part of a broader $640 million nationwide philanthropic effort.
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Senator Helmy Urges Action on FAFSA Issues
October 18, 2024
Senator George Helmy calls for the Department of Education to address issues with the 2024-2025 FAFSA application, which has disrupted financial aid access for low-income and first-generation students. Matthew Feinstein, Executive Director of NJ LEEP, emphasized the lasting impact of these delays, warning that students are making under-informed decisions about higher education.
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Newark Schools Partner with NJ LEEP to Expand College Access
November 1, 2024
Newark Public Schools announces a transformative partnership with NJ LEEP, funded by MacKenzie Scott's $8M Yield Giving Foundation grant. The pilot program launches at Central and East Side High Schools, aiming to provide enhanced college preparation resources and support for first-generation and low-income students.
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NJ LEEP Student Earns Full QuestBridge Scholarship to UPenn
January 2, 2025
East Side High School senior Claudia Ferreira has been awarded a full QuestBridge scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, where she plans to major in biology. An active NJ LEEP participant, Claudia serves in multiple leadership roles, including National Honor Society treasurer and yearbook club co-vice president.
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NJ LEEP Scholar Sam Da Silva Earns Full Ride to Columbia
April 8, 2025
Samuel Da Silva, an NJ LEEP scholar from East Side High School, earned a full scholarship to Columbia University through the QuestBridge Program. Raised in Newark’s Ironbound, he plans to study mechanical engineering, driven by a passion he's had since childhood.
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NJ LEEP Scholar Angel Ortiz Accepted to 7 Ivy League Universities
April 10, 2025
Angel Ortiz, a senior at Arts High School in Newark, has been accepted to seven Ivy League universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. He’s exploring his options as he prepares to study political science and decides which school is the right fit for his next chapter.
Yield Giving and Lever for Change announced that NJ LEEP received a $2 million gift as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States! This gift will enable our organization to deepen our investment in students from the Greater Newark area obtaining a college degree.
This investment is a recognition of the talent and potential of past, current, and future NJ LEEP students and we are honored and humbled to have the opportunity to support them in pursuing their dreams.
Our Supporters
NJ LEEP would like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their generous support of our programming during our 2024 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024).
Anonymous
Anonymous
Dan & Janet Schiff
George Link, Jr. Foundation
$50,000+
Gregory K. Palm
M&T Weiner Foundation
MacKenzie Scott/Yield Giving
New Jersey State Bar Foundation
Susan L. Blount
Verizon
Victoria Foundation
Wilf Family Foundations
Barclays
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Jerry Webman & Susan Ginsburg
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
$25,000-$49,999
Prudential Foundation
PwC
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
State Street
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Williams & Connolly LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
WilmerHale
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Amanda Rose Laura Foundation
Ameet & Trina Mallik
Benjamin S. Levine Foundation
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Clifford Chance LLP
David W. Pollak
$15,000-$24,999
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Dentons
DLA Piper
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Goodwin Procter LLP
Jones Day
New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
Nyron Latif
Paul Hastings LLP
Prudential Financial, Inc.
SRD Legal Group
Zachary D. Surak
Anonymous
ArentFox Schiff LLP
Arnold & Porter
Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation
Blue Owl
Bristol Myers Squibb
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
Covington & Burling LLP
Craig Silliman
Equitable
Gibbons P.C.
$10,000-$14,999
Herbert Smith Freehills
Hogan Lovells LLP
Johnson & Johnson
K&L Gates LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Mayer Brown LLP
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
McGuireWoods LLP
Novartis
Pfizer
PSEG
Sally C. Walsh
Sidley Austin LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP
The Orange Orphan Society
Thomas & Maureen Byrne
Timothy P. Harris
Verizon Foundation
Vinson & Elkins
American Express
Anonymous
Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
Cole Schotz P.C.
Connell Foley LLP
Consilio
Cowen
Crowell & Moring Foundation
Deutsche Bank
Epiq
Eric Schwimmer
Fisher & Phillips, LLP
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
$5,000-$9,999
Glen E. Tullman
Groom Law Group, Chartered
Holland & Knight
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ
Jackson Lewis P.C.
José R. González & Christine Soto
Joshua Webman
King & Spalding LLP
Marc Larkins
McKinsey & Company
Morrison & Foerster LLP
NJM Insurance Group
Panasonic
QuisLex
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton
LLP
Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Tower Legal Solutions
White & Case LLP
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Yardi Systems, Inc.
Zenola Harper
Andrew D. Luster
Angela G. Foster
Ann Kappler
Annette Mathew
Audible, Inc.
Axiom
Ayanna Taylor
Bartholomew A. Sheehan
D. Casey C. Kobi
Daniel Eliades
David Ginsburg
Dawei Ni
Dean C. Pappas
Deloitte
Diane J. McCabe
Duane Morris LLP
Endeavor
Erica Davila
Erin K. Powrie
Evan C. Williams
Everest Re
Fenwick & West
Foley & Lardner
$1,000-$4,999
Geycel Best
Gregg Harting
Gregory H. Barkan
Guggenheim Partners
Inglesino, Webster, Wyciskala & Taylor, LLC
Jason Driansky
Jeannine Bruin
Jennifer Bender
Jennifer S. Medrano
John Jacobi
John P. Frantz
Karol Corbin Walker
Kshitij Mohta
Lee Shapiro
Lisbeth Warren
Lorie E. Almon
Mandee R. Gruen
Marty & Judy Scherzer
Matthew Farkas
Merck & Co., Inc
Nagaraja R. Srivatsan
Nick Huth
Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C.
Owen Littman
Pamela Gannon
Patricia C. Morgan
Piper Sandler
Porzio Bromberg & Newman PC
PSE&G Foundation
Rasheed Adewole
Rémy P. deVarenne
RoseAnn Baska
Samir A. Gandhi
Samuel Tansley
Shearman & Sterling LLP
Silicon Valley Bank
Simons Foundation
Steven Tugentman
Suzanne Scanlon
Tanenbaum Keale LLP
Tara Favors
Vanguard
Victor Herlinksky
Wakefern Food Corp.
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