2008 - 2009 School Year
Hogg MS
The P4L Robotics group had a great time at the Lone Star Regional’s For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) tournament. Although they were the only middle school kids at this high school competition, our students finished with five wins, were ranked 19 out of 46 high schools, and had the privilege of being alternate finalists.
In addition, the P4L Robotics team won 1st place in all categories-- video, robotics, and overall at the HISD Impact II competition held in January.
The P4L dance group at Hogg received a special session from the Houston Ballet. The Houston Ballet performers were so moved by our kids that they invited them to attend the “Cinderella” dress rehearsal and allowed them to take part in behind scenes set-ups. In addition, our dance kids have performed at various engagements including Lights in the Heights and HISD’s Fine Arts Fridays.
Fondren
P4L kids at Fondren have been selected to participate in a mentor program sponsored by the Houston Police Department (HPD) and the Cooperative for After-School Education (CASE). The kick-off event was a success as stakeholders including Fondren principal Brenda Rangel, P4L Site Leader Tasha Kelley, P4L board member Gary Eagleton, and former HPD chief C.O. Bradford pledged their support for this worthwhile program.
Edison
P4L hosted a Lemonade Day concert with rapper J Xavier. Xavier, who is regarded for positive messages in his music, stressed the importance of school achievement and entrepreneurship as he encouraged kids to get involved with Lemonade Day.
Amegy Bank representatives were also on hand at the concert to sign-up kids for Lemonade Day and
savings accounts.
Marshall
In January, Marshall site leader Chino Perez, took a group of P4L girls to the Expanding Your Horizons: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) conference at The Rice School/La Escuela Rice. The girls learned about entrepreneurship and empowerment for women in the STEM fields.
Ortiz
The Houston Texans sponsored our P4L flag football team at their Texans Youth Football Camp this week.
The P4L cooking class prepared the meal for the HISD East Region’s fine arts performance at Chavez High School in May.
Stevenson
In January, the P4L Drumline performed in Galveston's annual Mardi Gras Parade.
The month, the P4L theater class will presents "Alice In Wonderland". The kids have created, built and painted the set. In addition, MAC Makeup is donating cosmetics along with fifteen professional artists to do make up for the characters.
Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)
The P4L Youth Advisory Committee was chosen to participate in the Teen Judging Panel of the 2008 Rice University Business Plan Competition. This yearly event, sponsored by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, gives our kids the opportunity to select the best Elevator Pitch and award that team a $1,000 cash prize. Prior to judging the competition, our kids will meet the founder of Pace Entertainment Corporation Allen Becker, who is a national leader in the production of live entertainment.
June 14, 2007
A Seminar on Broadcast Media at Stevenson Middle School Part of The Summer Brill Kids Talks Programming: Over 500 middle school students from the Prepared4Life summer programs gathered today for a seminar on Broadcast Media hosted by their partner, The Brilliant Lectures Series - Conversation with Brilliance, and sponsored in part by Peoples Trust Federal Credit Union, Schlumberger and Capital One. The event took place at Stevenson Middle School in southeast Houston. read more
25 April 2007
Middle School Fashionistas Share Runway with International Designer Gerardo Dragonetti: Prepared 4 Life students show their designs at the Latin Women’s Initiative annual fashion show.
download PDF | view photos
18 April 2007
Middle Schoolers Meet Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan,
“Up Close”: On Monday evening, 11-year-old Christopher Izaguirre shook hands and introduced himself to of one of the most respected international figures of our time, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Izaguirre was one of 50 Prepared 4 Life middle schoolers that attended the Secretary-General’s lecture at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, April 16 at 7 p.m. thanks to a generous donation from BP, plc. download PDF
5 December 2006
Appreciation Night: Edison Middle School students took time to thank parents, family members, friends and instructors for their support of the students’ participation in the Prepared 4 Life after-school program at Appreciation Night. read more | view photos
10 October 2006New photos: Nike partners with Prepared 4 Life. As part of their company-wide community service day, Nike provided training from Velocity Sports Performance and shoes to deserving students in the P4L running programs.
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3 October 2006
Prepared 4 Life announces a generous new gift from Rockwell Fund, Inc. On Sept. 19 Rockwell Fund’s Board of Trustees pledged a $300,000 multi-year grant in support of Prepared 4 Life’s ongoing operations. The grant will allocate $100,000 per year for each of the next three years to the organization’s operating fund, providing a sound base of financial stability. more...
14 September 2006
In the news: Local Business Leader Brightens Future for Kids, Houston (from Houston Business Connections). As he checked out the custom-made low-rider bicycles on display in the Ortiz Middle School gymnasium, successful tech entrepreneur Michael Holthouse was just as excited as the group of seventh grade boys who clamored to sign up for an after-school program where they will learn to build their own two-wheel works of art.
more...
8 September 2006
In the news: Profitable entrepreneur invests in philanthropy (From Houston Business Journal). Houston entrepreneur Michael Holthouse has transferred his passion for building profitable businesses to developing programs in the nonprofit sector.
more...
25 August 2006
In the news: Unique After School Program Teaches Life Skills (from KUHF 88.7FM). Thousands of middle school students will learn life skills and character development through a new Houston-area after-school program. As Houston Public Radio's Laurie Johnson reports, Prepared 4 Life uses hip hop, low-rider bikes and drumlines to get kids excited about responsibility. more...
New Photos: Nearly 1,000 Ortiz Middle School students gathered in the school gymnasium to sign up for Prepared 4 Life after-school programs. View album...
21 August 2006
Beyond the classroom 2006: Prepared 4 Life will offer programs at six HISD middle schools this year. On Friday, students at Ortiz Middle School will crowd into the gym not for a pep rally or an assembly, but to sign up for fun and exciting after-school activities being offered by Prepared for life. more...
24 July 2006
New Photos: P4L Youth Advisory Committee members review report card designs.
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22 July 2006
New Photos: P4L site leaders and program providers prepare for new school year at a fun offsite retreat.
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17 July 2006
FYI [FUN YOUTH INVOLVEMENT]: STUDENTS DESIGN THEIR OWN REPORT CARDS
On July 6 Prepared 4 Life gathered a crew of innovative thinkers at the Galleria headquarters to develop the “FYI Card,” a tool to evaluate student performance in the P4L program. This brainstorming session wasn’t a typical business meeting, though. These movers and shakers were thirteen years old. more...
17 July 2006
New Photos: Students design their own report cards.
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10 July 2006
PREPARED 4 LIFE ANNOUNCES STAFF, BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Debbie Dalton has been named vice president of Resource Development for Prepared 4 Life, a non-profit organization instilling life skills, character education and entrepreneurialism in Houston middle-school students via after-school programs. more...