WHAT IS A BETTER CHANCE (ABC)?

A Better Chance is a national program started in the 1960s to help “academically talented and motivated students of color realize their academic and social potential…”   A Better Chance member schools include leading independent boarding and day schools and select public school programs.

The success of each Public School Program rests on the community’s sense of involvement and the ability of the community to raise, from its own resources, the money needed to operate the residence and provide for the well-being of the Scholars.

Public School Program communities benefit from the talent, energy and diversity which A Better Chance Scholars bring to them, while providing the students with outstanding college preparation and opportunities for personal growth.”*

*quoted from the Host Family Handbook, published by A Better Chance, 88 Black Falcon Ave., Boston, MA 02210

 

GUILFORD A BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM

In Guilford the residence program is for up to six young women of high school age, all from the greater New York City area.  Applications to the program are made to the national organization, which screens the applicants and provides the names to the individual programs selected.   The Guilford program provides housing, meals, and tutoring.

Each student is matched with a host family, with whom they spend one weekend a month during the school year.

 

CURRENT STAFF

There is a Resident Director, who lives in an apartment at the student residence, the ABC House in Guilford.    A cook prepares evening meals five days a week for the students.

 

HISTORY

The Guilford High School program, which started in 1974, is one of the oldest in Connecticut. Over the past 26 years there have been an average of 6 girls per year, and graduates have attended the following colleges and universities:

Barnard, Boston University, Bryant, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Denison, Duke, Fairfield University, Fordham, Georgetown, Marist, Muhlenberg, NYU, Northwestern, Ohio State, Ohio Wesleyan, Paine, Quinnipiac, Rutgers, Smith, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Empire State, Trinity, University of Central Florida, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, University of Redlands, University of Virginia, Vassar, Wellesley, and Wesleyan.

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Twenty-four local residents make up the Board of Directors. They are responsible for selecting the students, supporting their academic and social experience, maintaining the residence, and raising funds to support the program.

 

THE BUDGET

The operating budget is in excess of $90,000 per year, covering staff, food, utilities, house maintenance, enrichment expenses and supplies. All funds are raised locally, primarily from our annual appeal, proceeds from The Hole in the Wall and The Secret Gardens tour.