Founded in the mid-1990s, the Challenge Foundation supports smart and hard-working students, with the goal of helping them escape the cycle of poverty. The foundation has adopted a whole-student approach to this cause, offering its scholars tuition scholarships and support services customized to meet their needs.
The Challenge Foundation runs a summer program for Challenge Scholars about to enter the sixth through ninth grades. The program is a requirement for the scholars, and provides them with various cultural and academic opportunities.
Thanks to the summer program, Challenge Scholars are able to transition successfully into more competitive independent school environments. It lasts six weeks, and builds on the students’ skills in reading, writing, critical thinking, and math. The Challenge Scholars also learn how to use technology to engage in research and to present the information they have learned.
Moreover, the scholars benefit from activities that enhance their teamwork and leadership skills, as well as those that focus on risk taking and community building. These activities include athletics, outdoor adventure trips, and college visits.