Kareem Cope: A Pebble in the Pond

Kareem Update: February 7, 2010
Kareem just received the first report card for his second term and has increased his average across six subjects to a 93. This is a strong improvement. On the sports-front, Kareem was named Offensive MVP of the football team, helping the team to a winning record of 4 wins, 3 losses. Kareem gained over a 1,000 yards in a seven game season. The team won just one game the year before.
We held a Meet Kareem fundraiser at the home of Charlie & Carol Taney on February 6, 2010. Over forty people braved the frigid weather to attend. We had a great time and raised $2,450. Kareem shared a some words with the assembled crowd and took questions. He did a good job. We also heard from Sam Keator, Kareem's advisor at Forman. Sam had many positive things to say about how Kareem is fitting into, and adding to, the Forman School. Perhaps Sam's comments are best summed up by his quote that "Kareem is taking full advantage of his opportunity at Forman. He is very focused and working hard".
We have now raised $24,500 towards our goal of $30,000. If you know of anyone who would like to join Team Kareem, please pass along this link to our online donation site; http://charlieco.com/kareem
Thanks and regards,
Charlie Taney

Kareem's First Report Card: November 2, 2009
On his first report card, Kareem has acheived an 83 average across six subjects. Sam Keator, his advisor said, ""Kareem is doing quite well and Forman is a good fit for him. I truly believe that his experience here will put him in a great position to enjoy success in the college classroom."

Kareem is also doing well on the football field, leading the team to a winning record and recently named Athlete of the Week.

All in all, Kareem is off to a strong start at Forman. Kareem, his family and I are extremely grateful to everyone who is helping Kareem realize his dream.

Charlie T., 11/16/09

Kareem's Outlook on Attending Forman: August 31, 2009
This fall for the 2009-2010 school year I will be attending the Forman boarding school. When I found out I was accepted, I became really happy. The reason is that I feel the Forman School is a good fit for me and my education. I also feel I can have a big impact on the football team.

First, my feeling about attending the Forman school is exciting, worried and ready to experience new things in life. My attendance at Forman will be exciting because I want to show the staff at the school that I am a hard working student and will not give up til the work is done. That includes on and off the football field. Next I feel challenged because it's my first year attending school away from home. Also, adapting to a new environment and most important not being around my family. I think the best part about Forman is going to be experiencing new things that I never got to see. Getting help when I need it and just being around students who dedicate theselves to school.

Secondly, being on such a beautiful campus with the right people is a really good feeling I have inside. I am proud to be part of the Forman School. I can't wait to start the school year. I am ready to meet new students and ready to take that first football snap.

In conclusion I am really excited to be part of the Forman School. The Forman School is a good fit for me.


Message from Charlie Taney, Advocate for Kareem Cope


I have been working with Kareem Cope and his family since December, 2008 to help Kareem fulfill his dream of going to college. On August 6, 2009, Kareem was accepted at the Forman School, an independent school located in Litchfield, CT. Forman is one of the leading independent schools for students with learning differences. Kareem will be at Forman for two years. He will repeat his junior year and then move on to his senior year. Outlined below, please find information on how I became Kareem’s advocate, my perspective on Kareem and how we plan to meet the Forman financial challenge.

How I became Kareem Cope’s Advocate


For the past three and a half years, I have been the Director of Marketing & Development at SoundWaters, a non-profit based in Stamford, CT whose mission is to protect Long Island Sound through education. SoundWaters has a paid internship program for high school students. The students begin by volunteering and then are selected for the paid internship program. As a sophomore, in the 2007/2008 academic year, Kareem volunteered at SoundWaters. This led to a paid internship in the just-completed 2008/2009 academic year. In the fall of 2008, I first got to know Kareem. Kareem is a talented football player at Wright Tech in Stamford and I played high school and college football. Our conversations about Kareem’s football experience were the beginning of our relationship. As we got to know each other, it became clear that Kareem has a real interest in going to college. In late 2008, I told Kareem that I had worked with my four children in getting them all into college and offered Kareem my help in the college process. Kareem took me up on the offer. We had a meeting with his parents, who are from Jamaica. They are 100% supportive of Kareem’s desire to go to college, but unfamiliar with how to meet the challenges of the entire college process. Kareem’s parents welcomed my involvement and provided a letter authorizing me to act as his advocate. This letter provided an introduction to, and clearance to work with, various teachers, counselors and coaches at Wright Tech.

My Experience With Kareem


I have become a believer in Kareem. It began when Kareem came to SoundWaters on his own volition, seeking to improve himself. Then, he took me up on my offer to help him with his dream to go to college, another sign of his self-directed commitment. Since we began working together, I made it a habit to give Kareem something he had to accomplish after each of our meetings. Examples; getting me appointments with his guidance counselor or football coach, setting meetings with his parents, completing independent school applications, working with his parents on the input information for the SSS financial aid online application, following up on getting a good summer job. Kareem has been diligent and never let me down.
More importantly, I challenged Kareem to improve his grades after an “ok” performance on his first trimester report and to become a leader in the off-season workout program for the Wright Tech football team. Kareem stepped up and improved his grades in both the 2nd and 3rd trimester. And, his football coach reports that Kareem became much more faithful in showing up at the off season workout program and showed leadership in recruiting other players to participate.
Kareem has some serious ground to make up in his academic background and he has some learning differences that he must deal with. However, I believe in my heart that this young man has tremendous grit, ambition and courage. Given the chance, Kareem will blossom into a real success story. He will become the proverbial “pebble in the pond” whose personal journey will have a profound impact on the large number of people he will touch over the course of his life.


Meeting the Forman Financial Challenge


The total tuition, room and board for Forman will be $55,250 per year. Forman has granted $25,000 in financial aid to Kareem. I have personally signed the Forman contract taking resonsibility for raising the remaining $30,250 per year. Here is my plan for raising the remaining $30,2500:


Cope family: I recently met with Kareem and both of his parents. All of us are excited about the prospect of Kareem attending Forman. I asked them to identify an annual figure that they could commit to and they have committed to $2,000 per year. This may not sound like a lot. However, given their economic circumstances and other family commitments, this is a substantial and difficult commitment by Kareem’s parents.


Taney family: Our family has committed $4,000 per year.

Personal Networking: I will work with my network of friends and colleagues to raise $15,000-$20,000.

Foundations & Professional Associations: My goal is to raise $5,000-$10,000 from foundations and professional associations such as the Black MBA's.

I am aiming to raise the required funds by the end of calendar 2009.