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Friday, May 18, 2012

Contact:  Jacqueline M. Northrop,  313.595.5546, jacqueline@scarletcomm.com

Detroit, MI – Rhonda Walker, WDIV Local 4 news anchor, and the dedicated board of directors and volunteers of the Rhonda Walker Foundation (RWF) will host the sixth annual “Scholar Power” Scholarship Breakfast for their 2012 high school graduates and their families on Saturday, May 19th, 2012. The event is free of charge and will take place from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Westin Hotel located at 1500 Town Center Drive, in Southfield, Michigan.

“I am proud to share that we currently have a 100% high school graduation rate among all of the Detroit Public Schools teens that have completed our five year program and a 100% college enrollment and college graduation rate among them as well,” says Rhonda Walker, Founder of the Rhonda Walker Foundation. “These types of accomplishments within the foundation are one of the many reasons why the Scholar Power Breakfast is such an important and staple event for our girls and volunteers.”

At the Scholar Power Breakfast, attendees will learn more about RWF and its positive impact on the teens that are served in addition to witnessing the honoring of the RWF graduating seniors, with well-deserved scholarships for college. These students have helped raise over $35,000 dollars for this scholarship fund since the inception of the scholarship program. Additionally, over $30,000 dollars have been awarded to qualified RWF seniors over the last five years!”

Those who may not be able to attend but want to support the student scholarship fund are encouraged to donate $25 toward the fund by visiting the RWF website at: http://rhondawalkerfoundation.org/news/scholar-power/.

Additional information about the Foundation and other RWF programs can be found on the Rhonda Walker Foundation website at www.rhondawalkerfoundation.org.

The RWF was founded in 2003 with the mission through our core “Girls into Women” Program to empower inner city teen girls towards becoming strong, confident, successful and moral future leaders. Since our inception eight years ago, we have been accomplishing this mission with the support of our sponsors and volunteers, through monthly programs, workshops and activities. Our career development programs include mentoring, a self-esteem building summer camp, cross country college tours, extensive etiquette, public speaking, goal setting and confidence training, community outreach projects with homeless women and children, and so much more. The dream of founder, Rhonda Walker, is to literally transform the ‘Girls into Women’ while in our program over a five year period, from the 8th grade until they graduate from high school. The program includes an ardent focus on instilling in every student the expectation that college is a must. It means not only preparing them for college with school visits, assistance with college applications, financial aid and scholarships but also providing support while they are in college.”

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Download the Scholar Power press release.

There is no charge to attend. We are simply requesting your presence so you can help us honor our scholarship recipients and experience first-hand how your support can make young girls’ dreams a reality.

At this wonderful event, you will learn more about the RWF and its positive impact on the teens we serve as we honor our RWF graduating seniors with well deserved scholarships for college. These students have helped raised over 35,000 dollars for this scholarship fund since the inception of our scholarship program and over 30,000 dollars has been awarded to our qualifying RWF seniors over the last five years!

To reserve your space at Scholar Power, email Kim Walker, Scholar Power Committee Chair, at kwalker@rhondawalkerfoundation.org.  The RSVP deadline is May 14th.  Hope you’ll join us.

If you can’t attend, please consider making a donation of $25 to support Scholar Power and the RWF Scholarships.  Click here to donate to Scholar Power.

Download the Scholar Power Press Release.

“It’s been an awesome and humbling year for me,” said Rhonda. “To be blessed to receive these awards on behalf of the RWF is more than I could have imagined.  Everyone who is a part of the RWF shares in this success. Our teens, volunteers, and board members all made this possible. This recognition is something we all worked hard for as a team. So as much as I’m the one accepting these awards, I’m doing so on behalf of the entire RWF family.”

Well, Rhonda, we’re grateful to have such a focused and determined leader. Kudos from the RWF to you!

Rhonda and fashion expert Wendy Batiste-Johnson.

“One of the things we frequently stress to our teens is that your image counts,” said RWF Board Member and Dress For Success Program Coordinator Kimberly Keaton Williams. “As a working professional myself, I know doors can be opened just by taking care to make sure all I’s are dotted and all T’s are crossed in everything you do – including your attire. Being a part of this program where we provide the girls with tips for shopping and a $75-gift card to purchase jackets, blouses, slacks, skirts, shoes – whatever they desire – for the business environment is just one of the many ways we help our teens prepare for tomorrow.”

The day started with a presentation on smart shopping tips by Wendy Batiste-Johnson, fashion expert and former owner of the stylish Poshh Boutique in Ann Arbor. Wendy stressed the importance of selecting the perfect length skirts and tops, hairstyle, and make-up. Everything from hemlines to handbags was touched upon. “Talking with the RWF teens about the best ways to enhance their opportunities through clothing selection was such a rewarding experience for me,” said Batiste-Johnson. “The girls asked great questions and listened so attentively I know they’ll continue to show how ready they are to be successful women long after today. It was my pleasure to be a part of this wonderful program.” The teens felt the same way. “I learned that you can make your own style and look appropriate so you can get the job done,” said Heaven Pollard. “The fashion presentation gave me great examples of what to shop for so I can dress like a professional,” added Kyah Bracy. “After it was over, I couldn’t wait to use what I learned.”

RWF Teens are dressed for success!

After the presentation, the girls hit the stores of Fairlane Shopping Center to buy their clothes and then returned to Giulio & Sons for a fashion show challenge. Looking ready for their first business presentation, the RWF Teens showed off their clothes and good style in a show for the ages. Awards were given out in the categories of business formal/corporate, business causal, best use of an accessory, best overall outfit, and best money-smart shopper.

Click here to see photos from Dress For Success.

On MLK Day, the RWF Teens participated in a special Tech Career Fair organized by the Michigan Council of Women in Technology at the headquarters of Compuware Corporation in downtown Detroit. Ellen Bourke, president of MCWT, summed up why organizing this event for the RWF Teens was so imperative to her: “It’s very important because there are many scholarships and many opportunities available that [girls and women] aren’t taking advantage of. [Technology] is a great career for women, and currently we are vastly underrepresented in the field.”

The Tech Career Fair featured interactive discussions on how technology affects every aspect of our lives from the automobiles to healthcare. The many areas touched by technology impressed RWF Teen Jazzmin Jones, “Technology is a career field I’m interested in studying in college, so I [was] really excited to learn about all the opportunities.”

The RWF Teens also heard from women who have reached great heights in technology and received sound advice on what they should do to be come successful in this important field. To learn more about the Tech Career Fair, click on this link to see the story that ran on WDIV Local 4 TV.

The RWF is grateful to Ellen Burke of MCWT and the many inspiring women who took time out of their days to speak to our Teens about the wonderful opportunities a career in technology holds.

Click here to see more photos from this year’s Christmas for the Homeless party.

The RWF Teens enjoyed another special day at the Fox Theatre.  Fifth Third Bank arranged for our Teens to have an amazing lunch and see an amazing show, Cirque Dreams Holidaze, on Saturday, December 17th.  A great way to wrap up a wonderful and exciting year for the RWF Teens.  Special thanks to Byna Elliott for making the arrangements!

Visit the RWF Store to purchase your Signature Bracelet today.

Saturday, November 12, 2011 was another big day for the RWF as the Teens hit the campus of Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan to see a day in the life of a college student and get a glimpse of what their own futures hold. The day-long visit included an overview of OU’s history and a review of its many curriculums and majors.

Led by two very enthusiastic OU juniors, the Teens learned about applying to college, identifying scholarships, grants, and other financial assistance, and getting ready for those ever-important standardized exams. The Teens also toured a several dormitories and had their first experience with dorm food.

Whether it was a library, lecture hall, fitness center, gymasium, or school administration offices, the Teens enjoyed their all-access pass to seeing what college really has to offer. Our tour guides’ excitement and school pride were so infectious that by the end of the day, the RWF Teens couldn’t wait to get started themselves.

The RWF is very grateful to Oakland University and our tour guides for taking the time out of their days so the RWF Teens could immerse themselves in what college life is really all about!  Go, Grizzlies!