Ryan Simmons 2012 Boston Marathon

Summer Search is an amazing organization with a comprehensive approach to helping resilient at-risk children rise above their circumstances to become the future leaders in their commuinities. Only 14% of all entering freshman into Boston district and exam schools will graduate from college. This number becomes even more bleak when we talk about Boston district schools alone, where only 7% will graduate college. Summer Search has an incredible success rate for the at-risk children they take under their wing. Through mentoring and two summer exploration programs, 100% of all Summer Search students graduate from high school, and 89% end up becoming college graduates (Often the first of their famly).

The mentoring consists of weekly doses of support and sometimes tough love that keeps the students on track, motivated and disciplined through the school year. Then for their first summer in the program, they are given the amazing opportunity to participate in an adventure program through National Outdoor Leadership School or Outward Bound. These children who have often never left the comfort of their city are challenged to become self sufficient, work with teams and develop adaptation skills that will not only help them in the wilderness, but will prepare them for the scary transition from the comforts of their own home to the foreign walls of college and the ever challenging adult business world eventually. These kids eventually grow into self sustaining strong adults that become contributing members of their communities.

Summer Search's mission is very dear to me because I too grew up as an at-risk child where, at times, we didn't know if we would have food on the table or even afford rent. Yet, somehow, I was blessed with a very resilient mother that found a way to not only get food from the local church but get me scholarships for private Catholic school from K-12. It was her persistence and the mentorship I received from the priests, nuns and other teachers at those schools that helped me become the successful man I am today. I want to pay it forward by helping these local children in my community to achieve what I have been given the opportunity to achieve and more.

Please, help me give back by supporting me in runninng the 2012 Boston Marathon through as much as you can dig deep to afford.

Thank you so much!!!!!!

Ryan