An Open Letter to Friends of The Brooklyn International High School
As most of you know, The Brooklyn International High School (BIHS) is a high school for immigrant students. In my time at this school, I have been greatly impressed by the dedication, perseverance, and enthusiasm that many of the students have demonstrated, despite often working long hours after school and living in difficult and chaotic conditions. Their perseverance and hard work help most of our graduating seniors enter and succeed in higher education.
For the past several years, students, educators, and many politicians across the country have been pushing Congress to pass The Dream Act (The Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors Act). This legislation will provide permanent residential status for undocumented immigrants “of good moral character” who were brought to the United States, under the age of 16, by their parents and who commit to attending college or joining the military. This will make these students eligible for higher education grants and loans, to which they now do not have access because of their immigration status. I realize that the issue of immigration is very controversial, but as educators, our hope is simple: that immigrant students who were brought to the U.S. as children and who accepted the idea of the American Dream – that hard work and respect lead to success – will not be penalized and that their eagerness, effort and desire to contribute to the future of America will be encouraged.
During his campaign, President Obama promised to push for passage of the bill, saying, “I support the Dream Act 100 percent.” He called our young immigrant students “sons and daughters of the United States,” and hopes to get the necessary sixty Senate votes and a majority of the House of Representatives to pass the legislation. However, with other bills taking up time in Congress, action does not seem to be moving along on the Dream Act. Until the bill passes, we are continuing to raise funds to support our students in their quest for a college education.
There are currently five exceptional seniors at Brooklyn International High School who, without scholarships and loans, will not be able to afford college. Last year, thanks to the generosity of friends and family, the school was able to raise close to $15,000, enabling five students to attend college this year and others to continue attending college.
Here is a brief description of the students who would benefit from your tax-deductible donations:
We would greatly appreciate any help you can give. Your entire donation goes to sending these students to college. In addition to donating money yourself, you could also help by sending this information to other people, organizations, or businesses you think might be interested in donating or sponsoring one of these students. Any amount would be helpful.
Through an arrangement with the Fund for Public Schools, your donations are tax-deductible. In order to deduct the donation, your check must go through the Fund for Public Schools and not directly to BIHS.
Please mail checks to:
Fund for Public Schools
52 Chambers Street
Room 305
New York, NY 10007
Important: Please write Brooklyn International High School on the memo line of the check.
The Fund for Public Schools will send you an acknowledgement.
Of course, you may choose to send a check directly to The Brooklyn International High School. Note that this would not be tax deductible. In this case, please make the check out to The Brooklyn International High School and send to:
The Brooklyn International High School
49 Flatbush Avenue Extension – Room 604
Brooklyn, NY 11201
*Thank you so much for your support - 100% of your donation goes to helping our students.
For the past several years, students, educators, and many politicians across the country have been pushing Congress to pass The Dream Act (The Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors Act). This legislation will provide permanent residential status for undocumented immigrants “of good moral character” who were brought to the United States, under the age of 16, by their parents and who commit to attending college or joining the military. This will make these students eligible for higher education grants and loans, to which they now do not have access because of their immigration status. I realize that the issue of immigration is very controversial, but as educators, our hope is simple: that immigrant students who were brought to the U.S. as children and who accepted the idea of the American Dream – that hard work and respect lead to success – will not be penalized and that their eagerness, effort and desire to contribute to the future of America will be encouraged.
During his campaign, President Obama promised to push for passage of the bill, saying, “I support the Dream Act 100 percent.” He called our young immigrant students “sons and daughters of the United States,” and hopes to get the necessary sixty Senate votes and a majority of the House of Representatives to pass the legislation. However, with other bills taking up time in Congress, action does not seem to be moving along on the Dream Act. Until the bill passes, we are continuing to raise funds to support our students in their quest for a college education.
There are currently five exceptional seniors at Brooklyn International High School who, without scholarships and loans, will not be able to afford college. Last year, thanks to the generosity of friends and family, the school was able to raise close to $15,000, enabling five students to attend college this year and others to continue attending college.
Here is a brief description of the students who would benefit from your tax-deductible donations:
- A young woman from Poland, who has been accepted at Kingsborough Community College and Borough of Manhattan Community College and hopes to become a teacher
- A young man from Haiti who will study Electrical Engineering at New York City College of Technology
- A young man from Mexico with a passion for computers, who will attend New York City College of Technology to study Computer Science
- A young man from Guinea who has been accepted into the Nursing Program at Kingsborough Community College
- A truly gifted young writer and poet from Cameroon who will pursue her Creative Writing degree at either Brooklyn College or Hunter College
We would greatly appreciate any help you can give. Your entire donation goes to sending these students to college. In addition to donating money yourself, you could also help by sending this information to other people, organizations, or businesses you think might be interested in donating or sponsoring one of these students. Any amount would be helpful.
Through an arrangement with the Fund for Public Schools, your donations are tax-deductible. In order to deduct the donation, your check must go through the Fund for Public Schools and not directly to BIHS.
Please mail checks to:
Fund for Public Schools
52 Chambers Street
Room 305
New York, NY 10007
Important: Please write Brooklyn International High School on the memo line of the check.
The Fund for Public Schools will send you an acknowledgement.
Of course, you may choose to send a check directly to The Brooklyn International High School. Note that this would not be tax deductible. In this case, please make the check out to The Brooklyn International High School and send to:
The Brooklyn International High School
49 Flatbush Avenue Extension – Room 604
Brooklyn, NY 11201
*Thank you so much for your support - 100% of your donation goes to helping our students.
