I WILL GRADUATE PROGRAM KICKS OFF PLEDGE SEASON WITH ANNUAL PLEDGE DAY EVENT, EMPOWERING THOUSANDS OF NEW YORK CITY CITY STUDENTS TO COMMIT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
(Brooklyn, NY) — September 12th, 2024 — For over 2 decades, the I WILL GRADUATE Youth Development Program has empowered youth across New York City to reaffirm their commitment to education. The group's annual Pledge Day serves as the kick off to the I WILL GRADUATE program initiative season, through a pledge that emphasizes hard work, smart decision-making, and accountability to a high standard of excellence. To date, over 155,000 have taken the pledge, each one reinforcing their dedication to achieving academic success. This year, Pledge Day was held on Thursday, September 12th, at Epic High School South in Queens, New York, at 11 AM.
“Pledge Day is a pivotal moment for our students. It’s their declaration to set goals, commit to academic success, and take charge of their future,” says Tonya Lewis-Taylor, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the I WILL GRADUATE Youth Development Program. “By making this public pledge, students are not only holding themselves accountable but also becoming part of a larger movement that empowers them to stay focused, work hard, and realize their full potential.”
“I want to make my parents proud of me,” stated a student from Bronxwood Preparatory, when asked why she took the pledge. “I want them to see that their sacrifices were worth it. They came to this country for a reason, and I want the reason to be worth it.”
With the support of the New York City Council, students across New York City have been allocated funding to participate in the program. In addition to Pledge Day, educators are provided with a free 6-week “Be Great!” College and Career Readiness curriculum, designed to help students develop essential life skills and prepare for their future - academic and career wise. These components all lead up to the main event - I WILL GRADUATE DAY, a Celebration of Education, happening on October 29th at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York.
Notable attendees from previous years include: Eric Adams (Mayor of New York City), Letitia
James (Attorney General of New York), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (Minority Leader of the U.S House of Representatives), Daymond John (Star of ABC's Shark Tank), French Montana (music artist), Omar Epps (actor), Wyclef Jean (music icon), Remy Ma (music artist), Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (music artist), Fivio Foreign (music artist), The Breakfast Club (NYC Radio Show), Lala Anthony (American TV personality), and much more!
For interviews and media coverage for our Pledge Day Celebration, please contact Ayanna Camara, Communications Specialist at acamara@iwgprogram.com
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About I WILL GRADUATE: Entertainers For Education Alliance, Inc. / I WILL GRADUATE PROGRAM (E4EA-IWG) headquartered in New York City, is a 501(c)(3) charity organization dedicated to serving and empowering students, families, and the community by communicating the importance of educational excellence. They accomplish their goals through youth development programs, arts-in-education, college and career guidance, mentoring, parent engagement, school and community workshops, exciting events, and the use of multimedia platforms. They also enlist the talents, and resources of the music and entertainment industry along with prominent high-profile individuals to stress the importance and coolness of being educated.
About Tonya Lewis-Taylor, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the I WILL GRADUATE Youth Development Program: As an empowerment leader, musician, CEO, and author; Tonya Lewis-Taylor sits at the helm of the I WILL GRADUATE Youth Development Agency and the Entertainers 4 Education Alliance. Taylor's work has received proclamations, by New York City’s Mayor's Adams, Deblasio and Bloomberg, as well as former NYS Governor's Hochul, Cuomo and Patterson for outstanding service. Further recognition includes New York’s Daily News naming her one of New York City’s Great People, MSNBC honoring her as a Foot Soldier, and Columbia University naming her New Yorker of the Week. The former celebrity publicist/marketing executive at Roc-A-Fella Records is also a multifaceted performer singing backup for notables Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and gospel luminaries including Fred Hammond and Donnie McClurkin. Her Off-Broadway work includes “Mama I Want to Sing”and “Gospel Is.” Her debut album Delayed But Not Denied, reached Billboard’s Top 15 with her single, “Thank you” and again charted on Billboard’s Top 25 with a song from her 2016 sophomore album, I've Got To Win entitled, “I'm a Winner”. She is the author of the new book "Be You Not Her: Becoming the woman you were created to be" available on Amazon Books. Later this year, Taylor will release her anticipated 3rd album "I Am More Than A Conqueror". She is married, has 4 children and resides in Brooklyn, USA.