UPCOMING EVENTS>>>

Ticket reservations are now being accepted for Marcy Open Middle School's first Project SUCCESS-produced student musical performance, I Am, a show where the students get to write much of the dialogue and even a few songs! Prices range from $5 - 10. All reservations MUST be prepaid and shows will sell out! Call Project SUCCESS at 612-874-7710 to reserve your tickets. Final rehearsals are underway at Marcy. Students are at work both in front of and behind the scenes, working directly with professional quality sound, sets, lighting and costumes, in addition to acting and singing. To enhance the learning experience, Project SUCCESS has brought in professional directors and musicians. This one-on-one contact with local artists and students is a key way in which Project SUCCESS allows live theater to permeate school walls. Performances begin on Wednesday, March 17 and go through Thursday, March 25, 2010. Click here, for more information about the musical and performance dates.

NEWS>>>

Adrienne Diercks, Project SUCCESS Founder and Executive Director, will be honored with the Ann Bancroft Foundation Dream Maker Award at the 13th annual Ann Bancroft Awards event held at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, April 29, 2010. The awards honor three individual Minnesotans and one organization who encourage and support the achievements of girls and women. Adrienne will receive the award in the Achievement and Leadership category, honoring a woman who has achieved her dreams and demonstrated her leadership to others. The Ann Bancroft Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support girls and women in realizing their highest dreams and potential, endeavors to recognize individual achievement, and promotes initiatives that inspire courage, risk-taking, integrity and individuality in girls and women. For more information about the awards or to purchase tickets, visit www.annbancroftfoundation.org or visit the Foundation's Facebook page for the latest updates.

On Friday, January 22, 43 students representing all 5 if the high schools we serve — North, Patrick Henry, South, Southwest and Washburn — joined Project SUCCESS staff on a trip to Northfield to tour the campuses of St. Olaf College and Carleton College.  Students enjoyed brisk, wintery walking tours of each of the campuses, met with admissions staff and ate a fabulous lunch, compliments of Carleton. Students asked insightful and intelligent questions, wowing the admissions staff at both colleges. As with all of our college tours, the campus visits informed some students instantly whether or not that particular campus is right for them. For other students, the campus visits were beneficial to see first hand what college life is like and to motivate them to start their college search. No matter what their goal, all students came away better informed for their post-secondary planning. Click here for more information about our college tours program.

Project SUCCESS is the Charity of The Month by the NHL’s Minnesota Wild! During the month of January 2010, Project SUCCESS is the featured charity on their Web site. On Saturday, January 9, the Wild celebrated, promoted and supported Project SUCCESS during the game - a portion of the ticket proceeds from the home game against the Blackhawks will go to Project SUCCESS. A big thanks to the Wild and those who bought tickets to the game in support of Project SUCCESS.

On December 17 and 18, 2009, Project SUCCESS and Sanford Middle School presented Sanford's first-ever Project SUCCESS-produced musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The performance was a huge success! For eight weeks, over 45 students worked in front of and behind the scenes, working directly with professional quality sound, sets, lighting and costumes, in addition to acting and singing.  Everyone involved worked tirelessly and their efforts paid off. Congratulations and thank you to all the students, staff, parents and community members who helped out and attended the show. Click here for more photos of the performances and rehearsal.

Project SUCCESS is the grateful recipient of a $45,000 challenge grant from the Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi Foundation for Children for our work at Patrick Henry High School. With this match you can double your gift in one of three ways: 1) by increasing this year's gift, 2) by being a first time donor, or 3) by returning as a donor if you have not given in the past 12 months. Help turn dreams into futures. Your support will have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of public school students, and our future. Click here to make a gift.

Thank you to all those individuals to contributed to Project SUCCESS on Give to the Max Day! In just 24 hours, 73 donors gave over $17,000 to Project SUCCESS through GiveMN.org - the new online giving platform for Minnesota non-profit organizations, advocates and donors.  We are so grateful for the generosity that surrounds us. The one-day event was also a great way to kick-off our annual giving campaign - help us keep up the momentum!

On Friday, November 6, 90 students from North, South, Southwest and Washburn high schools joined Project SUCCESS staff on a trip to Madison to tour the University of Wisconsin, Madison campus. Students experienced an information session with an admissions counselor, a fantastic walking tour of the campus and still had time to explore the vibrant State Street culture. Two Project SUCCESS alumni who are current UW Madison students also talked with the group about campus life and what it really means to be a Madison student. Click here for more information about upcoming college tours.

Project SUCCESS has begun rehearsals with over 45 Sanford Middle School students on an ambitious and exciting production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In the second year of our partnership with Sanford, this is our first-ever Project SUCCESS production with the school. Directed by Project SUCCESS' Jeffry Lusiak, students will rehearse for eight weeks, and the show will premiere at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 17 and Friday, December 18 at Sanford. Click here for more information on the Sanford musical and other school performances.

Project SUCCESS recently returned from our annual MEA Chicago College Tour! From what we have read on our Facebook wall, the trip was a HUGE success. In mid-October, 88 juniors and seniors from North, South, Southwest and Washburn High Schools took the long bus trip to the Chicago area to tour nine colleges and universities in our biggest Chicago college tour in Project SUCCESS history! Students were able to tour a variety of schools from 2-year to 4-year programs, private schools to public universities, in rural and urban locations. Some Project SUCCESS alumni stopped by between classes to share their experiences of transitioning from high school to college. The trip was very informative and we hope that each student came away with a better understanding of what they are looking for when they make their college decision. The response to this year's tour was so huge that we are planning another Chicago college tour over Spring Break 2010. Click here for more information about upcoming college tours.

On Tuesday, October 6, Travelers hosted an evening of food and friendship celebrating Project SUCCESS’ service to over half of Saint Paul middle school students and their families, and bringing together many of the partners and community members, from theaters to school administrators, who help make this service possible. As a kickoff, Project SUCCESS staff led guests in a shortened version of one of our classroom workshops, where participants wrote their dreams on paper airplanes and launched them into the “future,” which set the tone for the evening. The program featured student, alumni, teacher, parent and other stories about how Project SUCCESS and our partners have made a difference in their lives and the community. The event ended with a beautiful song from the Saint Paul Central High School Choir.

In July 2009, Project SUCCESS took not only students from Anwatin Middle School (who have participated for the last 10 years), but for the first time invited students from Anne Sullivan, Afrocentric, Northeast, Emerson, and Washington Technology Magnet middle schools on an amazing adventure to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness! Over 84 students attended one of two week-long trips. Each group mapped out their trip through the wilderness, set daily goals and committed themselves to new challenges. Students developed a profound respect for nature and the environment that we hope will stay with them wherever they go.

On Thursday, August 20, over 200 teachers, administrators, and staff from each of our schools gathered for an event that we affectionately call "Teacher Night." Filled with great theater, food, and fun, the event kicked-off with a welcome from Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and culminated a with a performance of J.B. Priestley's When We Are Married at the Guthrie Theater (a founding partner with Project SUCCESS). Project SUCCESS is so grateful for the help and support of the teachers, administrators and staff at each of our schools and enjoyed celebrating the synergy of our work together as we usher in another great year!

From August 10 through August 13, 2009, Project SUCCESS was pleased to work with the Minneapolis Public School District for the second year to conduct 2013 —  a four-day camp aimed at helping all 8th graders successfully transition to high school. The entire event was at NO COST to students and families, thanks to the Minneapolis Public Schools. It was a great success, with over 550 students participating throughout the week! The camp was featured in the Star Tribune on August 11.

On Friday, July 24, 2009, Project SUCCESS staff cheered on participants of the Lifetouch Fun Run that capped off their week-long summer meeting in downtown Minneapolis.  Despite a little rain, the horn blew at 6:00 a.m. and the 5K race began in beautiful Loring Park.  Following the race Jason Brown had the opportunity to share with participants what Project SUCCESS is all about. Lifetouch is a founding partner with Project SUCCESS.

For the past 4 years, Project SUCCESS has had a special night at the Metrodome, called Fielding Dreams. The Minnesota Twins once again made this year special by recognizing Project SUCCESS at the Twins game on Tuesday, May 12. The event is not just in recognition of us, but in recognition of all of you! We are honored to work with such wonderful students, families, and communities.