Our Impact
high school graduation rate
100%
college enrollment
99%
of alumni earn a college degree within six years of high school graduation
74%
program alumni
345
current College Bound Program students
235
100% of NJ LEEP students graduate high school; 99% of them enroll in college and 74% of NJ LEEP alumni have graduated from college within six years of high school graduation.
The long-term personal financial and community effects of enrolling in and completing post-secondary education are significant, as is the ability for NJ LEEP’s work with students to have an impact on their longer-term economic mobility. A 2019 report by the College Board amplifies the positive financial outcomes for college graduates and the impacts on long-term finances and stability. Based on their research, in 2018, the median earnings of bachelor’s degree recipients with no advanced degree working full time were $24,900 higher than those of a high school graduate.
Student Spotlight
Samuel DaSilva, NJ LEEP Class of 2025
Finding His Voice
Sam came to NJ LEEP as a quiet freshman, uncertain about public speaking. Now, after winning Debater of the Year in 2023, he's helping other students find their voice. Through NJ LEEP's Debate program, Sam didn't just become a champion debater – he discovered a passion for public speaking and mentoring his peers. After enduring the pandemic, Sam found more than just a program in NJ LEEP; he found a family that sparked his love for learning and opened his eyes to new possibilities.
In Sam's Own Words: The Impact of NJ LEEP
"NJ LEEP was where I discovered the true power of a growth mindset. This mindset has become the anchor of my high school journey and extends into every aspect of my life. Through debate competitions and cultural exchanges, NJ LEEP has opened my eyes to new perspectives and enriched my understanding of the world. When I look back through my journal at how far I've come over these four years, I know my freshman self would be amazed. NJ LEEP showed me that success isn't just about talent – it's about dedication, hard work, and the willingness to learn from every experience."
NJ LEEP in the News
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NJ LEEP Scholar Alanis Gonzalez Recognized as 2025 to 2027 Voyager Scholarship Recipient
September 24, 2025
Alanis Gonzalez, NJ LEEP Class of 2023, received the 2025 to 2027 Voyager Scholarship through the Obama Chesky Scholarship for Public Service. Alanis is the second NJ LEEP alum to receive this scholarship! She plans to champion educational equity and expand legal advocacy that is accessible to people of all language backgrounds, uplifting and amplifying unheard voices.
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NJ LEEP Scholar Angel Ortiz Accepted to 7 Ivy League Universities
April 10, 2025
Angel Ortiz, a senior at Arts High School in Newark, has been accepted to seven Ivy League universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. He’s exploring his options as he prepares to study political science and decides which school is the right fit for his next chapter.
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NJ LEEP Scholar Sam Da Silva Earns Full Ride to Columbia
April 8, 2025
Samuel Da Silva, an NJ LEEP scholar from East Side High School, earned a full scholarship to Columbia University through the QuestBridge Program. Raised in Newark’s Ironbound, he plans to study mechanical engineering, driven by a passion he's had since childhood.
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NJ LEEP Student Earns Full QuestBridge Scholarship to UPenn
January 2, 2025
East Side High School senior Claudia Ferreira has been awarded a full QuestBridge scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, where she plans to major in biology. An active NJ LEEP participant, Claudia serves in multiple leadership roles, including National Honor Society treasurer and yearbook club co-vice president.
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Newark Schools Partner with NJ LEEP to Expand College Access
November 1, 2024
Newark Public Schools announces a transformative partnership with NJ LEEP, funded by MacKenzie Scott's $8M Yield Giving Foundation grant. The pilot program launches at Central and East Side High Schools, aiming to provide enhanced college preparation resources and support for first-generation and low-income students.
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Senator Helmy Urges Action on FAFSA Issues
October 18, 2024
Senator George Helmy calls for the Department of Education to address issues with the 2024-2025 FAFSA application, which has disrupted financial aid access for low-income and first-generation students. Matthew Feinstein, Executive Director of NJ LEEP, emphasized the lasting impact of these delays, warning that students are making under-informed decisions about higher education.
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MacKenzie Scott Donates $2M to Newark's NJ LEEP Among $8M NJ Grants
March 20, 2024
NJ LEEP receives $2 million through MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Foundation 'Open Call' initiative. NJ LEEP is among five New Jersey nonprofits selected to share in $8 million in grants, part of a broader $640 million nationwide philanthropic effort.
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NJ LEEP Collaborates with Corporations to Empower Newark’s Workforce
September 14, 2023
Panasonic North America collaborates with NJ LEEP to provide students with immersive week-long learning experiences at their headquarters, exposing them to diverse business areas and career paths.
Yield Giving and Lever for Change announced that NJ LEEP received a $2 million gift as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States! This gift will enable our organization to deepen our investment in students from the Greater Newark area obtaining a college degree.
This investment is a recognition of the talent and potential of past, current, and future NJ LEEP students and we are honored and humbled to have the opportunity to support them in pursuing their dreams.
Our Supporters
NJ LEEP would like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their generous support of our programming during our 2025 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025).
Anonymous
Anonymous
Dan & Janet Schiff
Gregory K. Palm
$50,000+
Ichigo Foundation
M&T Weiner Foundation
New Jersey State Bar Foundation
Piper Sandler Foundation
Susan L. Blount
The Hearst Foundations
Verizon
Wilf Family Foundations
Barclays
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Jerry Webman & Susan Ginsburg
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Nyron Latif
$25,000-$49,999
Prudential Foundation
PwC
Ropes & Gray LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Amanda Rose Laura Foundation
Ameet & Trina Mallik
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Cole Schotz P.C.
David W. Pollak
$15,000-$24,999
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Equitable Foundation
Goodwin Procter LLP
Kerbey Harrington Pinkard LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
Prudential Financial, Inc.
Radian Capital
Russell Deyo
SRD Legal Group
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Zachary D. Surak
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Anonymous
ArentFox Schiff LLP
Arnold & Porter
Benjamin S. Levine Foundation
Clifford Chance LLP
Costas Family Foundation
Craig Silliman
Crowell & Moring Foundation
Dentons
DLA Piper
$10,000-$14,999
Gibbons P.C.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills
Hirschhorn Foundation
Invesco
Johnson & Johnson
K&L Gates LLP
Marc Larkins
McGuireWoods LLP
Novartis
Pfizer Inc.
PSEG
Robert O'Connor
Sidley Austin LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP
The Orange Orphan Society
Thomas & Maureen Byrne
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
WilmerHale
A&O Shearman
American Express
Ann Kappler
Anonymous
Bressler, Amery & Ross, PC
Bristol Myers Squibb
Catalent Pharma Solutions
Connell Foley LLP
Cooper Legal Group, LLC
Dechert LLP
Deirdre and Patrick Quinn
Fisher & Phillips, LLP
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Glen E. Tullman
Groom Law Group, Chartered
$5,000-$9,999
Herrick Feinstein LLP
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ
HSBC
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Jackson Lewis P.C.
José R. González & Christine Soto
Joshua Webman
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Marcia Mowbray
Marturano Thompson Foundation
Mayer Brown LLP
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Mutual of America Financial Group
NJM Insurance Group
O'Toole Scrivo, LLC
Paul Rosenthal
Robinson Bradshaw
Sally C. Walsh
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.
Tara Favors
Timothy P. Harris
Vedder Price
Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Wong Fleming
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Alexsandra Rem
Amy Woltman
Andrew D. Luster
Angela G. Foster
Audible, Inc.
Axiom
Bartholomew A. Sheehan
BMW of North America
Brian P. Matthews
Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
Curtis Tao
Daniel Casey Kobi
Daniel Eliades
Daniel and Mariela Pietrzak
David Ginsburg
David Grubman
Deutsche Bank
Diane J. McCabe
Duane Morris LLP
Emily Weinstein
Endeavor
Eric Schwimmer
Erin K. Powrie
Evan C. Williams
Everest
$1,000-$4,999
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Glenn Snyder
Gregory H. Barkan
Guggenheim Partners
Guido Subotovsky
Harriet Huber
Jamshed Kakalia
Jason Driansky
Jelani Roper
Jodi A. Singer
John Jacobi
John P. Frantz
Jonathan Miller
Jones Day
Karen M. Francis
Karol Corbin Walker
KPMG LLP
Kshitij Mohta
Lauri A. Mazzuchetti
Lisbeth Warren
Lorie E. Almon
Marc Merriweather
Marty & Judy Scherzer
Matthew Farkas
Matthew and Jennifer Feinstein
Maureen F. Gilligan
McKinsey & Company
Merck & Co., Inc.
Nagaraja R. Srivatsan
NSLA
Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C.
Owen Littman
Panasonic
Patricia C. Morgan
Paul R. Mattingly
Piper Sandler
Red Bulls Arena
Reed Smith LLP
Rémy P. deVarenne
Rick Lloyd
RoseAnn Baska
Samir A. Gandhi
Sharon Brown
Silicon Valley Bank
Simons Foundation
Solangel Maldonado
Stephen Bier
Steven Tugentman
Tanenbaum Keale LLP
Wakefern Food Corp.
Yearwood Family Foundation
Zenola Harper
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