V.I.P. College Tour

The V.I.P. College Prep Program has provided College Tours for underserved students in the Bridgeport, Connecticut area since 1993. Our mission is to substantially increase the number of students capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership within their communities and society. The primary purpose is to stimulate a desire, and maintain an interest in students to attend college. The objective is to expose as many students as possible from Bridgeport area high schools to realize their potential to matriculate on the college level. Being exposed to parts of the country some may never visit, helps students to experience a world outside of their immediate neighborhoods. The tours opens the eyes and minds of students who would not normally have the opportunity to travel; thereby destroying the commonplace paradigm of many inner-city youth that college is unattainable. V.I.P. takes three buses of 8-12 graders, last year approximately 135 students. We are not afraid of the numbers! V.I.P. is trying to outpace the teen incarceration rate, the teen pregnancy rate, the teen suicide rate, the teen dropout rate, etc. 15 of the 18 volunteer staff are alumni of the program, who have come back to give back. With State, City, and Board of Education budget cuts, your assistance to keep this award winning college tour and program going, is desperately needed. Thank You! Further information: [phone redacted], Email: [email redacted].