FIRST TAKE's #30for30 Fundraiser

Since 1988, FIRST TAKE has educated, inspired and motivated tri-state area high school students to engage and learn about the art of journalism. 

For the next 30 days, FIRST TAKE is asking the community-at-large to make a $30 pledge per day to help support our program.  

What will your donation contribute towards?

Breakfast and lunch for the student journalists

Transportation for the student journalists to get to their field assignments

Purchasing refurbished or new video cameras and equipment

Rental for the in-studio production and editing for the final broadcast

Venue for the graduation ceremony

Scholarships and awards for student journalists

FIRST TAKE plans to continue in the tradition of former directors by training students ages 13 to19 for careers in journalism and matriculation into higher education.

FIRST TAKE's crash course takes place in the heart of Times Square, Manhattan and is absolutely FREE for eligible high school students.

Students who are accepted into FIRST TAKE, take on this extracurricular Saturday activity while balancing SATs, ACTs, part-time jobs, school sports and other responsibilities. FIRST TAKE is instructed by dedicated professionals, who volunteer their time and talent for the future generation. 

Most FIRST TAKE alumni have kept in touch with their assigned mentor throughout their young adult years and have entered careers in journalism. Graduates of FIRST TAKE include Rhonesha Byng (Her Agenda founder), Aisha Al-Muslim (Wall Street Journal) and Curtis Stephens (Adjunct Journalism Professor at LIU-Brooklyn).

We hope to meet our financial goal in order to keep FIRST TAKE going for another 30 years. 

To see the work of our past students check them out here . Check out the revamped website here .

When sharing this link, please add #30for30 and @firsttakenyc.

FIRST TAKE is under the umbrella of The New York Association of Black Journalists, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

Thank you for your support.