TRINITY RIVER MISSION INC

TRM's target population is minority, low-income students in grades Pre-K-Post-Secondary, primarily from the 75212 zip code who are at-risk for gang involvement, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, criminal activity, and dropping out of school. TRM is, by far, West Dallas' largest afterschool provider, offering 33% of the slots available from 17 providers. Nevertheless, nearly 5,500 school-age West Dallas children have no place to go after school. When students and families attend TRM, they SUCCEED, as evidenced by:
- 95% avg. retention rate
- 95% avg. promotion rate
- 98% avg. high school graduation rate
- 90% avg. college enrollment rate
- 75% avg. parent involvement

Since 1988, TRM programs have provided a safe environment for students to explore their interests and creativity, engage with supportive volunteers and staff, gain exposure to new concepts and opportunities, and develop and implement new academic and life skills. While in our programs, students receive consistent academic, personal, and social-emotional support that helps them imagine broader possibilities for their future. Students are guided through school expectations, exposed early to STEM and college, provided supportive, positive tutor and mentor relationships, and confidence-building college and career experiences. These tactics, combined with intentional parent engagement, ensure our students' chances for success in school and life are considerably higher than other West Dallas kids.

Students have access to the following programs:
Children's Programs: afterschool assistance for K-9th graders
o Homework Help: daily homework assistance, interactive academic activities, and early exposure to college for K-5th grade
o Homework-Help-2-Onward-Thinking (H2O): intensive, one-on-one homework assistance for 1st-9th graders with academic/behavioral difference(s)
o STEAM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Math) Zone: daily hands-on STEAM lessons to introduce STEAM education to K-5th graders in fun, interactive way
Tutor Power Hour: Literacy/Math tutoring for Pre-K-12th graders
Believe & Achieve: college/career readiness + persistence and mentoring opportunities for 6th grade-Post-Secondary
o Infinity2: daily, hands-on STEAM lessons to engage 6-12th graders in STEAM concepts and explore STEAM career fields
Family Connection: Parent program that rewards for volunteering/involvement, provides educational opportunities, and nurtures student/parent relationships
Kid's Café: daily meals for students

Our Needs

Your support of TRM on North Texas Giving Day will directly support our Believe & Achieve Scholarship Fund and Program for our Class of 2020 and the rest of the 274 students who turn to the Believe & Achieve every day for support, confidence, and college and career preparation. The scholarship fund guarantees a $4,000 scholarship to all TRM students who complete program requirements and graduate high school.

TRM's Believe & Achieve Scholarship Fund exists to empower and enable our graduating students, 97% of whom are Hispanic and low-income, to pursue post-secondary education. Our students are often the first in their family to graduate and go to college, creating a ripple effect of impact that's passed down to siblings, cousins, and children of alumni who return year after year to follow in their family's footsteps. With your support, we can keep that cycle going.

In West Dallas, 0.0% of the Class of 2017 graduated college-ready -- 0.0%! And, despite college-age Hispanics being Texas' fastest growing population, they have the lowest post-secondary completion rate in the region, with only 10% poised to receive a college degree. High tuition costs and the need to support their parents and family are the two major reasons Hispanics cite for not going to college.

TRM students are burdened with limited examples of success in their schools and community, low academic scores, and a lack of a college-going culture that threaten to limit their potential to succeed in life. Your support of the Believe & Achieve Scholarship Fund and Program will provide the tangible resources our students need to pursue and succeed in post-secondary education.

In 2019-2020, we are taking the Believe & Achieve program to the next level by expanding our support to serve TRM alumni in post-secondary education.

Please consider supporting TRM on North Texas Giving Day by investing in our kids' futures!

Beyond financial needs, volunteers of any background are in need to work with our students as a Tutor, Mentor, or Homework Helper. The relationships formed between our dedicated volunteers and students provide the encouragement our kids need to graduate high school and pursue post-secondary education. The need is great -- currently, over 400 of our students are waiting for a tutor or mentor.

If you're interested in volunteering at TRM, please contact Jazmine Lewis at jlewis@trinityrivermission.org