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About Heads Up
History
Heads Up was founded in 1996 by two Harvard College graduates, Darin McKeever and Vincent Pan. While in college, Darin and Vin volunteered with an after-school tutoring program through Harvard’s public service organization. Bringing their experience to Washington, D.C., the two created Heads Up to provide after-school and summer literacy programs enlisting college students to serve as tutors.
In 1996, Heads Up recruited 10 undergraduates to work with 30 elementary school students in one school. Last year, we recruited over 300 college students to work with more than 1,500 kids. Over the last four years, we have nearly tripled the number of participating students to become the largest, private, after-school and summer program in D.C. schools.
Heads Up has gained local and national attention for our innovative program and commitment to results.
- In 2001, Heads Up was selected as the first investment partner of Venture Philanthropy Partners, a local philanthropic organization that invests in high-potential nonprofits in the D.C. area.
- In 2003, we were recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the top 20 charities in DC. In 2004, CharityWorks, a volunteer organization that raises money for local nonprofits, chose Heads Up as its sole beneficiary for the year.
- Heads Up was very proud to receive the best charity recognition from the Catalogue for Philanthropy for 2008-2009. Our listing may be seen at www.catalogueforphilanthropy-dc.org.
- Last summer, one of our tutors was featured on State of the Union with John King a nationally viewed program on CNN.
- Additionally, in 2008 Heads Up began operating as a 21st Century Community Learning Centers partner -a five-year competitive grant through the federal 21st Century program, which allows us to continue providing important academic enrichment services to children in the District of Columbia Public School system. This partnership further illustrates our successes as an out-of-school and summer academic service provider in national landscape.
Additionally, Heads Up is proud to participate in the AmeriCorps VISTA program, which stands for Volunteers in Service To America. We now have two VISTA members on staff to assist in building capacity and support expansion plans to help drive our strategic endeavors. VISTA members serve full-time alongside Heads Up staff, though the federal government pays their salaries.
We are proud of our commitment to diversity and we encourage college students from all walks of life to participate in out program as Tutors. Over 70 percent of tutors are students of color, representing diverse role models for the students we serve. Our Tutors are chosen based on their experience and capacity to work with children, ability to handle significant responsibilities, and most importantly because of their passion for helping children and their commitment to Heads Up values.
