About RFT

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. 
 

What RFT Does?

Mission: To improve the three A's of  Academics -  Attitude, Attendance, Achievement - of academics in rising high school youth and to increase the size of the qualified applicant pool for competitive colleges, universities, and professional careers.

RFT Uses Existing Public and Private Resources to:

  • Inspire all youth and especially "at risk" youth
  • Empower local adults to complement the efforts of parents and schools
  • Inform young people about higher education and training opportunities
  • Use a service academy or college experience to help students set academic and professional goals for the future

RFT is a Real World Course entitled: "High School Relevancy 101":

  • Raises the bar for all students early in their academic career
  • Eliminates excuses for failure by providing access to live and on-line academic enhancement tools
  • Encourages students to make wise choices and develop a plan of action for future success

RFT Modules / Programs

  • K-12 Academic Curricula: www.extralearning.org
    • Individualized, online academic support
    • Extra learning compliments local curricula
    • E-books, online testing, CDs and Video lessons provided and available
    • A viable alternative to attending summer school
  • Daily Online Tutoring: www.tutor.com  
    • Live tutor after school, on-line
    • Difficult homework and academic concepts are reviewed with skilled educators
  • Test Taking, Study Skills, Reading Improvement
    • Administered by former USAF Academy Prep School instructor
    • Triple reading speeds within 60 days with 90% comprehension
    • One letter grade improvement (following techniques) is expected
  • Pre-SAT/ACT Training
    • Administered by local teachers trained in the Thompson-Peterson's "Get Wise" Program
    • 18 hours classroom instruction
  • RFT Summer Programs
    • College Immersion
    • The projected outcome for students is academic excellence and attitude improvement

For a Reach For Tomorrow Plan for Any Community or for an RFT Narrative in printable format:

click here for RFT Plan for Any Community
click here to read Program Narrative
click here
for info on RFT programs

RFT 2005 Brochure

Note: to print the RFT 2005 brochure, print the first page the run the paper through the printer on the other side to print the second page. 

RFT Video Library

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How RFT Does it!

Helps at-risk youth to identify and establish goals attainable through education.

Involves adult volunteers, mentors, teachers, professors from leading colleges and universities, military academies, and federal facilities.

Travel - A supervised group of students travel out of town for one week during the summer. The group is required to maintain the "Rules of Conduct" and endure a demanding schedule.

Pre/post trip and midyear surveys administered and scored to ensure students are reaching their goals

Track  students' performance for up to three years, providing guidance and support throughout their high school careers, including encouraging and guiding students through the SAT preparation and test taking process.

Work with  students to develop a resume that will make them a competitive prospect as they apply to Universities and Military Academies.

Work with students to pursue after school jobs or summer internships that complement potential career goals.
 

Conduct follow-up and impact analysis activities with participating students, including encouraging and preparing them to participate in a second Reach For Tomorrow summer program between 9th and 10th grade.

A Value added strategy to complement not compete with existing Community Based Organizations (CBOs). The objective is for CBOs to "use" RFT as part of what you already do for youth as a reward or outcome for selected students  in your group

Targets middle of the academic curve youth as they start high school

Motivates adults to get involved in their community through measurable academic and personal improvement within the student cohort.

 

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Who Does It?

 

 

Partnerships / Sponsors

RFT works in partnership with private, corporate and governmental sponsors, participating school districts, local communities, and other similarly-oriented volunteer and/or non-profit organizations (such as VISTA -- Volunteers In Service to America -- a federally funded anti-poverty program).

Corporate Sponsors:
  • Air BP
  • Amerada Hess
  • American Airlines
  • The Boeing Co
  • CVS, Inc.
  • Ceridian Corporation
  • Chevron
  • Comdisco
  • General Dynamics
  • Giant Food
  • Gulfstream, Inc.
  • Lockheed Martin
  • MITRE Corporation
  • Navistar International
  • Nextel
  • Nortel Networks
  • TRW
  • United Airlines
  • United Express
  • US Airways
  • Verizon

Foundations:

  • The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
  • Chester Foundation
  • Foundations of East Chicago, Indiana
  • Freddie Mac Foundation
  • Hattie M. Strong Foundation
  • Jenesis Foundation
  • Morino Institute

Federal Government

  • Air National Guard-Maryland; New York; Illinois; West Virginia;
  • Chicago Housing Authority
  • Department of Defense
  • Defense Intelligence Agency
  • DC Appropriations Committee FY03
  • DC Housing Authority
  • Military Sealift Command
  • Naval Criminal Investigative Service
  • US Air Force- Andrews AFB; Cannon AFB; Charleston AFB; Langley AFB; Eglin AFB; Little Rock AFB; Whiteman AFB
  • US Air Force Reserves- Dover AFB
  • US Army- Fort Carson; Fort Eustis
  • US Coast Guard- San Francisco, CA; Portsmouth, VA; San Diego, CA; Pensacola, FL
  • US Marine Corps- USMC Hawaii; Camp Pendleton; Marine Corps Recruiting Depot; San Diego; Miramar
  • US Navy- Hawaii; Norfolk; Oceana; Pensacola; San Diego
Native American Groups:
  • Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Montana
  • Crow Nations, Montana

Nonprofit Organizations:

  • Concerned Black Men- Washington, DC
  • Experimental Aircraft Association
  • Young Eagles
  • I Have A Dream, Washington, DC
  • Patriots Technology Training Center, Maryland
  • Tuskegee Airmen
  • Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Clovis, New Mexico

Schools:

  • Chicago Public Schools- Bulls Scholars Program, Education to Careers
  • College of William and Mary
  • Colonial Beach Public Schools
  • DC Public Schools
  • Dowling College, NY
  • Friendship-Edison Collegiate Academy
  • IDEA Public Charter School, Washington, DC
  • Norfolk State University
  • North Lawndale College Prep, Chicago
  • Northwest Arctic School District, Alaska
  • Old Dominion University
  • Prince William County Public Schools
  • San Jose State University
  • United States Air Force Academy
  • United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY
  • United States Naval Academy
  • University of California at San Diego
  • University of Montana, Missoula
  • University of Florida
  • Washington Math Science Technology Public Charter, Washington, DC
  • Hampton University

Additional Support

     

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1. The above sponsors have provided the resources that today enables RFT to provide an excellent combination of academic and experiential
programs so we can impact youth through the entire United States. Thank
you to those who saw the value in RFT's mission and commitment to
excellence..

2. RFT can use the following resources throughout the year:
  • Funding- the direct cost for the summer program at a college is $500 per  week but this does not include the planning, program  oversight, adult  selection and training, and academic year activities or the transportation to and from program sites 
    • $1,100- this supports a student for a week for direct costs-  transportation, activities, meals, lodging, classes         
    • $6,600- this supports a "team" of 5 students and 1 adult for  a week         
    • $40,000- this supports a "group" of 30 students and 7 adults  for a week
    • $120,000- this supports an entire program of 3 groups of 30 students  plus 21 adults
  • Academic programs
    • Individual Academic Plan customized for each student to
      allow them to meet state standards and an online curricula
      available 24-7 and tutoring every day online after school
      for homework help- $200 per year
    • o Study Skills workshop and speed reading training to improve
      grades by at least a .5 and more than double reading speeds
      within 60 days- $20 per person (assumes 80 students and 20
      adults)
  • Ground transportation- buses and vans to move students to and
    from airports as well as on college campus
  • Frequent flyer miles- these will enable large groups of students
    to travel to colleges during the summer and lower the total cost
    by up to 40%
  • Water and snacks for 13-15 year olds
  • First aid kits/cold packs for athletic injuries
  • Sun tan lotion
  • RFT T-shirts- each student needs 7 for a 5 day program and 10 for
    a 7 day program
  • Community service opportunities- each student who applies must
    complete at least 25 hours in their community

RFT is pursuing plans to expand its programs beyond the current scope,  which includes school districts in Alaska; Philadelphia, PA; Chicago,  Illinois; East Chicago, Indiana; San Diego, California; Montana; Virginia; and the Washington, DC Metro Area. In order to maximize the  impact of every dollar raised, we make extensive use of in-kind support
and pursue participation in existing government programs, which have available matching grants or other forms of support and assistance.

Private and corporate sponsorship in particular can have significant multiplier effects, as we can use such funds and the support they represent in pursuing matching funds from other sources.

If you are interested in becoming an RFT sponsor or partner, please contact us mailto:sponsor@reachfortomorrow.org.

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Colleges, Universities & Military Academies

RFT does not focus solely on improving grade performance, but also seeks to show students the relevance and rewards of values such as integrity, personal excellence, and service to the community and country.

Though RFT is not a recruiting program for any branch of the military, many of RFT's strongest supporters are in military service academies or branches, among people and organizations who understand that the work RFT does grows the pool of potential applicants who meet the demanding academic and personal requirements of military service. In return, RFT gains access to the unique and to many young people, uniquely interesting resources, installations and individuals that make up the US military.

To maximize the program's impact, applicants are selected based on a set of criteria which have been developed to ensure that the students who are most likely to benefit are selected for participation in the program.

These criteria include grades and/or standardized test results but also teacher recommendations, volunteer or community service, questionnaires and interviews with trained RFT volunteers. RFT conducts outreach in participating school districts throughout the country to inform students, parents and educators of the benefits of participation in the program.

 

RFT Volunteer

RFT Adult Volunteer Each student is provided with a local adult volunteer who is trained by RFT to build on this shared, unique experience. The summer experience is a critical component of the subsequent academic tutoring and guidance programs, as this serves as the initial short-term goal for each student as well as an opportunity to bond with their Adult Volunteer. Click here to read the Volunteer Point of View.

RFT Distinguished Advisory Board

The function of the Advisory Board is to expose business, military, and political leaders to RFT and the respective benefits to every community.

Mike Bowman. Recently retired for the U.S. Navy where he served as a Naval Aviator for more than 35 years. In his last tour of duty he was an active participant in the RFT program. He continues to actively support the organization in his current role as Senior Vice President in charge of Washington Operations for DRS Technologies Corporation.

Marlin Fitzwater. Former Press Secretary to Presidents George Bush and Ronald Reagan, Marlin is currently a media consultant. He is in demand as an international speaker on domestic and foreign events. Franklin Pearce College in New Hampshire recently named their newly constructed communications center in his honor. Marlin is an advocate of education and opportunities for students.

Ron Fogleman. Retired USAF Chief of Staff who currently serves on the Defense Policy Board and a number of corporate boards. He has extensive background in operations and strategic planning both in the military and in the corporate world. He is the founder of Durango Aerospace, an international consulting firm specializing in aerospace and media issues.

Frank Petroski. Senior Executive with The MITRE Corporation, Frank is currently the Chief Engineer for Joint and Defense Wide Systems. Frank works with the Chief Technology Officer at the Defense Information Systems Agency, performing technology reconnaissance for the IT infrastructure for the DOD. Prior to his current assignment, Frank was the Director for Air Traffic Management, where he worked with a wide range of international customers including the governments and airport authorities in Mexico, Egypt, Spain, Taiwan, Chain, and Japan, as well as concept development for Air Traffic Management capabilities in Canada. Frank holds a BS in Mathematics from Drexel University and an MS in Operations Research, George Washington University.

Major General Don Shepperd (USAF, ret.). General Shepperd is a graduate of the USAF Academy and served as Director of the Air National Guard before his retirement in 1998. He has an extensive background in operations and management, which he now utilizes as a consultant in the Washington, DC- area in defense related businesses.

The Honorable Walter J. Stewart. “Joe” Stewart, a native of Florida, arrived in Washington, DC, as a page to his congressman and never went home. His distinguished career in public service includes serving as Secretary of the Senate from 1987-94. Currently he is a partner with Griffin, Johnson, Dover & Stewart. With quiet dignity, he supports dozens of causes ranging from historic preservation of the US Capitol, to shelters for the homeless, to regional and international theatre and the arts. Joe resides on Capitol Hill and Lewes, DE.

Mrs. John Tanner. Betty Ann Tanner is a 1968 graduate of the University of Tennessee’s School of Design. In Washington, she oversees marketing and design for Shenandoah Shutters. An active community volunteer, she serves as President of the International Club, a member of the Board of Trustees of Ford’s Theatre, and the National Children’s Alliance. Mrs. Tanner and her husband divide their time between Washington, where John serves as a member of the United States House of Representatives, and their home in Tennessee.

Alma Viator. Alma is president of Alma Viator & Associates, a public relations firm located in DC and operating in New York, DC and LA. She is associated with Shubert Theatres, credited with opening the longest-running hit show on Broadway, “CATS.” In addition to representing high-profile, internationally-known clients, Alma is married to former two-term Congressman from Georgia, Ben Jones. Together they manage “Cooter’s Garage” in Sperryville, VA, named after Ben’s stint as “Cooter” on the television series “Dukes of Hazzard.” In 1998, Alma was named by Washingtonian Magazine as one of Washington’s 100 Most Powerful Women. She is also one of its most generous.

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Board of Directors

RFT is currently managed by the Chairman of the Board and Founder, supplemented by the Board of Directors. RFT’s strategic plan recommends a full time Executive Director to manage operations and a Summer Programs Director. The Board of Directors is comprised of individuals responsible for fiscal and administrative management, guided by an Advisory Board of business and government leaders

Peter K. Underwood is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of RFT. A pilot with American Airlines since 1988, he co-founded EIC Information Technologies, Inc., a small company that has developed innovative and proprietary instruments to measure liquid level in petrochemical tanks. Mr. Underwood is a 1973 graduate of the USAF Academy and a retired Lt. Colonel in the USAF Reserve where he interviewed prospective candidates for USAFA.

Dennis Rowe is a senior manager in charge of FAA airspace projects at Mitre Corporation and an RFT program manager for the 2000 USMMA program in Prince William County. Dennis received his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 1999 and developed all the testing and evaluation programs for RFT.

Melinda Fitzwater is a retired manager with the Boeing Company, and McDonald Douglas Corporation, where she directed their philanthropy programs in Washington. With a bachelors and masters degree in education, Melinda taught for several years in the Virgin Islands and Atlanta, with a focus on students of special interest to RFT programs. She served in the White House under President Ronald Reagan from l980 to l988, and was a public relations executive with the Susan Davis Companies for five years. She was a member of the U.S. election observer team in Mexico, and has been an RFT Board Member since its inception.

Beth James moved from Washington, D.C., to Southwest Florida in 2001 following a successful career in the non-profit arena, which included Ford's Theatre and The Direct Selling Association Foundation. Her consulting company, The James Group, collaborated on a variety of special events and stragetic planning with The Tall Ships, Museum for the Arts, Reach for Tomorrow, Viator and Associates, and Gillroy and Associates.

Continuing her non-profit involvement, Beth is a sought-after civic and community volunteer. She is a fundraiser for various political campaigns and was appointed as a member of the Art in Public Places Committee for the City of Bonita Springs and the Special Events Committe for the City by the Mayor and City Council.

She is an active advocate on behalf of the humane treatment of animals and actively volunteers on behalf of GREY2K, a greyhound advocacy protection organization.

She began her real estate career in Nashville, TN, earning her broker's license and working in both residental and investment real estate. For 6 years, she affiliated with one of the largest investment companies in the SE, where she was a member of the on-site condominium conversion teams in Cincinnatti and Columbus, OH., Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis, TN, and Indianapolis, IN. During her tenure, her skills were utilized as a sales consultant, interior designer for the model units, property management and condominuim board member.

In Naples, FL, Beth is a multi-million dollar producer with Tithe and More Real Estate Company. She is recognized as a top-producer by the Board of Realtors, and in 2006, she was recognized in Gulf Shore Magazine for Five-Star Customer Service..

Idora (Idy) Marcus is the founding principal of Equimark RESOLVE., a company providing solutions, through advice and consulting, to new clients seeking help with complex strategic positioning and access issues. Ms. Marcus has a proven track record of business development, relationship building, and community outreach as was exhibited during the 1999 NATO Summit. Formerly, Idy served as Director of Corporate Development and Special Programs and Spokesperson at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. In addition, she orchestrated publicity for a speakers' series at the Kennedy Center featuring world leaders and well-known celebrities such as Mikhail Gorbachev and Oprah Winfrey. While working with Horton Associates representing The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, Ms. Marcus coordinated numerous government, corporate relations, and production projects supporting the television and motion picture industries. Some of the projects she worked on include: The Hunt for Red October, Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games, Biloxi Blues, Magnum PI, and The Tuskegee Airmen. Throughout her career Idy has devoted thousands of hours on boards and committees utilizing her strategic planning and positioning expertise for organizations such as the Washington Performing Arts Society and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Idy has been a volunteer with RFT since 1999 and a board member since 2003.

Mary S. Gordon Vice President, Global Government Relations, Congressional Affairs
Nortel. Mary Gordon is Vice President, Global Government Relations for Nortel, one of the world's largest suppliers of digital network solutions and most broadly diversified developers of high capacity switching and optics technology. She is responsible for developing and promoting the company’s positions before the U.S. Congress and developing, working with executives throughout the company, political strategies aimed at enacting good policies that ensure favorable growth for Nortel and its customers. Legislative issues on her agenda include telecommunications, trade and taxes.

Gordon serves on the Advisory Committee for the Capitol Historical Society, and is on the Board of Directors for the Digital Dialogue and the Homeland Security Digital Forum. She is a founding member of the informal Blue Dog Business Coalition and is active in business organizations from the States of North Carolina and Texas whose members have an interest in Congressional policy.

Prior to joining Nortel Networks in 1982, Gordon edited a major self-help book, People Power: What Communities Are Doing to Counter Inflation, for the White House Office of Consumer Affairs. She also covered Congress as a reporter for Neuhouse News Services.

Gordon served as legislative assistant to the late Senator Clinton P. Anderson (D-NM) where she handled matters relating to the Senate Interior Committee.

Gordon received a Master's in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University and a Bachelor's of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico.

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Chairman

Peter K. Underwood, RFT's founder and chairman, is an active commercial pilot. Since 1998 he has flown for American Airlines out of Washington D.C. and for about 10 years before that flew for Eastern Airlines out of both Washington and New York. He has lived in suburban Washington D.C. with his wife since 1980; they have two grown children.

Underwood is an Air Force veteran who received his B.S. from the USAF Academy in 1973 and graduated first (a "Distinguished Graduate") in pilot training class 75-01/02 at Vance AFB in 1974. He served active duty as an F-4 pilot in the 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Bentwaters, UK from 1975 to 1978, and at Fort Ord, California from 1978 to 1979. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Reserve in 1993. In 1998 he completed the USAF Air War College. He retired from the active Reserves in 2000 to concentrate on the Reach for Tomorrow program.
 
Underwood served as the elected Washington Vice Chairman of the Allied Pilots Association, the union serving over 10,000 pilots for American Airlines, from 1993-1995. He helped establish a federal credit union for the pilots of American Airlines and their families (which grew to over $60 million in assets in its first four years) and served on the credit union Board of Directors from 1994 to 1996. As a board member of the Allied Pilots Association he developed and implemented a disaster relief effort for south Florida following Hurricane Andrew which airlifted over 35 tons of food, water, and supplies within three days to the disaster victims.

From 1981 until 2000 Underwood served as an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer, giving him the opportunity to interview hundreds of students throughout the Washington, D.C. area. During this time he also developed an exercise program for applicants which was published by the USAF Academy for its 1900 Liaison Officers worldwide and which is currently in use at the Marion Military Academy. He was named Outstanding Liaison Officer for the Northeast Region by the USAF Academy in 1992 and Air Liaison Officer of the Nation in 1998. For his work with youth and the USAF he was awarded a second Meritorious Service Medal in 1998.

The experiences and insights gained from this involvement led Underwood to undertake a comprehensive review of why most youth wait until nearly the end of their high school experience to properly prepare for college. It became clear to him that many if not most of the qualities that make a good Air Force candidate are also applicable for general academic, professional, and personal success. He founded Reach for Tomorrow in 1993 and continues to guide the program today.

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The RFT Student

The program targets rising high school freshmen (generally, eighth graders) who have the capacity to excel in school but whose current grades or scholastic achievement do not reflect this potential.

This strategy is based on the observation that the pre- and early high school years are critical years in a young person's life that frequently determine their academic future and life opportunities, but that all too often students who may have been enthusiastic, above average performers in school up to this point lose their interest in school, resulting in poor academic performance which never recovers.

RFT aims to intervene during these critical years to help a student maintain his or her enthusiasm for and momentum towards academic and personal excellence, first by giving the student a first hand look at the interesting and enjoyable opportunities that good grades in high school can open up for them, and then by helping them reach these goals throughout their high school years and into the college or academy application process.

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RFT Program Results
How We Are Doing

070107 Analysis of Reach for Tomorrow Pre-test and Post-test Survey Data for 2005-2006
070107 Report of how well we did in Arkansas in a small town of 8100 people called Osceola
     
     
 

What are the Outcomes?

 Reach for Tomorrow
13888 Lewis Mill Way
Chantilly, VA 20151

Phone: 703-818-1425
reachft@reachfortomorrow.org

 

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