project leader
Joel C
location
2000 North Parkway
(Midtown)
latest update rss
Applications are pouring in!

the project

We are UpSwing Memphis, a crowdfunding team of Rhodes College students and Shelby County high school students with a mission of bettering the lives of young Memphians.  We couldn't be more excited about our first project, ACT UP, which provides financially strapped high school students with top-notch tutoring.  ACT UP is a free weekend-long ACT preparatory workshop at Rhodes College, led by three of Memphis's best ACT experts.  Any Shelby County high school student can apply, from which 60 will be selected to participate.  In addition to free preparatory classes, participants will receive free practice tests, study materials, access to one-on-one tutoring from Rhodes College students, and more! Plus, some may even qualify to be reimbursed for their next ACT application fee!  We are confident that our program will raise students' ACT scores, which will in turn broaden their college prospects and scholarship opportunities.  

the steps

A counselor from every Shelby County high school will be notified of this opportunity and encouraged to share it with their students.  After completing an application process, 60 students will be selected to participate based on their level of financial need and their eagerness to take advantage of this opportunity.  

why we're doing it

The average ACT score in Memphis City Schools is just 16, and it drops every year.  That's four points behind the state average and five points behind the national. This is largely because many Shelby County students cannot afford tutoring for the ACT, let alone expensive application fees and other costs that accompany taking the test.  

budget

DISBURSEMENT BUDGET (as of 6/2/15):



RAISED = $2,585.00
less ioby Platform Fee  $35.00
less ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee (5%) $118.06
less 3rd Party Payment Processing Fee (3%) $70.83
TOTAL TO DISBURSE = $2,361.11










Printing Costs $800.00
Supplies $354.32
Meals $373.75
Video $300.00
Calculators $193.03
Snacks $173.20

Remaining $267 will be reserved for the next ACT UP event.

 

ORIGINAL BUDGET:

Food & Refreshments: $900
Printing: $800
Calculators: $600
Binders & Dividers: $400

 


SUBTOTAL = $2,700
ioby Platform Fee  $35
3rd Party Payment Processing Fee (3%) $81
TOTAL TO RAISE = $2,816

All extra donations will be used to fund next year's session!

 

updates

Applications are pouring in!

Thanks to everyone who's donated so far!  We've already recieved over 100 requests for applications from local high school students.  This shows how much of a need there is for ACT UP!  Also, a special thanks to ioby for being so helpful throughout this process. 

photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Pat & David Foster
  • Betty Liles
  • Anonymous
  • Lucia and Jim Gilliland
  • Marlene and Barry Siegel
  • A C W.
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Br. Chris Englert,FSC
  • Go Lynx!
  • Bud Richey
  • Caylon T.
  • M. Cox
  • Ann & Jerry Smith
  • Angela G.
  • Will B.
  • Kcentobene
  • Klaudius K.
  • cyndie fogarty
  • Anonymous
  • Parker N.
  • Kishea s.
  • Myron Lowery
  • Chris and Anna Vescovo
  • Linda S
  • Ami Jo Jean
  • Anna Cathryn
  • William W.
  • Nora and Ross Capwell
  • Anonymous
  • Sheila S.
  • Gene L.
  • Anonymous
  • Lori C
  • Terri M.