TEAK is an incredible organization that I have been apart of for over two decades. The help they provide students with is second-to-none. There are no other nonprofits like The TEAK Fellowship, and I am proud to be a longtime supporter.
I initially got to know TEAK as a student who was accepted into the program, and 20+ years later, I feel really lucky to still be engaged with TEAK as a Next Gen. Board member. It's an excellent program that goes above and beyond for the students it serves, and ensures that they have all the opportunities they need to succeed in life. I'm a testament of that.
I was a TEAK Fellow and I cannot put my experience into words in a way that would do justice. TEAK was crucial in helping me have a good base as I went through HS, college, and beyond. The organization provided me with opportunities that I otherwise wouldn't have had, like getting a chance to attend a private school in NYC for free, going to Broadway shows, going to France for 6 weeks, having an internship at a bank before I even got to college, the list goes on.
I am so thankful for TEAK and all that the organization has provided for me over the years, and I am so excited to continue to give back to the new generations of TEAK Fellows!
The TEAK Fellowship is truly transforming the lives of our future leaders. I've volunteered with TEAK for a few years now and am always impressed with the level of thought and care the staff, board members and volunteers put into the fellows and the events they hold. The community is so important in NYC and I always leave volunteer events feeling inspired and in awe of the fellows and their gratitude towards the program.
TEAK is a fantastic organization. As a prior mentor to a TEAK fellow, I witnessed first hand the positive impact the organization has on its fellows. They have developed a strong program and a great community.
The TEAK Fellowship is a favorite partner of our corprate volunteer program. The fellows are wonderfully bright and the TEAK team makes all volunteer events seamless and impactful. We love working with TEAK!
I have been involved with TEAK for a year and a half and became a mentor last fall. TEAK is an incredible organization; not only do the matriculation metrics speak for themselves, but the TEAK program and team go above and beyond to create a good, supported experience for the students - both in and out of the classroom. Through TEAK programs, TEAK students get early exposure to a variety of experiences, people, professions - through the mentor program, I have been very lucky to participate in many of them (and often learn myself). I feel very fortunate to be able to be a part of such an incredible organization.
My experience with TEAK has been incredibly impactful.
In 2019, I had the opportunity to mentor a middle school student, who is now at Andover. What stood out during our time together was her drive to take on more ownership of life - in every direction. She came up with the idea that she wanted to serve as a mentor to incoming students. This creativity was a testament to the program that TEAK runs.
TEAK provides a clear and structured path to success for both students and mentors alike. I'm proud to be part of the organization.
The TEAK Fellowship is a remarkable non-profit organization, giving young adults from low-income families the support they need to achieve their potential. TEAK staff and teachers are dedicated to their work of improving lives of deserving young individuals regardless of their economic circumstances.
I've been involved with the TEAK Fellowship since 2016 and the foundation's mission has had a lasting impact on me.
I was introduced to the organization through a former colleague who invited me to a Shake Hands Event. I quickly became a mentor and a Next Gen Board member a few years later. Over the years, I have watched TEAK fellows play dodgeball, recite Shakespeare, attend summer intensive programs, resume workshops, prepare for interviews and graduate high school. I've listened to countless stories of success and have now encouraged my fiancé to get involved too.
I'm proud of how the organization has shaped and continues to shape the next generation of leaders in our community, who may not have otherwise been given the opportunity due to circumstances.
The TEAK Fellowship gave me an opportunity that changed my life. I honestly can say I would not have ended up in college without their help. Thank you TEAK.
My Catholic school A++ 6th grade student, with debate awards, soccer team involvement, and expansive recommendations and endorsements was declined, with no explanation. Seems like people are connected.
I was a TEAK fellow, and TEAK changed my life. I would not have had the same opportunities in life without my experiences as a TEAK student!
TEAK does an incredible job helping low- income students change their lives and the lives of their families. The organization is at the forefront of being committed to anti-racism as well.
TEAK is an amazing program that supports exceptional students from under-served communities in NYC. Not only are they invested in setting the foundation for success through high school and college but there is great importance on the personal and cultural growth of each and every student. Staff are invested in the wellbeing and the success of each fellow and it is evident in the work that they do! They bring passion to their work and are intentional about their interactions and their teachings!
TEAK will never fail to amaze me in their level of care, attention, and passion for justice. As a fellow, and now staff member, I am so happy TEAK works with such talented students reach their full potential, and accomplish their own goals. GO TEAK!
The TEAK Fellowship is an incredible organization. I would not be where I am today without the help of TEAK!
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Truly Teak is an institution that has given us great academic support, its guidance has been important to be able to reach a better school level. From the bottom of our heart Thank you Teak ❤️
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The support that Teak provide to students since 7th grade is excellent, making them grow academically, their life prospects are wider challenges to meet. Teak is the best thing can happen to any child in 6th grade (when they apply) !!
TEAK changed my life! Teak provides me with so much support, helped me get into my dream high school, and gave me access to so many opportunities I never even knew existed
My son is now a graduate of Colgate University and started attending TEAK in the 7th Grade. The impact and opportunities that he has been afforded just by being in the fellowship program are priceless and far too many to name. I encourage all parents/guardians to take a look a TEAK and strongly consider applying - You will be so glad that you did!
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TEAK is a top notch organization that has a holistic approach to helping students and their families achieve academic success in High School, College, and beyond.
I’m already grooming the next generation for the TEAK experience. I’m so grateful for all that TEAK has done
We've had a longstanding relationship with TEAK over several years, and it has been a wonderful experience. Our Libra Social Responsibility programs have hosted several of their students both through our internship program and through our career development workshops. The students are high achieving, proactive, and thoughtful. We still keep in touch with them even following the program. TEAK itself is incredibly well-run and organized. You can tell how much the team cares about the students. We look forward to working with them more!
Hi, my name is Aqil Un Nabi (Axe) and here is my story! When I was in seventh grade, I was selected to apply for the Teak Fellowship program. After a holistic process of exams and interviews, I was chosen for the program with 29 other students and ecstatic to begin my journey. The rest is really a blur. I had the privilege of attending a top tier and diverse private school called Friends Seminary NYC and then completed my Bachelor’s in Political Science and Minor in Film & Media. I have worked for Nickelodeon, Nowthis News, Law & Crime and am grateful for every opportunity. They have made me even more vulnerable yet stronger at the same time. Currently, I want to focus on mental health awareness and ultimately I would like to build my own global business venture. Thank you again Teak and I hope to continue to do you proud!
Teak is a fantastic organization. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a mentor. They have the structure in place to really help every child in their program succeed. I was impressed with how they have the whole child’s wellbeing in mind. It is not just a program that is focused on educational excellence but on creating well balanced young adults as well.
TEAK truly changes the lives of the kids in its program, offering not only opportunities beyond what they’ve dreamed but also mentorship and support throughout junior high and high school. It’s a unique community and program model, tailored to each participant and his/her family’s needs. As a former Fellow, I attribute my achievements and where I am to TEAK and have tried to stay involved even though it’s been over a decade since I finished the program because it means so much to me.
The TEAK Fellowship is a phenomenal organization filled with incredible people who really care about what they do. I was lucky enough to join TEAK in 2000 as a rising 8th grader. I have never looked back. While I worked hard (summer classes and weekend responsibilities), my family and I were supported throughout my entire educational process. TEAK helped me navigate the world of high school applications, grow and mature in a prestigious boarding school, thrive in college, and continue to succeed beyond the classroom. The dedication of the staff is unmatched. TEAK is truly a family.
TEAK is an amazing program that has undoubtedly changed my life. Through the support of TEAK during my middle school and high school years I've been able to acheive success. Even after becoming an alumni the staff are still kind and always willing to help. I would recommend TEAK to anyone lucky enough to get involved.
The TEAK Fellowship became a major part of my life starting in the 7th grade.
Now, 1 year post graduation, with a full-time, salaried position at a globally recognized consulting firm, I am amazed at how far I have come. I know I would not have made to where I am today without the guidance, support, and community provided by TEAK.
As a young professional moving to New York City for my first job out of college, I was looking to be part of an organization that gave me a sense of community and had a mission of impacting the lives of adolescent who had strong professional ambitions. Most relationships in the city are transactional in nature, TEAK Fellowship was exactly what I was looking for. I think what makes TEAK Fellowship unique is the fact that there is a genuine care among staff members, mentors and mentes in the mission of this organization. In my opinion, TEAK fellowship gives mentees the foundation for success via exposure to a community of established professional, extracurricular activities like poetry plays and academic support
I have been a mentor to a TEAK fellow for the past five years, and it has been incredible to watch my mentee grow into the young man he is today. My mentee was already incredibly smart, but TEAK has given him opportunities and connections that many smart young people from low income backgrounds do not have access to. TEAK really has allowed him to achieve his full potential.
This photo is of me with my mentee and his mom at his TEAK graduation.
TEAK is a great program that works to provide opportunities for deserving students to further their education and I'm proud to support the program and its students!
TEAK is amazing- high potential, low means amazing students get access to the best programming and phenomenal high schools and colleges. As a mentor to a fellow in class 22 and as a member of the Next Gen Board I live and breathe the TEAK mission.
The TEAK Fellowship has single handedly changed my and many other young NYC student's lives in ways that far exceeded my own or any one else's expectations. Not only does TEAK give students the opportunity to learn about material which they would never have had access to, they integrate otherwise underprivileged students into global citizens by allowing them access to innumerable resources and networks. I will always be thankful to the TEAK Fellowship as the starting point for where I launched my career, met some of my closest friends, and for allowing me to change my worldview forever towards a more truly vast network.
Terrific staff and great vision. Super dedicated to the kids and they achieve amazing results. John Green is so inspiring. I was a mentor to an amazing student for four years.
The TEAK Fellowship is a well run and highly impactful organization with a focused mission. Other organizations may serve more students but I think few are able to make as much impact on the lives of each individual they work with.
The staff and founders are driven, empathetic and truly dedicated to the work, mission and students served. As someone who was served by the org, as someone who has worked at other nonprofits and who donates to causes, I have seen few nonprofits out there that are as good at what they aim to do.
TEAK is one of the most amazing groups I have ever been a part of, and I have been extremely grateful for the experienced i’ve had so far! Without TEAK, I would not have been able to explore my love for Shakespeare or the numerous other things we have been able to do through TEAK. Being in TEAK since the 6th grade has helped me establish long lasting friendships, and I wouldn’t trade that for the world. Absolutely, 100% worth the experience.
Amazing non-profit! As an individual who went through the program and experienced all that they had to offer, TEAK has had a profound impact on the person I am today.
The staff at TEAK is extremely caring and is personally invested in each and every TEAK Fellow. They sacrifice after work and weekend hours in order to ensure that every Fellow reaches their potential. The Fellowship's mission is unwavering, and the organization will do everything they can to put their Fellows first.
This organization gives middle school and high school students resources to succeed not just in school, but in life. I have been blown away by the big-hearted staff at Teak, the incredible students in this new class, and by the breadth of resources Teak offers students to ensure their success.
Best Experience ever. I have never in my life encounter such a high level of respect and professionalism. My daughter was picked as a 6th grader as part of the fellowship program almost three years ago and it has been a true blessing. Everyone in the program is excellent and they do their work with such passion and love. I recommend this program to everyone I know.
Without the TEAK fellowship, I honestly don’t know where I would be professionally. Through my fellowship with TEAK, I was able to go off to an elite boarding school, attend a private college, and now, attend an Ivy League university for my masters degree. As a child, I didn’t really have any concept of what my future could look like because I didn’t really know what life was like outside of the Bronx. TEAK was able to show me valuable life skills like self advocacy, interview and resume skills, and a growth mindset. The skills proved to be more valuable than my academic courses because they were the skills that I needed when I went out into my field. Ultimately, I can accredit much of my success to my seventh grade self being accepted into the TEAK fellowship.
Both the TEAK staff and students are fantastic people — the staff are always there to help whenever and with whatever possible, and the students are always so willing to learn and exceed expectations every time. This organization is the perfect way to match those who want to help in education with those who can use that educational help and knowledge to achieve their goals and follow their dreams in life. I am so happy to have had a chance to work with this organization!
I am a TEAK alumna. Without TEAK, I would not be the person I am today. They taught me so much from academics, table etiquette, interviewing, professional attire, etc. I owe them a lot!
Teak is a life-changing program. It has exposed me to educational and cultural opportunities that I never thought were possible. Teak guided me through multiple high school, college, and grad school applications and helped me find financial resources to attend elite educational institutions. The program has inspired me to use my educational background to dedicate my current career to helping others and the environment.
TEAK has changed my life. I have seen many of my classmates throughout the years, who have gone to the same schools and have the same background as me, end up with vastly different life outcomes. TEAK has given me the chance to succeed by providing all encompassing support along the way. I would not be even close to where I am today without TEAK. The staff members are all incredibly passionate and treat all the kids like family. I consider getting into TEAK to be one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me.
TEAK is an amazing program that leaves a deep impact on both the students and the volunteers involved. They take the program above and beyond, really providing 360-degree support around each student and allowing students to harness the TEAK network after they graduate!
Great organization that helps kids from low income families with mentorship, academic support, friendships, and financial aid to get into the top schools and colleges. I've been involved since 2008 as a mentor and have seen my mentee go to Deerfield Academy, Yale, and currently is a Fulbright Scholar! They really do amazing work!
Admission to the TEAK Fellowship changed my life trajectory. I would not be where I am if it were not for TEAK. Through the staff's academic and professional support, I have been able to attend and graduate from a top boarding high school and a prestigious college. This program is a life-changer and in some cases, a life-saver.
Teak has been life changing for my daughter. It has opened her eyes to so much more than she ever thought was possible. Not only do they care about my daughter academically but there is no doubt that they care about her overall well being. She has had experiences that were never possible and has opened her mind about her future and wanting to achieve her goals. She has learned about herself and has become more responsible and independent. They push them to study harder, work more efficiently but also show them how to care for others through volunteer work. Though my daughter has had her struggles, there is always someone to lend a helping hand. I am forever grateful for this Fellowship program.
This is a fantastic organization. Doing great work, and very well run. I donate to it, and I hope more people do too!
Awesome non-profit, with a great selection system for identifying talent, and a huge impact on the children they serve!
I spent 41 years reporting about education for NPR and PBS and during that time have reported on and spent time with lots of groups whose goal it is to help able kids, and with plenty of those young people as well. TEAK and TEAK students absolutely stand out, TEAK for its long-term commitment to each and every student; the kids for their desire to grow, achieve and give back. It's clearly tough to get into TEAK, but, once students are accepted, TEAK staff and volunteers do everything possible to enable those young people to succeed. And TEAK never seems to forget families, making sure that they know how critical they are, empowering them, inviting them on the journey. All in all, TEAK is a treasure.
My daughter was accepted into the TEAK FELLOWSHIP exactly 1 year ago. She has blossomed into a great smart intelligent young lady. They have helped her with so many aspects of her life.
TEAK is an amazing program that helped me become the leader I am today. My motivation and thirst for knowledge is a direct result of the dedicated staff and insightful programming! Thank you TEAK!!!
Teak is the best thing that had happened to my son. He has grown in this wonderful young man with the help and support of the teak family.
The TEAK Fellowship is one of those biggest supporters in someone's life. If someone can gain an entrance to TEAK and keep up the work within and beyond TEAK's expectations, then they know that they have a successful future ahead of them. Every thing that they do helps you not only now but also in the future.
I don't know where I would have been without TEAK. This organization is more than a typical organization to me because it holds much more importance to me than that. Thank you SO MUCH!
My daughter was a member of TEAK and we have gained so much from it. We were able to hear about so many different opportunities that we as parents did not know we could give to her. For her older brother we were not prepared for the college process and did not know about the financial aid he could receive so we are so happy TEAK came in time for her and was also able to help him by teaching us. TEAK has helped my daughter, my son and our entire family have a better life through the doors it opens for us. I am incredible grateful and volunteer to help TEAK whenever I can. I have known the organization for ten years now and hope it continues to grow.
TEAK is by far the best organization that I have ever seen. This place sets up limitless amount of opportunities for students. They don't say that the sky is the limit because you can go farther than the sky. TEAK challenges you to become a better person every single day (something that I have seen in very few places). This organization will make sure that their students will shine in the world and they will become the world's greatest assets.
Every single day I come to TEAK and am happy that I am there. When I am looking at the youngest class, Class 18, code, I feel so excited that they have the opportunity to learn something new. Now there is the admission season for the future students of TEAK, Class 19. It has already begun and the members of this future batch will also feel the same amount of excitement and passion that probably every fellows have felt with TEAK. TEAK is a life-changer and everything about it is awesome!!!
As an educator, who has taught in a myriad of venues in the USA, I can honestly say that The TEAK Fellowship is an exceptional program. I was privileged to teach an analytical writing and reading informational text course to TEAK 7th and 8th graders. Observing students as they hone their academic abilities, develop their talents, refine and utilize their emotional intelligence, become extraordinary writers, students and citizens who benefit from and appreciate the most phenomenal educational experiences that TEAK provides verified what I knew was possible from an educational program. "Life changing" does not begin to describe what TEAK offers, because, not only are TEAK students' lives altered, but they then turn around and transform the lives of others, both around them, and around the world. This is truly an educational project that works beyond one's wildest expectations. TEAK prepares students to succeed at the top boarding and day schools, extraordinary colleges, and graduate schools that they attend. And, because of this experience these students become well-rounded, citizens of the world, giving back and understanding just how education can change lives. TEAK is a gold standard for educational programs that work.
TEAK is a game changer for the most deserving and brightest population of students in New York City. TEAK not only helps smart kids gain access to world class educations, they also instill the qualities of leadership and citizenship.
If I never knew about or got accepted into Teak, I know I would be a completely different person from the one I am today. I would have never applied to the school where I can not only challenge myself by taking rigorous course, but where I can also be myself without judgement. Even now as I am going through the college application process, Teak has provided me with all the support I could ever need to get through this. If it wasn't for Teak I wouldn't be where I am today.
Well, a year ago, I got accepted into The TEAK Fellowship and I can honestly say it is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I have had a chance to meet so many different people that within knowing me for a couple of months already wanted me to succeed. From my perspective, TEAK is an excellent and striving community and it has slowly made me an excellent and striving student. I can say I have definitely grown from the first time I stepped in here. Currently, we are working on high school applications. I am, as of today, officially done with my high school application and ready to send it off to all these amazing high schools TEAK has exposed me to. I've also gotten a chance to meet and learn more about other students who were once in my position and are now TEAK alumni. In the end, The TEAK Fellowship has allowed me to grow and learn more about who I am, and it continues to help other striving young minds do the same.
It is great place for teenagers and young adults. They provide great guidance and support for the young people. They help the parents too.
My daughter was accepted.into TEAK Fellowship in 2014 and I can honestly say its a life changing experience for her. She really loves the people that work.their she said its family.oriented and she also.likes all of her mentors. she looks forward to going there 2xs a week. Her dream is to work with animals and I know with teaks help her dream will come true.
TEAK is a life-changer. I am now applying to high school and TEAK is helping me in every step of the way. I wouldn't have ever thought of applying to independent schools due to financial problems, but now I feel like this is a completely new opportunity that I am getting due to TEAK. I love TEAK and I will always do. I have learned so many things from this place that I will never forget in my life. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
While being given the privilege of teaching writing at TEAK, I have watched these students transform themselves, gain self-confidence, mastery, self-sufficiency, empathy, knowledge and academic, social, and emotional skills because of the dedication of the exceedingly caring TEAK staff. Students are motivated to reach for, and reach, the stars. Through the ongoing support TEAK students receive, I follow their amazing accomplishments. TEAK students appreciate and are aware of the incredible opportunities that TEAK provides. They give back by giving to others. This is a "whole cloth" program, providing not only academic opportunity, but also the life skills that are needed for young men and women to become the caring leaders of tomorrow. Those who are accepted into this program have their lives changed forever, enhancing every family member, and the rest of us, as well.
TEAK is an incredible organization - extremely well-run and with a clear and important purpose. It manages to find super talented students from low-income backgrounds and changes the direction of their lives through high-touch mentorship and by helping them get into top boarding schools and New York prep schools. I've been fortunate enough to be involved first as a mentor and then as a junior board member, and I've been able to see firsthand the quality of the staff and the organization.
TEAK does wonders. I could not imagine my life without all the opportunities that TEAK has given to me. I am eternally grateful for this organization and the people who work for it.
This program changed my life. I'm at a top private school, traveled to Europe last year, and feel happy and intellectually stimulated and challenged at my school.
All of this and more is thanks to TEAK. My peers are amazing, brilliant, and hilarious. The staff really works hard and they all radiate a passion for education and chsnging our lives. I am proud and grateful for being a TEAK Fellow.
I saw Teak staff members go above and beyond to make sure the kids had fun in addition to all there hard work. After class they had game night for the kids with popcorn, cookies and chess, backgammon, clue and other games. A new experience for many of them and an important one.
I can't possibly say good enough things about TEAK. They deeply care about each and every one of their individual students for ~10 years, helping them with everything from middle school homework to getting high-quality internships during college. Just walking into the TEAK building / office / classroom is inspiring and makes one want to strive for more.
TEAK is a fantastic organization with an amazing mission. There are plenty of nonprofits that have the latter but their ability to execute and deliver for the cause is questionable. TEAK really delivers. The students they find for the program and the extra (well rounded) education the program provides the students are obvious upon spending five minutes with any of the Fellows. But the proof is in the results. The secondary schools into which TEAK Fellows are accepted (and are able to attend thanks to incredible financial aid packages TEAK helps them receive) are second to none and the success the Fellows achieve in these schools (and in turn at the top universities they achieve) is staggering.
Interning with TEAK has been one of the best experiences ever and has definitely been THE best internship I've ever had. I am constantly inspired by all of the dedicated staff members of TEAK who relentlessly champion the potential of students who do not have the resources to do so on their own. The abundant success stories from TEAK students prove that such personalized guidance is what every young adult should have as they enter into the professional world. Being apart of an organization that make the world a better place means that I am apart of something meaningful and that's all I or anyone else can really ask for. THANK YOU, TEAK.
When I received my acceptance into TEAK I did not realize how much my life would change. TEAK has helped me in so many ways and I would not be where I am today without TEAK. The TEAK Fellowship is a family with thoughtful and caring staff members and amazing students who have become lifelong friends. I love TEAK!
The organization, its mission and approach resonated with me from the time I first learned about it and I have been involved since. Seeing how positively the program influences its participants is truly remarkable. There are a lot of similar programs around NY, but I think that TEAK is one of the most thoughtful given the amount of attention they provide to the students.
There are lots of programs that attempt to do what the TEAK Fellowship does, but no organization that does it nearly as well, in my opinion, and I am very familiar with the low-income/ education landscape. TEAK students are bright, driven, capable, hard working and outgoing. In short, they become real difference makers in their high school and college communities. Much of that has to do with TEAK and the thousands of hours it spends preparing them for academic and personal success. When you hear about--and see first hand--what TEAK does to prepare these students, it honestly blows your mind. It is an amazing, comprehensive program with the results to back it up.
I strongly encourage you to get involved in this organization, which holds fun volunteer events throughout the year that are posted on Volunteermatch.
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When I was first accepted to my internship position at TEAK, I didn't realize the full extent that this nonprofit goes to in order to make change in the lives of young people. But within a few days of working there, I was able to see that I was at a place that not only does its job of helping people in need; TEAK gives each of its fellows so much personal attention and fosters a community that many of the students consider to be a second family.
I believe that in America, many realms of the education system are unjust. It's so hard to gain entrance to selective high schools and colleges without knowledge about them, or without enough money to pay for their expensive tuitions. However, TEAK does an outstanding job of helping students get past these limitations. All of the students I've interacted with are incredibly bright, energetic and ambitious. A majority of them are first generation college students who're eager to follow their dreams and to make their parents proud. Directed and staffed by wonderful people, TEAK is able to make dreams come true for the children it serves. Although it's relatively small compared to nonprofits of similar nature, the work done here is so inspiring. Please support!
Students who are selected by TEAK, are those who are willing and able to learn from others - from their peers and from the staff of TEAK, and from the many volunteers who mentor, teach, and bring programming. The extra hours all TEAK students devote to this process is hugely beneficial in the growth of each individual, and here the key is the individual- one on one attention throughout high school. This could be at a New York school, or could be at a boarding school anywhere in the U.S.A.
But the oversight is always there, and the guidance and support systems work to groom a wholesome graduating class, each and every year. Students who are willing to sign on to TEAK are special, in that they are understanding of expectation. And TEAK delivers, one by one.
As an intern, I have fallen in love with TEAK. All the programming and activities I have witnessed are wonderful experiences for all the students at TEAK. I'm actually jealous I wasn't part of such a great program, but I am happy to see that this organization is dedicated to introducing a world of academics and culture that low-income students might not have been exposed to otherwise. There's a TEAK family and if you're part of it, you're very lucky.
I'm a TEAK alum from Class 6. TEAK has been such a positive force in my life. My involvement in TEAK has changed my life and opened so many doors.
The fellows I met in TEAK were dedicated to pursuing the best education possible. Although the preparation for our high schools and colleges was by no means easy, the hard work was 100% worth it and really prepared us well. TEAK truly invested in us -- not just by providing us with extra academic help and cultural enrichment opportunities, but also by pairing us with incredible, thoughtful mentors and dedicated, hard-working staff. The staff is exceptional and most of the staff from earlier years are still heavily involved in TEAK and in touch with the fellows. Lastly, my TEAK friends have been, and continue to be, a source of inspiration, strength, and advice. TEAK, thank you!
I've seen the effect of this organization on the lives of the fellows and it is unbelievable.
You truly have an immediate affect on the lives of NYC teenagers during the toughest times of their lives.
I am a first time mentor for a student in the TEAK program, and I am loving the experience! I am so impressed with TEAK -- the staff, the program and the students that are TEAK fellows!!! My mentee is such a bright, interesting and curious person, and I really enjoy interacting with her and watching her accomplish wonderful things and learn about the world. TEAK provides a wonderful atmosphere for the fellows to learn and grow, while making things fun and interesting. I wish I had been in a similar program when I was growing up!!!
I have served as a mentor at the TEAK Fellowship for three years and it has been a great experience, all around. TEAK seems to have figured out that supporting a young, bright student through junior high, high school and through college is not just about financial aid, scholarship and internship opportunities. Instead, TEAK focuses on providing classroom-based supplemental learning, true long-term mentoring, meaningful college and high school preparation and a focus on improving the relationships that each TEAK fellow needs to see the program through. It's not easy. Fellows pull long summer hours and are consistently being challenged, so the support is needed.
Aside from all of this, the staff and board at TEAK are among the best I've seen - well organized, responsive and dedicated. TEAK may not be the largest non-profit organization, but I couldn't imagine the organization being more impactful for the lives that they touch.
I serve as a mentor to a Teak student who is entering high school this fall. Teak is an absolutely fantastic organization. I have found the mentoring experience to be very rewarding for me personally. I also have had the opportunity to see up close what a tremendous and lasting impact the organization has on its participants and their families. Unlike other eductional organizations I have been involved with, Teak takes a comprehensive approach and really envelops the participants to give them all the support they need to succeed.
Words cannot convey how positive of an impact Teak has left on my life. It helped me not just academically, but in every other regards of my life as well. Their office became a second home to me. I remember walking to the office almost everyday after middle school not because I had to, but because it was a supportive atmosphere with caring people that made me feel worthy of something. Not only did Teak care about my academics, but they helped me with my family issues as well. To this day, even though the founder, Justine Arrillaga, lives in California, she still emails me to see how I am doing. Despite having hundreds of students in the program, each staff really makes the effort to get to know the students to a personal level, which is something I rarely see in other programs.
Without Teak, I would never have gone to boarding school, which gave me one of the best experiences of my life. And by the time I went to college, I was so independent and comfortable with all the areas of academia that I adjusted with ease. Now that I've graduated from one of the nation's top 20 universities, I can look back on my life and feel proud of my accomplishments, which would not have been at all possible without Teak.
I joined TEAK in 7th grade and with the help of their wonderful program and staff, got into the Collegiate School in New York, a prestigious all-boys preparatory school. Their Summer Institute was extremely helpful in preparing me for high school, and their help with high school admissions was indispensable. But even after getting into high school, their support continued in many forms, and now I can say that I graduated from Princeton University and am going on to study for my PhD thanks to The TEAK Fellowship.