Eagle Academy Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Empowering Youth Through Education

Celebrating 20 Years of Eagle Academy Foundation

The Eagle Academy Foundation (EAF) is gearing up for a momentous occasion on February 25, 2025, as it honors two decades of empowering youth of color through education and leadership development. This milestone event, titled "Taking Flight," will take place at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City and marks a significant achievement in the foundation's ongoing mission.

Founded with the goal of enhancing the lives of young men of color, EAF has created a space where these individuals can thrive academically, socially, and personally. The foundation emphasizes joy, belonging, learning, and leadership, which have collectively impacted thousands of young lives and their communities.

The Eagle Academy for Young Men boasts a network of six public schools across New York City and New Jersey, with an impressive high school graduation rate exceeding 98%—surpassing both city and national averages. Furthermore, graduates have established a robust alumni presence in various colleges, communities, and professions nationwide.

The innovative Eagles Roaring Beyond program targets post-secondary success, focusing on college readiness, workforce development, and financial empowerment. By equipping young individuals with the tools they need, the program aims to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Additionally, the Eagle Institute provides essential training and support for educators and institutions to improve their ability to nurture youth of color and foster student success. This initiative has trained over 2,000 teachers, administrators, and community advocates across 34 school districts and 65 cities, benefiting more than 40,000 students.

Donald M. Ruff, Jr., the President and CEO of EAF, reflects on the foundation's ethos, stating, "EAF believes in the talent, humanity, and leadership of young people of color. While we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we also look towards the future with strategic intent and collaborative energy because the work ahead requires collective resolve."

The upcoming celebration will not only commemorate the foundation’s remarkable journey but also recognize valued supporters like One Hundred Black Men, Inc., whose commitment to improving the lives and opportunities for African Americans led to the establishment of the Eagle Academy for Young Men—New York City’s first all-boys public school in over 30 years.

Additionally, Paul T. Williams, Jr. will receive the Founders Award. As a former legal advisor for the New York State Assembly Banking Committee and a board member since the foundation's inception, Williams has played a pivotal role in its development.

Moreover, World Wide Technology (WWT), a leading digital strategy firm founded by EAF supporter David Steward, will be acknowledged. WWT has grown into a multi-billion dollar company recognized as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For, demonstrating the success of visionary leadership in the business sector.

Ruff passionately expresses, "Eagles are magnificent, soaring freely. We aspire for our youth and communities to experience such freedom. The Eagle Academy Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that young people of color can live fulfilling lives, learn joyfully, and lead courageously...because that is what they deserve."

For further details about the 20th-anniversary celebration and how to support the Eagle Academy Foundation, visit eafny.org.

About Eagle Academy Foundation

The Eagle Academy Foundation is a nationally recognized social impact organization committed to supporting youth of color from grades six through adulthood. The foundation develops and sustains the Eagle Academies for Young Men, the largest ecosystem of its kind nationwide, providing essential education and resources to young men across the five boroughs of New York City and Newark. For more information and updates, follow EAF on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.