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Futures News, Winter 2010
"Futures Provides Transformative Opportunities for Deserving Youth"
(PDF file, 1.77MB)

There is no question that improving education is essential to ending poverty.  In today's competitive job market, the best jobs go to those with college or trade school degrees.  Unfortunately many barriers to higher education remain in place for children challenged by the built-in adversity that minority and disadvantaged teens face.

Futures News, Fall 2010
"Passport to College Expo 2010"
(PDF file, 514K)

Hundreds of Students from 5 Chester County school districts attended Futures 4th annual daylong Passport to College Expo August 4th at Brandywine Picnic Park, West Chester.  While the event focused on college admissions, academics and reaching goals, the outdoor setting allowed time for entertainment and socializing.

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Futures In the News

Horsing Around for a Good Cause: Susan Springteen and Chester County Futures Empower At-Risk Students Chester County Life, March/April 2007
When faced with poverty, families tend to have short horizons, notes Catherine Mesaros, Executive Director of Chester County Futures. It's difficult for anyone to plan for the future when they can't see beyond today's troubles. A 'quick fix' (like a dead-end job) takes priority over a far-flung goal (like a college degree). Read the Article

Chester County Futures Honored as Non-Profit Business of the Year (re-printed from the Great Valley RegionalChamber of Commerce “Profile Awards Dinner program, March 2006)
The Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce has named Chester County Futures the 2006 “Non-Profit Business of the Year.” The Chamber presented the award to CC Futures at its 16th Annual Profile Awards Dinner March 9 at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern. Continued...

Saddling Up for a Good Cause August 13, 2005 The Daily Local News
Susan Springsteen of Uwchlan is an amateur equestrian, ranked 13th in the nation at Grand Prix in 2003. She is also a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Wayne, a stocks commentator for KYW News Radio and a board member of Chester County Futures. This year, Springsteen embarked on a new project that combined all of her talents and interests. Springsteen and her horse, Cidor, have started giving riding lessons in exchange for donations to Chester County Futures to start a scholarship. Continued...

Mentoring Group Helps Low-income Students August 4, 2005 Exton Suburban Advertiser
"We're operating from our offices as far a paperwork," said Catherine Mesaros, executive director, Chester County Futures, Inc (CCF). The real magic of the nine-year-old program, however, takes place in area classrooms. CCF is an academic, mentoring and scholarship organization serving 151 low-income students from the county whose socio-economic plight places them at risk of dropping out of school. Continued...

D O I N G   G O O D... g i d d y u p July 2005 Main Line Today (PDF file, 121K)
As a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley, Sue Springsteen, 46, of Downingtown, has had a lot of experience in finding creative ways to get the most out of peoples’ money. An accomplished dressage rider, she also knows how to get the most out of a horse. Now Springsteen is using skills to raise funds for at-risk kids who are seeking college educations. Continued...

A horse will send a student to college. March 3, 2005 Philadelphia Inquirer
We will explain: Amateur dressage rider Sue Springsteen of Chester County has won award after award with her horse, Cidor. Springsteen, 46, has long been asked to give riding lessons on the 21-year-old gelding, but she has resisted because she wants to keep her amateur status. Continued...

Susan Springsteen and Cidor attract attention in the May 2005 journal published by the US Dressage Federation (USDF) May 2005
DAL is happy to announce that it’s located a minor celebrity who’s using dressage to make a difference in her community. Continued...

Press Releases

Chester County Futures to Host 3rd Annual Evening at the Races March 2008 (PDF file, 104K)
Area residents can experience the thrill of horse racing on an indoor track on Sat., April 5 at a lively, rip-roaring charity event, Evening at the Races sponsored by First National Bank of Chester County. The elegant Concordville Inn Gold ballroom will be decked out in Kentucky Derby style for the 7 p.m. event benefiting 220 disadvantaged students served by Chester County Futures. A 20-foot indoor race track will be the main attraction. An authentic race announcer will call the indoor track action as a live jockey in colorful race attire moves large horse replicas down the indoor track on a roll of the dice. Guests will be track-side to cheer on their favorites and wager Derby charity bucks as 24 horses take to the track in five races.. Read Full Story   

Silent Auction Features Unique Items to Benefit Local Non-Profit Organization March 13, 2008 (PDF file, 84K)
Exton, PA-- A handmade quilt featuring the artwork of disadvantaged teens who are getting a real chance to succeed. Lodging accommodations in some of the most fabulous places far away and close to home, including: an old world apartment in Tuscany, a 5 star resort in Costa Rica and a multi-million dollar vacation home in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. A men’s night out evening hosted in a private Main Line wine cellar. These are just a few of the items available for bid at Chester County Futures “Evening at the Races” event on April 5 at the Concordville Inn. In addition to the evening’s indoor horse racing, dinner and dancing event, a silent auction featuring $24,000 in items with over 40 packages and nearly 100 items will be held to benefit the programs of Chester County Futures. Continued...

Chester County Futures students get plugged into their futures with a little help from two corporate neighbors July 29, 2005
A group of 151 disadvantaged Chester County high school students won’t be kidding around when they brag about being “plugged into their futures” this school year. They’re revving up for the fall semester with an all day kick-off event this month set up by their parent organization, Chester County Futures, Inc. The kick-ff event, set for August 3, just happens to be sponsored by a rather powerful duo: Peco, the region’s most prominent supplier of electricity; and Exelon Generation, one of the world’s largest energy producers. Continued...

October 11 Golf Classic Benefits Low-Income Chester County Students July 8, 2005
The Chester County Futures 2005 Benefit Golf Classic is set for Tuesday, October 11, at the Downingtown Golf Club located just off Lancaster Ave/Business Rt. 30 in Downingtown. Proceeds benefit low-income Chester County public high school students. Golf packages include lunch, evening reception, dinner, awards ceremony, golfer gift bags, refreshments on the course, greens fees, hole-in-one contest, an ad in the event program, and more. Corporate sponsorships packages begin at $300. Top prizes include a brand new 2005 luxury car for the winner of the hole-in-one contest and a $10,000 cash prize for the putting contest winner. Continued...

Chester County Futures Student Receives Scholarship from Award Winning Horse May 2005
Coatesville Area High School senior, Tekia Campbell, wants to be an actress. And why not; her smile lights up the room. She’s also interested in pursuing a career in psychology, which she’ll study at Millersville University this fall. Her hopes and dreams aren’t much different from other 18-year olds, but her life story and determination to succeed definitely set her apart. Continued...

CC Futures Students Participate in the Coatesville Youth Survey Project January 2005
As part of United Way of Chester County’s Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Project, a small group of teens were selected to participate in a series of workshops designed to promote youth leadership development in a service learning capacity. Continued...