SF Achievers

Dr. Henry Safrit, who created Meritus College Fund, founded San Francisco Achievers in 2008 to reduce the achievement and social gaps of at-risk Black males from San Francisco public school after observing that they were missing out on college because they didn’t qualify for most scholarships - only 5-6% had GPAs high enough to be considered college material. Furthermore, studies show that Black males make up just 5.5% of all college students and only one in six graduates. Yet, without a college degree, the career choices and possibilities for these young men are extremely limited. Achievers addresses these inequalities by providing the college scholarships and individual support at-risk Black males from San Francisco public schools need to promote positive life outcomes for themselves, the community and the nation.

Many at-risk San Francisco Achievers African American male high school seniors face barriers to college access and success. They have grappled with dysfunctional family life, low expectations, and limited academic guidance. Nearly 60% of the young men have experienced homelessness, foster care, parental incarceration

and/or violent environments. Because of economic and societal pressures, some members in this cohort never imagined that they could attend college, until San Francisco Achievers approached the Black male students with the offer to provide a college scholarship and support if they achieved a 2.5 GPA by high school graduation.