Heights Philadelphia

🎓 More than 800 Heights students were recognized at @citizensbankpark last Friday, celebrating milestones from 5th grade to college graduation. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 – 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝘆, 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. 🧡 🥁 The iconic @snacktime and Franklin Learning Center’s Universal Language Band brought the electric energy. 🦅 @jason.kelce made a surprise appearance that lit up the stadium. 📣 Families, staff, alumni, and supporters came together to cheer on our city’s future. 🎤 Our phenomenal student speakers and performers shared their voice and talent. A huge thank you to our friends @rickwilliams6 for emceeing and @deloitte for sending volunteers on #ImpactDay to help set up and make the day shine. When people give their time and energy to Heights, it makes a lasting difference. If you believe in this work too, the time is now to support our Philly youth. 🔗 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆: give.heights.org or visit the link in our bio. #ReachNewHeights #HeightsPhilly #HeightsGraduationCelebration #Classof2025 #HeightsGraduation2025 #HeightsStudents #HeightsGraduates #PhillyGraduates #PhillyGrads #HeightsGraduation

We are proud to announce the launch of Temple Future Scholars, a program dedicated to creating pathways to college for Philadelphia public middle school students. In partnership with @heightsphilly and @philly_schools , this initiative will support low-income, first-gen-to-college students—guiding them through their academic journey from middle school to college. By removing financial barriers and expanding opportunities, we’re committed to empowering the next generation of Philadelphia youth.

Our success as an organization these past two years is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our students, their families, their schools, and our generous donors, volunteers, and partners. 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞. As you consider your year-end contribution, please know that a donation to Heights helps us continue this impactful work, shaping a more equitable city for our young people. Learn more about the different ways you can give at /bit.ly/HeightsPhiladelphiaWaystoGive or donate online today at bit.ly/HeightsGiveNow #ReachNewHeights #HeightsPhilly #HeightsStudents #HeightsCommunity #DonateToHeights

Philadelphia was founded on a revolutionary promise: that 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲. On June 12, we will see that promise fulfilled at Citizens Bank Park as nearly 1,000 Heights students take the next step. Among them is Sylvia Ortega. This year, Sylvia is graduating from Juniata College, one of Heights' partner schools, with her MBA after pursuing a 3+1 accelerated BS and MBA Program. She will then step into a full-time role at Hirtle & Co. after completing an internship there. Sylvia has already done the hard work — now it’s our turn to ensure the path stays open for the 4,000+ students we serve and the 1,000+ Class of 2026 graduates. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 (Link in bio) #HeightsPhilly #Philly250 #ClassOf2026 #ThePromiseOf1776 #CitizensBankPark #EconomicMobility #PhillyGrit #PhiladelphiaGraduation

🔔 Grit: You told us that Philadelphians are full of grit, and we see that same spirit in our students every single day. Whether it’s navigating systemic underinvestment or taking college-level courses while still in high school, the Class of 2026 isn’t just waiting for history to happen — they are making it. Heights students are paving their own path toward success. And because of your support, we’re removing some of their personal and systemic barriers. Will you join us with a donation? Invest in our Philly youth today at the link in our bio. #HeightsPhilly #Philly250 #Classof2026 #EconomicMobility #Grit

Last Saturday, our PlayMakers spent the afternoon exploring and researching strategies for college applications, financial aid, and next steps after high school! 📚 Thank you to our friends at @heightsphilly for providing the curriculum ✨ #safehubphilly #phillysoccer #workshop #collegeplanning

𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 ✨ 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗘𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻, our final Heights volunteer highlight for National Volunteer Month! Since getting connected to Heights in summer 2025, Mike has provided tireless and wise support to Heights students, including mentoring and teaching multiple Heights students in STEM fields. He’s also led STEM career exposure events at Heights partner high schools, and provided insight to our career team on curricula and industry trends. Mike worked 30 years research and development as a chemical engineer at DuPont. After retirement, he consulted as a full-stack web developer. He currently instructs an online statistics seminar for high school students for the University of Pennsylvania “Heights has matched me up with two highly-motivated students with interests similar to mine. I meet each of them virtually once a week. I really look forward to my sessions with my mentees. I am happy to share my engineering expertise with them, and they are very appreciative to have the help” “In my retirement, my web has shrunk some. Getting to participate with Heights has expanded it some. I’m also doing a little adjunct teaching at Penn and this intersects with my Heights experience since Heights has close ties to Penn.” Thank you, Mike — we are thrilled to celebrate your contributions this National Volunteer Month!  #HeightsPhilly #NationalVolunteerMonth #HeightsVolunteer

𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 ✨ 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗣é𝗿𝗲𝘇 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘇𝗮𝗱𝗮, another one of our incredible Heights Volunteers! Carol earned both her 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 ✅ and 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ✅ with a focus on Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Now working as an Educational Consultant, Carol has worked in various roles within education, spanning admissions, residential life, alumni relations, and DEI initiatives. Her extensive experience within education is reflected in her impactful work here at Heights. Carol was connected with Heights after meeting Associate Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement Liz Sutton, while they both worked with students at Penn. She has contributed in multiple capacities, from speed networking with high school students to leading a career exposure session in one of our partner high schools. In addition to serving as a volunteer, Carol works as a part-time teacher with Heights’ College App Classroom program. Heights created the College App Classroom curriculum in partnership with University of Pennsylvania admissions, and Carol uses her extensive experience with college admissions to teach the first-ever 10th grade section of College App Classroom at Lankenau High School.  #HeightsPhilly #NationalVolunteerMonth #HeightsVolunteer

𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 ✨ 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘇, one of our brilliant Heights volunteers! Jennifer, a recipient of the Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Healthcare Scholars Program, was introduced to Heights in her senior year of undergrad. Heights provided her additional mentorship and support throughout her education journey. Since graduating, she has become 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.  Jennifer has been a wonderful partner for Heights, showing a deep commitment to supporting others and playing a meaningful role in students’ journeys toward college and career success. In their words, “Being able to support others and play even a small role in someone else’s journey is incredibly meaningful to me.” We are so excited to celebrate her this volunteer month! #HeightsPhilly #NationalVolunteerMonth #HeightsVolunteer #HeightsAlumni

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗲, one of our amazing Heights Alumni Volunteers! As an educator with nearly a decade of experience, supporting and teaching students of all ages, Breia brings invaluable support to Heights. She serves as an 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿, working primarily with 6th and 7th-grade ELA students while 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. She earned her associate’s degree in Middle School Education from @ccpedu . Outside of the classroom, Breia coaches middle school basketball, focusing on building her team’s discipline, confidence, and teamwork — both on and off the court. As a 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. In 2003, Breia got connected to the Heights world through Steppingstone Academy, and as she recalls her experience, “It was a space where I built lifelong friendships, gained knowledge that has stayed with me, and I was consistently surrounded by adults and peers who poured into me. Years later, being able to return and serve through Heights feels like a full-circle moment, giving back to the same kind of community that once invested so deeply in me.” We are grateful for Breia and her commitment to Heights students! #HeightsPhilly #NationalVolunteerMonth #HeightsVolunteer #HeightsAlumni #VolunteerSpotlight

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗗𝗿𝘆𝘀𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗲, one of our amazing Heights Alumni Volunteers! Growing up in Southwest Philadelphia, Jestina first joined the community through Philadelphia Futures before it evolved into 𝗛𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀. Her journey from student to volunteer is a powerful testament to the lasting impact of a strong support system. Jestina earned her 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀/𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ✅, followed by a 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 ✅, and is currently a 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 📗 Most of her career has been in 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 and she now serves as the Assistant Director of Student Conduct at 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. Jestina is dedicated to student success as she continues to show up for Heights as an alumni and volunteer. We are proud to celebrate her as a part of our community! #HeightsPhilly #NationalVolunteerMonth #HeightsVolunteer #HeightsAlumni

Today, we’re highlighting Takhaya Wilkins! Takhaya is a graduating senior at Philadelphia High School for Girls and a three-time recipient of the 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁. She has used her grants to flourish at 𝗞𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, a Philly-based performing arts studio dedicated to dance, modeling, and mentorship. Keep up the great work, Takhaya! We are so proud of how you used your Ellis Enrichment Grant to grow creatively and as a leader! 📢 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡! The Ellis Trust Enrichment Grant application for the 2026-2027 school year is 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘄!  These funds support a wide range of extracurricular growth — from arts and dance initiatives like Kreative Legends to STEM, pre-college, and athletic programs. 𝗪𝗵𝗼: Female-identifying students residing in Philadelphia who attend Public or Charter schools. 𝗛𝗼𝘄: Applications are processed on a rolling basis. Students must reapply for Ellis Enrichment Grants each year. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆: Learn more at ellistrust.org Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘈𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴.