Greetings!

Happy Pumpkin Spice Season for those of you who celebrate!  🍂

The days may feel shorter, but great things are happening at YPIE in the after school hours.  We welcomed new cohorts of 9th graders, and had 416 students attend the College Zones in Jersey City and Yonkers in the last 2 weeks!

One of our community partners, Volunteer New York!, recently put out a call for urgently needed volunteers for local food distribution programs.  These are the current needs in Westchester County.

Please consider supporting YPIE through Target Circle Guest Directed Giving. YPIE is one of a handful of organizations eligible for community directed giving through this initiative. You can vote on the website or through the app until December 31st.  Please vote and share with your family and friends!

During this Thanksgiving season, we’re especially grateful for each of you who give your time, talent, and heart to our students. Your commitment reminds us that gratitude is best expressed through action, and you embody that every day. Your dedication helps our students dream bigger, work harder, and feel supported every step of the way.

From all of us at YPIE, thank you for making this work so meaningful.

Stacy Winitt

Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships



UPCOMING EVENTS

FAFSA EVENTS

Thanks to all the FAFSA volunteers for assisting with Yonkers events so far this fall! We’d love to have additional FAFSA helpers for these Yonkers and Jersey City events.  Please email Stacy if you can help at either of these events!

• Thursday, 11/13 - Lincoln (375 Kneeland Avenue, Yonkers), 4:00-8:00pm
• Saturday, 11/15 - Dickinson (2 Palisade Avenue, JC), 9:00am-3:00pm

CUNY APPLICATIONS

Yonkers students can apply to CUNY schools with the application fee waived until November 21, 2025. We need volunteers to assist our seniors to complete their CUNY applications. Please email Stacy if you can help at any of these events!

• Wednesday, 11/12 - CSEE (morning), Gorton (all day), Lincoln (all day)
• Thursday, 11/13 - CSEE (morning), Gorton (all day), Lincoln (all day)
• Friday, 11/14 - Riverside (morning)
• Monday, 11/17 - Riverside (all day)
• Tuesday, 11/18 - Riverside (all day), YMHS (afternoon)

Please see the YPIE Volunteer calendar at ypie.org/ypievolunteer



STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

YONKERS COLLEGE ZONE EVENTS

Here are the November Yonkers College Zone Newsletter and Yonkers Senior Newsletter that were shared with students and families last week.

VOLUNTEER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SCHOOL VISITS

Yonkers Essay Coaches and Graduation Coaches can meet with students at school during their lunch/free periods. Please read and adhere to the YPIE Volunteer School Visit Policy, schedule your visits on days when YPIE staff will be at the schools, and email them in advance to let them know your plans.

MEETING AT YPIE COLLEGE ZONES

If you plan to meet your student at the College Zone in Yonkers or Jersey City, please email me at least one business day in advance with the date, time, and name of your student. I’ll add your meeting to the calendar and confirm with you.

GRADUATION COACH REMINDERS

October's Monthly Update Form is due now. Please submit your notes from October if you haven’t already done so. If you are having any issues reconnecting with your Scholar, please let me know.

ESSAY COACH REMINDERS

Fall Essay Coaches should be in regular contact with their Team Captains for the necessary approvals. If your student is lagging behind in meeting the milestones (2025 Fall Milestone Tracker), please share an update with both your TC and Stacy.



VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

YPIE Volunteer Handbook

Essay Coach Playbook

Graduation Coach Playbook

Thanks for reading all the way to the end!