Greetings!

So many of you came out to support the YPIE Gala a few weeks ago - thank you for purchasing tickets, making donations, and bidding on auction items! Please take a look at the YPIE Gala 2025 Photo Album - the photo booth shots are particularly fun!

Another way to support YPIE is through the Target Circle Guest Directed Giving initiative. YPIE is one of a handful of organizations eligible for community directed giving from Target. You can vote on the website or through the app until December 31st (https://www.target.com/circle/community-voting/). Please vote and share with your family and friends!

The Jersey City and Yonkers College Zones officially opened for fall programming yesterday! Space will be a bit tighter, so please be sure to email me at least 1 business day in advance of your planned coach meetings with students.

We’d love to expand our Jersey City tutor program - please email me if you are interested in becoming a YPIE JC tutor!

Finally, the 2025 Fall Essay Season launched last week. In total, 287 students, 119 coaches, and 21 team captains have participated in the 2025 essay program (spring, summer, fall). Assisting students with their college application personal statements is a huge lift in the college access process - thank you!

Stacy Winitt

Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships



UPCOMING EVENTS

FAFSA TRAINING

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid can be a complicated process for families to navigate on their own. FAFSA Assistants volunteer at various district and school-wide events to help Jersey City and Yonkers public school families complete the application. If you are interested, please plan to attend one of these training sessions and email Stacy to RSVP:

October 10th, 12:00pm-1:00pm (via Zoom)

October 14th, 5:15pm-6:15pm (via Zoom)

SCIENCE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP COACHES

YPIE Science Research Internship Coaches work with YPIE Science Research Scholars to apply for summer internships. Coaches meet regularly with their students in the fall to ensure all components of the internship applications (resumes, essays, interviews) are completed before the deadlines. Meetings can occur in person (at the students’ schools, at the College Zone, or in public places) or remotely. If you are interested, please plan to attend one of these orientation sessions and email Stacy to RSVP:

October 16th, 12:00pm-12:30pm (via Zoom)

October 21st, 5:30pm-6:00pm (via Zoom)

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



STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

YONKERS COLLEGE ZONE EVENTS

Here’s the October Yonkers College Zone Newsletter that was shared with students and families last week.

FAFSA EVENTS - GRADE 12 FAMILIES

These are the currently scheduled FAFSA events for Yonkers - more may be added.  FAFSA events in Jersey City are TBD.

• Thursday Oct 16, 4pm-8pm - YPS College Fair, 150 Rockland Avenue
• Saturday Oct 25, 10am-4pm - YPIE, 92 Main Street, Yonkers
• Tues Oct 28, 4pm-7:30pm - CSEE, 260 Warburton Avenue
• Wednesday Nov 5, 4pm-8pm - Gorton, 100 Shonnard Place
• Thursday Nov 6, 4pm-8pm - Riverside, 565 Warburton Avenue
• Wednesday Nov 12, 4pm-8pm - YMHS, 150 Rockland Avenue
• Thursday Nov 13, 4pm-8pm - Lincoln, 375 Kneeland Avenue
• Wednesday Nov 19, 4pm-8pm - YMA, 160 Woodlawn Avenue
• Thursday Nov 20, 4pm-8pm - Roosevelt, 631 Tuckahoe Road
• Wednesday Dec 3, 4pm-8pm - Obama, 201 Palisade Avenue
• Thursday Dec 4, 4pm-8pm - Saunders, 183 Palmer Road

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

September’s Monthly Update Form is due now. Please submit your notes from September 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 have established contact with their Team Captains by this point. If you have not yet done that, please do so ASAP.



VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

YPIE Volunteer Handbook

Essay Coach Playbook

Graduation Coach Playbook

Thanks for reading all the way to the end!