Last month, we announced that Summer Search was a finalist in the third annual Renewal Awards, a national competition recognizing local organizations driving positive change in their communities.

Thanks to Allstate, The Atlantic, and everyone in our community who voted for Summer Search, we won the runner-up prize of a $10,000 grant!

On stage at the Renewal Awards ceremony. From left to right: Jillian Hishaw, Esquire from F.A.R.M.S.; Ron Brownstein from The Atlantic; Dominique Stone from Profound Gentlemen; Cynthia Whitfield-Story from Allstate; Sharon de Oliveira from Summer Search; Jeremy Collins from Fugees Family.

Sharon de Oliveira (pictured above, second from the right), our National Senior Development Associate and Summer Search alumna, represented us at the Renewal Awards ceremony in New Orleans earlier this week. It was truly an honor to be one of the 10 organizations chosen for exemplifying how American innovation and ingenuity can make our communities stronger.

Read more about the Renewal Award winners »

We also want to thank The Renewal Project for shining the light on how Summer Search helps young people from low-income backgrounds develop the skills to succeed in school and in life. They published a story about our game-changing partnership with NFL star Chris Long and a Q&A with Antonio Brown — our National Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator — highlighting our commitment to serving our students and how we help our staff engage in conversations about race, power, and privilege.