Goal Card Program

RISE staff, volunteers and mentors are teaching today's students to become goal setting, money saving, future leaders.

Rubbing elbows with the brave hearted men and women of the Memphis Fire Department, doesn’t happen every day; but for these lucky young ladies, it did. 

In an effort to expose young ladies to the various careers within the Memphis Fire Department (MFD), the RISE Foundation collaborated with RedZone Ministries and one of our Goal Card Schools to recruit young ladies for the 2^nd Annual HERo DAY. During the day the young ladies had an opportunity to climb a 30-foot aerial ladder, rappel over the edge of a five-story building, suit up in protective fire gear, as well as engage in a training for hands only CPR.

And in doing so, this amazing opportunity allowed our ladies to get a hands on glimpse of a career which they could possibly pursue. A career that could be obtained immediately following high school. An opportunity to engage in an eye opening experience, the RISE's Goal Card scholars. These ladies they were able to see, engage, as well as explore by asking questions to individuals that looked like them. Director Gina Sweat, could not have said it better, “Anything they can see, they can be.”  HERo DAY was an opportunity for exposure and learning, and that mission was a success.

Please consider supporting RISE and our efforts to teach our children. RISE empowers people to become self-sufficient by building and sustaining human financial assets.  

With your support of RISE, we will continue to motivate and encourage our youth to push beyond adversities, set achievable goals and use every talent bestowed upon them to make positive outcomes.

Chris exemplifies how to change your mindset to be optimistic and extend your creativity for the good. The RISE family salutes Chris, a recent college graduate and alumni Goal Card participant, for overcoming challenges and breaking barriers. Chris, the kid with no college acceptance letter and no scholarship offers, has proven to all the naysayers and most importantly, himself and family, that he isn't just a slim, unassuming kid with no drive, focus and dedication—he is now a college graduate.

RISE’s original Goal Card school had been identified as the national contest winner of the 2011 Commencement Challenge, all thanks to Chris, a RISE Goal Card Participant at the time, who charmed our U.S. President Barack Obama in a video submission. Chris was chosen to introduce the President at commencement, surpassing the valedictorian and salutatorian. 

Now, five years from that moment, Chris has turned the tassel again, this time becoming the first college graduate in his immediate family to receive his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

Chris said that if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn’t do anything differently “No, I wouldn’t change a thing! Honestly, I couldn’t have scripted what I did any better. Although I came up without the guidance of my dad, I had positive influences from RISE and from my neighborhood that helped to provide hope and direction. All that led to me being the person I have become and doing the things that I have been blessed to experience and accomplish, so I’m good!”

Help us to continue our work and mentor and motivate our youth.  We currently serve over 700 children and with your help with can continue to make dreams realities. The more you give, the more RISE's Goal Card program can expand its reach to serve more youth in the Memphis community.