Level Playing Field Institute

LPFI, their staff, and their programs make our community and society a better place.
I got connected to LPFI when my mentee (from a 1 – 1 mentorship program) was selected for the SMASH summer program (before going on to Sonoma State). I can tell you that SMASH was second only to parents in being a positive and powerful force in my mentee’s life. He wrote multi college essays on his experiences at SMASH and references his learning there in guiding his choice to become a high school math teacher when he graduates.
The LPFI organization is full of people that DO with authenticity, capability, and deliver results. Take every opportunity you can to fund them, work with them, and learn with them.

I became aware of the Level Playing Field a several months ago and the varied stores of the IDEAL scholars are humbling. The consistent thread among their stories is the commitment and hard work of each student to excel despite the lack of resources available to them, resources that most of us take for granted.
I became a mentor for an IDEAL scholar at UC Berkeley. She is smart, funny, artistic and inspiring — she is excited about life and a joy to know. She cares intensely about her community and helping others. I gain energy from talking with her each time we get together.
I am impressed by the number of scholars from this program that after graduating from college, continue to graduate or professional school as well as provide help and support to newer scholars. I think this speaks well of the program and the quality and commitment of the scholars selected to participate.
I understand that 100% of the administrative costs of LPFI are covered by donations from an «angel», so that 100% of my donations directly support scholars with books, laptops, scholarships, and all the various things that are needed to make it through college today.
I can see how we will all benefit from the work that the IDEAL scholars will provide to our society — we will miss a great deal in the future if these students do not have a chance to fulfill their potential. I can only hope that this program will be expanded so that many more young people can benefit from the education and support supplied by the Level Playing Field. What a fine world that would be!