Annual Report – The Ģ��Ƶ

Pablo Villavicencio

Ģ��Ƶ Foundation — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:47:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

For more than 20 years, Ģ��Ƶ has remained anchored by a simple yet profound truth:

In a world where divisions can run deep, we do not choose sides; we choose our scholars.

Like me, most Ģ��Ƶ scholars are the first in their families to attend college. Nearly all come
from communities that have been overlooked or underestimated for far too long.
Despite the odds, they show up every day with courage and conviction.

Our job is to meet them with the same.

That’s what Ģ��Ƶ was built to do. To believe in our scholars, without condition or exception.
To build schools that affirm who they are, where they come from, and the brilliance they carry.
To prepare them for the future, and stand with them in shaping it.

Because we have stayed focused, our scholars continue to excel, demonstrating significant year-over-year academic growth and outpacing their peers in LAUSD, and even the state. Last spring, nearly all were accepted to college, and they will go on to graduate from college at a rate of 3.5 times the national average. Today, our 25,000 alumni are launching careers, mentoring peers, and transforming the world around them.

The road ahead will not be easy. The challenges facing public education are complex and growing, but Ģ��Ƶ has never been a place of comfort. We are a place of clarity, and that clarity continues to carry us forward as we reimagine how we lead, how we teach, and how we show up for the next generation.

The story you’ll find in these pages is one of action, imagination, and what becomes possible when we choose scholars, every time.

At Ģ��Ƶ, there’s a light ahead. And it’s never shone more brightly than now.

Thank you for believing in this work. Thank you for choosing our scholars.

Onward, always together,

Pablo Villavicencio
Chief Executive Officer
Ģ��Ƶ College-Ready Public Schools

Catherine Suitor

Ģ��Ƶ Foundation — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:27:48 +0000

Dear Friends,

At the Ģ��Ƶ Foundation, we have the privilege of serving as both champion and catalyst, mobilizing the resources, partnerships, and ideas that turn brilliance into action.

We fund what matters most—exceptional educators, innovative school models, and programs that open doors for scholars. We also listen. We advocate. We mentor. Because we know that real impact is born from community, and carried forward in the hearts and dreams of our 12,000 scholars and 25,000 alumni.

This year, the brilliance of our community illuminated new possibilities.

Our Reimagine, Advance, Advocate Campaign has become the spark to propel us toward the future. With a $5 million matching contribution from a private family foundation, we’re on track to raise an additional $10 million in new strategic investments that will accelerate innovation, expand college and career success, and transform the educational landscape to one that fosters the thriving schools our scholars, educators, and communities have long envisioned.

Our annual report, The Light Ahead, is more than a collection of metrics. It’s a celebration of people. You’ll meet educators redefining what it means to teach, alumni shaping their communities with vision and purpose, and young scholar advocates stepping into civic leadership.

Proof of what’s possible when we invest in brilliance—not only in individuals, but in whole communities working together to light the way forward.

As the Foundation for Ģ��Ƶ schools, our charge is clear: to unlock the brilliance all around us. We do so with deep gratitude for partners like you, our believers, advocates, and builders of possibility.

Our shared future is brighter because of you.

With gratitude,

Catherine Suitor
Executive Director
Ģ��Ƶ

Diego Barreras

Ģ��Ƶ Foundation — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 07:39:58 +0000

Dear Los Angeles,

I am proud to be a 12th grader at Ģ��Ƶ Leichtman-Levine High School. Living in the city of El Sereno in East LA, I’ve spent my entire K-12 journey in charter schools. When my older brother was ready for school, my parents wanted the best for both of us. Because private schools were out of reach, and the public schools around us were under-resourced, charter schools became our answer.

I chose Ģ��Ƶ Leichtman-Levine because I knew I could not find the same level of education anywhere else in Los Angeles. A big part of my academic success, personal growth, and leadership development is thanks to my school and the resources it continues to provide me. School is more than just a place for me to learn; it’s where I find community. It’s where my friends and peers show me constant support, where I have meaningful conversations with my teachers, and where my counselors inspire me to reach beyond my limits.

At Ģ��Ƶ, I’m reminded every day that there is a battle worth fighting for, and that everyone deserves a fair chance at a great education.

Right now, I’m working towards my dream of attending a four-year university so I can serve the community that raised me by pursuing a career as an immigration attorney. Thanks to Ģ��Ƶ, I feel ready for my future, and understand that I, along with others who look like me, belong in higher education.

As I look ahead to graduation, I carry with me the belief that the future of our city is built in classrooms. Through the turmoil and division, I still see the LA that I know; a city of compassion, equity, and unity.

Education is the most powerful tool we have, and no one, regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, financial status, background, or any other demographic characteristic, should be without it. We must all do our part to ensure that generations of children have the opportunity to learn, grow, and become future leaders.

Together is how we ensure the future of our city starts today.

Thank you for believing in the promise of education for all, for supporting me in my dreams, and for standing with scholars across Los Angeles.

Sincerely,

Diego Barreras
12th-Grade Scholar
Ģ��Ƶ Leichtman-Levine High School

Annual Report – The Ģ����Ƶ

Pablo Villavicencio

Catherine Suitor

Diego Barreras

Annual Report – The Ģ��Ƶ