FRIENDS OF PHILLIS WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Description

In January 2021, Diane Wolfthal, upon her retirement as a professor at Rice University, wanted to help public school students in need. Her daughter, Leah Wolfthal, former Executive Director for the Center for Urban Transformation, suggested that she support students at Phillis Wheatley High School. Diane took as her model two very successful organizations: the Student Support Network in Maryland, founded by Laurie Taylor-Mitchell, and Community Impact in Harlem, where she had once worked. The administration of Phillis Wheatley High School welcomed the idea of a partnership. Friends of Phillis Wheatley High School is now a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, which provides clothing and personal care items, recruits tutors, presents awards for art supplies to the art teacher and two students, and organizes museum trips, among other activities.