December 2025: From First-Gen Scholar to First-Time Homeowner
Originally sent by Mindy Wright on December 15, 2025. This archived newsletter includes announcements and deadlines from that time.
Before sharing our planned end-of-year message, we want to acknowledge the tragic shooting that occurred on Brown University’s campus this past weekend. Two members of The Upward Project community are Brown students, and we are grateful that both are safe and receiving support during this difficult time. Our commitment remains to show up consistently for our Scholars in all moments, including during periods of grief, fear, and uncertainty. With that in mind, we share the message below as originally intended.
Your generosity continues to power The Upward Project’s mission to close the racial wealth gap by equipping first-generation college students with the social, cultural, and financial capital needed to thrive. Because of you, more than 70 Scholars across eight cohorts are rewriting what economic mobility can look like in Boston.
As a first-gen, low-income college graduate myself, this work is deeply personal. We intentionally keep our cohorts small so we can build real relationships and provide coaching and financial support that truly match Scholars’ lived experiences.
This year, the need for Opportunity, Internship, and Emergency Funds is rising sharply. With living costs increasing and paid internships decreasing, these supports are more essential than ever. Between 2025 to 2026, the budget for these funds will double, and your partnership is critical to sustaining this growth and ensuring our Scholars can seize life-changing opportunities.
A gift today directly fuels the programming and support that remove barriers and open doors for our students. Whether it’s $100, $250, or $2,500, your investment has an immediate and lasting impact on a Scholar’s journey toward long-term stability.
Thank you for believing in what’s possible when a community comes together to help young people thrive.
Building Wealth & Economic Mobility: Celebrating Our First Scholar Homeowner
“During COVID, the only internship I could get was unpaid, and I was overwhelmed trying to balance school, my mental health, and finding opportunities. TUP stepped in by covering my internship compensation and connecting me to professionals I never would have met on my own. That connection led to an internship that became my first full-time job offer, starting at over $100,000."
"Even after graduation, TUP continued to invest in me by providing a year of financial advising that helped me build savings and plan for my future. As of Summer 2025, I’m officially a homeowner. I always believed I would one day become a homeowner, but TUP helped me get there far sooner than I ever imagined. TUP didn’t just help me get a job; they helped me build long-term stability.”
- Carolyn De Jesús Martínez
2025 Programming & Impact Report
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