Rep. Fattah Celebrates GEAR UP Day in Philadelphia with Rally at South Philadelphia High School

Media Advisory for Friday, October 28

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA-02), architect of the nationally successful $3.67 billion GEAR UP college readiness program for students from low income homes, will keynote GEAR UP Day in Philadelphia with a pep rally Friday at 9 a.m. at South Philadelphia High School.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110323/DC70526LOGO)

GEAR UP – Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs – is currently operating in South Philadelphia, 11 other city high schools, and the 27 middle schools that are in their feeder system.

Congressman Fattah modeled his signature 1998 legislation after a college access program developed in Philadelphia by the late Dr. Ruth Hayre, the city's first African-American senior high school principal and first female president of the Board of Education.

Since President Clinton signed it into law, GEAR UP has grown into the nation's most successful college readiness program, impacting 12 million students in 49 states, Washington D.C. and the US territories from sixth to 12^th grades. It provides information for students and parents about entrance requirements, scholarship resources, academic preparation, counseling and stay-to-graduate incentive.

"GEAR UP is based on the need to have a long-term conversation with our young people about their dreams, their life chances and college-going prospects," Fattah said. "We need to transfer expectations that would be normal in higher income households to these youngsters who may never have considered the college and career opportunities that are truly open to them."

GEAR UP Day in Philadelphia, as proclaimed by Mayor Michael Nutter, is part of National GEAR UP Week celebrations Oct. 24-28, with rallies, art displays, video presentations, parent forums and alumni gatherings coast to coast.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28 at 9 a.m.

WHERE: South Philadelphia High School
S. Broad Street at Snyder Avenue
South Philadelphia

WHAT: GEAR UP Day in Philadelphia Celebration and Pep Rally, keynoted by Congressman Fattah, with Principal Otis Hackney and other dignitaries, plus South Philadelphia High students and the school's Drill Team.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

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