Corporate Contributions
to Education
George “Vanilla” Weiss: Say Yes to
Education
By Joan Baum, Ph.D.
“My kids.” The phrase recurs often as the founding
member of SayYes To Education starts talking about what his
nationally known program has been doing for inner-city youngsters
over the years, and it seems possible the first couple of times
that he means his own family—his two daughters, after
all, have recently joined the Say Yes Board. But wait-—George
Weiss, of George Weiss Associates, a money market firm, does
indeed mean “his” kids, whom he regards as “family” in
the broadest and most consistent sense of humanitarian commitment.
He glows “talking the talk and walking the walk,” and
it becomes clear that what for others might be pro-forma philanthropy
is, for him, deep involvement “to make a difference in
the lives of others.” The mission began years ago when,
a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, he made a promise
at a fraternity Christmas party for inner city youngsters that
if they would stay in school, he would become their mentor
and, if he made it in business, their benefactor. What’s
remarkable, of course, is that a young man, barely out of adolescence
himself—and putting himself through college—would
make such a vow. Well, the youngsters graduated from high school
and George Weiss became a successful entrepreneur and kept
his promise.
Say Yes to Education,
coming up soon on 20 years, encourages inner-city kids—starting ideally in grade K—to
stay in school by pledging to provide them with a free college
education, tutoring, summer school, financial aid for their
siblings and continuing education for their parents. This “holistic” approach
distinguishes Say Yes from other assistance programs by widening
the context and concentrating on elements critical to success:
an encouraging family, health services (Harlem Hospital), legal
assistance (Bingham McCutchen) and a supportive environment
that doesn’t make Say Yes students feel uncomfortable
as haves among have-nots. Early on, George “Vanilla” Weiss
(the kids gave him the moniker, which he adores) shrewdly understood
that the most promising youngsters from “the hood” are
unlikely to make it if they have to face constant jealousy,
illness, or shame. He knew that to succeed, their parents would
have to say yes—but how to get around fears and ignorance?
The answer was vintage Weiss: simple but ingenious: extend
opportunities to the parents as well—a chance to get
a G.E.D. or go to a community college or trade school. As for
siblings—they, too, would get some form of tutoring and
scholarship assistance. “Say Yes brings families together,” but
Weiss is ever watchful, going on retreats with parents and
teachers and inviting them to critique the program. Some youngsters
just can’t make it, he acknowledges, but he points out
that data (“real, not cooked”) overwhelmingly support
his confidence. The kids and their families sense that “Say
Yes is truly about caring and community.”
Say Yes, which began at Penn and expanded to Hartford and Cambridge, is
now in New York, where George Weiss is working with Dr. Arthur
Levine, the president of Teachers College, Columbia, in trying
to “recreate the [education] highway” in five
Harlem schools, each with a strong principal and a location
that doesn’t put the kids far away from resources.
He loves the challenge. Starting up in other cities meant
one meeting, he laughs, but to get going in New York, he
had to have 46 meetings. He can’t resist saying it,
though he won’t sing or rap, which he knows how to
do: “if you can make it in New York, you can make it
anywhere.” He appreciates the irony that the toughest
city will probably prove the most generous. He cites the
incredible offers he’s already had from business people
and professionals who are donating equipment, space, services,
toys, food, and clothing. He hopes the spirit will be contagious.
A visitor’s eyes inevitably fall on the sleek red Japanese
sword lying on a table. George Weiss, a big man with a big
heart, was an Olympic gold champion in martial arts, a discipline
he took up after an injury. Not a bad metaphor for his enterprise.#
