Newark, NJ, March 12, 2014 – Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark sixth grade Eagle Scholar Jahari Mitchell will be the only youth speaker at the HELP USA Honors HELP Heroes Annual Tribute Dinner. The event will take place today at the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Mitchell was chosen for this honor due to his participation in the Mentoring USA male mentoring program at Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark and his exemplary academic performance during the first two marking periods.
“They said I will fail; they said I couldn’t make it. But little did they know I said I will be successful and great,” part of Mitchell’s remarks for tonight. “Eagle Academy is not only a great school for young men but it also provides excellent opportunities like the mentoring program for all students in the 6th and 7th grade. Our mentors show us the right path to greatness and help us to connect to our core values… Confidence, Leadership, Effort, Academic Excellence, and Resilience.”
“This opportunity provides all students, including the young men of Eagle Academy, and even educators with a powerful example of why schools need the collaborative efforts of both community and corporate partners to make a dramatic impact in their lives,” noted Vaughn Thompson, Principal of Eagle Academy Newark. “Mentoring is an important factor in male youth development and Jahari serves as a wonderful example of its impact.”

Help USA is the parent company to Mentoring USA. Mentoring USA has been a major supporter of Eagle Academy’s mentoring work with the male students. The Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark supporters has played a role in leading the work for securing male mentors for the students. Their mentoring programs along with the Eagle school model have spearheaded the movement and mission of achieving success for males of color in Newark. The work and mission of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative is directly aligned with the efforts that have supported the students at Eagle Academy Newark.

HELP USA is the leading national developer of housing and provider of jobs and services for homeless and at risk populations in the country, including families, veterans and victims of domestic violence. Today HELP USA serves more than 20,000 each year at 35 residences across the country. To date, HELP USA has developed more than 2,500 units of housing including transitional and permanent supportive service programs located in New York City, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Newark, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Suffolk and Westchester counties. Additional services offered by HELP USA include: after-school youth program; day care; mentoring programs; employment training; and domestic violence counseling.

WHAT: HELP USA, a leading provider of homes, jobs, and services to homeless families, veterans, and victims of domestic violence, announces the recipients of their Annual HELP Heroes Awards. Last year alone, HELP USA provided secure homes for over 20,000 people, including almost 6,000 children through their 35 nationwide residences.
WHO: HELP USA, along with special guests Tony Bennett, Steve Buscemi, Bridget Moynahan, Michael Strahan, Sade Baderinwa, Nile Rodgers and others, honor the 2014 “HELP Heroes.” This year’s recipients include: Lauran and Justin Tuck, for the Humanitarian Award; Randall L. Stephenson, Chairman & CEO of AT&T, for the Mentoring Award; and The Home Depot Foundation who will be receiving the Veterans Award.

WHEN: Wednesday March 12th, 2014. Cocktail reception starts at 6pm, followed by dinner and program at 7pm.