Fundraising Update
The Double Discovery Center is proud to announce its recent grants from the Goldman Sachs Foundation and the Altman Foundation. Goldman Sachs' two-year, $250,000 grant – the largest private grant in the Center's history – is part of Goldman Sachs's University Access Program-Creating Opportunities for Talent. The Foundation's mission, like Double Discovery's, is to provide academic assistance to students typically underrepresented in higher education. With the assistance of Goldman Sachs, the Center will be able to provide additional services for high achieving students who have the potential to be admitted into some of the nation's most selective colleges and universities. And to help us see these students through college and beyond, the Altman Foundation generously awarded the Center a one-year $40,000 grant to expand its services to alumni. For over 90 years, the Altman Foundation has supported education initiatives in New York City that strengthen individuals and their communities. The generosity of these foundations will greatly enhance the Center's capacity to assist deserving students in the Columbia community and we are grateful to them.

DDC is honored at the White House
This January the Double Discovery Center was the proud recipient of a 2006 Coming Up Taller Award, which recognizes outstanding after-school and out-of-school arts and humanities programming. The President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities and its partner agencies, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, whittled over 350 nominations from across the United States down to 50 semifinalists and 15 finalists. On January 22nd, Esteban Garcia, a Talent Search senior, and Marvin Cabrera, a DDC alumnus (TS '88) and current Outreach Coordinator, accepted the award for the Center in a ceremony at the White House presided over by First Lady Laura Bush. The Double Discovery Center's selection distinguishes its programming as one of the top arts and humanities based after-school programs in the country. "Arts and humanities activities have a wonderful way of enabling young people to discover their unique talents and interests while forging a path to success in school and life," said Adair Margo, Chairman of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. "Upward Bound and Talent Search also show the powerful role of mentors in raising expectations and communicating the importance of both hope and hard work in helping students chart a course for their futures."