PinnedWhere Valuing the “Good They Do” Helps Narrow the Persistence Gap“I will be the first person in my family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree,” Karen Ortiz, a CUNY Hunter student, explains. “That motivates me a lot. My mom didn’t have the opportunity to do it. My grandma. My parents. None of them. So I really want to do it…Higher Education3 min readHigher Education3 min read
2 days agoWhat Possible Difference Could It Make? Vol. 2: Acts of KindnessFebruary, Schmebruary. For some, there is no worse month. It may be short, they say, but when will it ever end? I love February. February comes from a Latin word, “februa” — to cleanse, to purify. The Roman Februalia was a month of purification and atonement. February is the month…Social Good2 min readSocial Good2 min read
Nov 17, 2022PIPs for School Scholar: Maria Boyan-Azumally“My life goal is to always be truthful to myself,” says Maria Boyan-Azumally, a student at Southern New Hampshire University, aspiring private investigator, mother of two, and PIPs for School (P4S) Scholar, “Whether it’s in my personal life or…in my career…I just want to hold [on] to that part where…Scholarship2 min readScholarship2 min read
Nov 1, 2022What Possible Difference Could It Make? Vol. 1: Riding the BusPeople have been known to snicker when I tell them we award PIPs, or Positive Impact Points, to our PIPs Rewards™ App users for taking the bus, refilling water bottles, and recycling. …Renewable Energy2 min readRenewable Energy2 min read
Oct 4, 2022Bringing out the Change-Maker in All of UsCan you think of a game that uses some form of currency (coins, tokens, etc.) to encourage people to keep playing? Have you ever gotten hooked on such a game, motivated to earn a reward? Now, imagine if instead of virtual coins that allow you to level up or unlock…Aashe3 min readAashe3 min read
Sep 8, 2022P4S Scholars Grows by 4x in 2nd YearWe did it! Thanks to help from our donors, PIPs for School (P4S) Scholars is kicking off its second year with two more NYC-based Host Partners and nearly four times the number of Scholars. …Higher Education4 min readHigher Education4 min read
Aug 2, 2022Want to know the secret to boosting student engagement? (Hint: It fits in the palm of your hand)The PIPs for School (P4S) program “helps you to set everyday goals that help the environment,” explains a University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) student participant. “You feel accomplished at the end of each day.” Nearly 3,000 UCCS students joined in the P4S program, which started in August 2019 and…University Of Colorado3 min readUniversity Of Colorado3 min read
Jul 5, 2022“Hope for a Positive Future:” PIPs for School Scholars Sets Students Up for SuccessAs the pilot year of the PIPs for School (P4S) Scholars program, hosted by RIVER FUND NY, the poverty-fighting Community Based Organization (CBO) in Queens, wraps up, and we ready ourselves to triple the number of Host Partners and students in the program, we’re pausing to take stock of how…Education3 min readEducation3 min read
Jun 7, 2022Students Build Up Social-Emotional Skills While Tuning in to Their Favorite ShowsWhat if you could earn gift cards by streaming your favorite shows and movies on Netflix and Disney+? Well, thanks to ThinkHuman.tv (TH), a proud PIPs Partner, students in classrooms all over New York City will be earning PIPs’ currency of good for engaging in social-emotional learning (SEL) modules while…Social Emotional Learning3 min readSocial Emotional Learning3 min read
Jun 2, 2022PIPs for School Spotlight: Cale Kennamer, Ecology Student at UCCSCale Kennamer, an ecology student at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), aims through his studies to learn ways to “mitigate and even reverse some of the human-mediated effects of environmental change.” …Environment3 min readEnvironment3 min read