Endings and Beginnings.

While we're still so new, it seems odd that Reach is starting to experience some of our first endings. As we have finally completed all the steps necessary to register Reach with all the necessary authorities, we will no longer need the services of Aryan Moniri and Vijay Singh, our attorneys through Skadden Arps. They assisted us in successfully getting registered and gaining tax exempt status both federally and within DC. The firm agreed to work with Reach for the start up process, so our relationship has now come to an end. I am hugely appreciative of all the work they did. The IRS and DC government are complicated beasts, and they made my life much easier by doing all the necessary fighting.

We also had an exciting beginning today - the start of something good. Those that know me well know that I don't think we've done anything yet. I work hard now, so we will be prepared to make an impact when we begin our work with children. I do this work because of the potential it has to create an impact in the lives of others. I recognize that I won't be totally satisfied with my job until it begins impacting the lives of children. However, a recent article posted on the Harvard Graduate School of Education website apparently allowed me to make a different kind of impact. Below is an excerpt from an energizing e-mail I received today (the name has been removed):

I read about about your organization on the HGSE website. I just wanted to tell you that I am very inspired by you and the organization that you are building. I was a Special Education student and high school dropout, and I eventually ended up in jail by the time I was 17. I truly believe that if I had a program like Reach, Inc. during my adolescent years, things would have turned out differently. I was eventually able to turn my life around and became a Special Education Teacher and a Youth Minister...After reading about your story and the work that you are doing, I have been inspired to do something that I always wanted to do, apply the HGSE. I will be visiting the campus for Diversity Day next Monday and applying to the Risk and Prevention Program. I know getting in will be a long shot, but [I tell youth to follow their dreams] so I have to continue to follow mine...

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark

Founder and President - Reach, Inc.