June 2026 Newsletter
News from New York
Change is happening in New York, and we want you to be the first to hear about it! We are officially launching brand-new educational programming at New York City's jails on Rikers Island. This initiative marks a huge step forward for the Petey Greene Program as we bring vital academic support to these facilities. We’ll be rolling out our Adult Learning programs this June, followed closely by our High School Equivalency and English Language Learning coursework. We are so proud to expand our community of learners, and we can't wait to share their successes with you.
Happy Father's Day
This month, we are sharing the beautiful story of Julia Jacobson and her father, Rich. Julia was a tutor during our early pilot program, where she worked closely with Erich Kussman—a brilliant student who eventually went on to graduate from the Princeton Divinity School and is now a pastor at St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church. Rich’s enduring support and Julia’s early volunteerism remind us that educational justice is a shared, generation-spanning commitment.
“Giving is much more rewarding than receiving. To see our children volunteering to help others has been a joy to behold. Hopefully, their example will be replicated by their children who will carry the spirit of giving forward.”
“Being raised by my parents, volunteering was always a part of life so I never thought twice about it. I learned from seeing my dad volunteer on a regular basis - he shows up year after year volunteering in our community without expecting recognition. That mindset shaped the way I approached tutoring through PGP: focusing on showing up reliably and believing in the potential of every student.”