A Record-Breaking REACH Appreciation Day

During the second annual REACH Appreciation Day, the REACH Program and Regis High School communities celebrated the program’s successes and contributed a record-breaking sum to support its future.

Throughout the day on Wednesday, August 7, Regis High School’s social media accounts offered an inside look at the program. REACH also welcomed interested visitors to Regis for a tour of the program and a panel discussion with REACH alumni.

Supporters were encouraged to make gifts in support of REACH’s life-changing work, and the community responded with incredible generosity. A record-breaking $90,000 was raised to support REACH. That total will cover the cost for 18 students to participate in the tuition-free program for one year.

"The REACH community is extremely grateful for all those who donated, visited, or who were otherwise engaged with the Program during REACH Appreciation Day,” REACH Program Director Doug Eickman ’05 said. “Our students, staff, and teachers remain hard at work as we finish up another productive summer session, and we continue to be inspired and motivated by the generosity of Regis and REACH alumni, friends, and families."

Founded by Regis High School in 2002, REACH is an academic and leadership development program for Catholic, middle-school aged boys from low-income families in New York City. The three-year program serves to prepare these students to earn scholarships to Regis as well as other top Catholic high schools.

2019 was a banner year for REACH. In the spring, a record 41 students graduated from the program. A phased, three-year expansion that began in 2016 has increased the total number of students in REACH from 100 to 150. Twenty of the young men who graduated this spring will matriculate at Regis this fall (another record), joining 44 other REACH alumni who are current Regians. The 21 other 2019 REACH graduates will enroll at one of the following high schools: Fordham Prep, Xavier, Loyola, Cristo Rey New York, and Archbishop Molloy. These institutions awarded REACH graduates more than $1.8 million in scholarships and financial aid.

REACH’s staff has grown in addition to its student body. In 2018, the position of Director of Graduate Support was established, a need that was identified in the Regis Strategic Plan. In a short time, Russell Quiñones ’09 has greatly enhanced the Program’s engagement with REACH alumni and ongoing support as they move through high school, college, and beyond.

Eickman, who had previously served for years as REACH’s Dean of Mathematics, was named director this year. He replaced Fr. Mario Powell, SJ, who became the president of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep after four years leading the program.

If you would like to support the transformative work done each day by the REACH Program, please consider making a gift.

At the start of each day, the entire REACH Program gathers in the Regis chapel for a prayer service, a reflection from a REACH alumnus, or a lecture on a Jesuit saint.

REACH students hard at work in Latin class.

Lunch in the Regis cafeteria offers an enjoyable break from classes. 

REACH Program Director Doug Eickman '05 teaches a math class.

Alex, Garland, and Ramses are three of the many REACH alumni who come back to serve the program as counselors and teachers.