WHO WE ARE
Building Education Support Teams.
BEST, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was co-founded in 2008 as an attempt to aid students in need of financial assistance to fulfill their dreams and goals of obtaining a college education.
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We are run by a dedicated team of volunteers who believe in the foundation of a strong education. Our elected Board of Directors oversees the organization and ensures that the mission and strategies set forth are incorporated in helping our students achieve academic success and accomplish their goals and dreams.
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Our Board's mission is to mentor and inspire, to assist and enlighten, and to partner with the area businesses and post-secondary institutions to raise funds for student scholarships.
WHAT WE DO
To create educational & career opportunities.
Our mission is to create educational and career opportunities for students of diverse backgrounds to obtain a college degree and join the Lehigh Valley workforce.
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BEST has supported 103 local college graduates and currently mentors and sponsors 16 students from the Lehigh Valley who are attending college. BEST sponsors and mentors four new students each year; they are high school seniors who want to further their education but thought it was impossible. They have great potential but lack minimal financial means and need extra support on their path to success.
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Each BEST student is paired with a mentor who follows up with them monthly throughout their college career. At the end of each semester, our students present their grades/GPA to the BEST Board of Directors to receive their next scholarship check. Students must maintain a semester GPA of 2.8; most maintain a GPA well above 3.0. Scholarships average $5,500 per student.
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The strongest and most unique element of BEST is that our students sign a contract to return to the Lehigh Valley to live and/or work for two years. Each graduate also agrees to help or lend support equally to BEST. This falls into the philosophy of "Paying it Forward" to the community that supported them.