It's A Great Day

Kaleem Caire, my good friend, who next to Clint Bolick did more to advance the school voucher movement than anyone else in this country beginning with his work as head of BAEO, has decided to leave Fight For Children to form a foundation with his wife that will open and operate single-sex charter schools. Here is the press release from Fight for Children:

Kaleem Caire to Step Down as Executive Director of Fight For Children
Anthony Colon Appointed Interim Executive Director

Washington, DC - Fight For Children, a Washington, DC-based charity committed to improving the education and healthcare opportunities for children in need in the national capital region, announced today that Kaleem Caire will step down as Executive Director effective December 31, 2005. Anthony Colon has been appointed Interim Executive Director effective January 1, 2006.

Mr. Colon joined Fight For Children in 2004 and currently serves as Fight For Children's Senior Manager for Investment Strategies. Mr. Colon is a nationally recognized leader in education. He chairs the board of directors of the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence and serves on numerous local and national boards, including the DC Public Charter School Association, Alliance for School Choice, Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

"Tony's top priority in the coming months will be to provide continuity and direction to Fight For Children as we begin a search for new organizational leadership. He brings years of experience in non-profit management and a broad base of relationships in our community and well beyond," said Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Fight For Children's Founder and Chairman.

During Mr. Caire's tenure, Fight For Children launched its K-12 Education Initiative. Mr. Caire managed the coalition of local and national business, community and education leaders toward the passage of the DC Choice Incentive Act of 2003, which established the first federally funded K-12 scholarship program serving low-income children in DC, and provided resources for public and charter schools. This legislation has resulted in more than $120 million of new resources for DC K-12 education since 2003.

"FFC recognizes and appreciates the many tangible educational opportunities Kaleem helped to establish for children in the District of Columbia," Robert said. "I know he will continue to work tirelessly to advance opportunities for children, and I wholeheartedly support him in his future endeavors."

Fight For Children was founded in 1990 by Joseph E. Robert, Jr. with a vision of reaching the day when every child in the nation's capital has access to primary health care, graduates with a high school diploma and is adequately prepared to go to college or successfully enter the workforce in a career of his or her choice. Fight For Children has raised more than $190 million through contributions, matching grants and public policy initiatives to support more than 140 organizations, private school scholarships and the expansion of quality public and charter schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. For more information on Fight For Children, go to www.fightforchildren.org.

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And below is Kaleem's statement on why he is making this move:

Greetings Friends and Colleagues:

I write to apprise you of why I have decided to leave Fight For Children at the end of the month and to inform you of my plans. The decision was made after a lot of thought, conversation and soul searching over the last few months with my wife, and the Chairman and leadership team of Fight For Children.

Over the years, I have been very fortunate to have worked with and learned from a number of great people who have contributed significantly to my personal and professional growth. In particular, my three years at Fight For Children have been among the most intellectually stimulating, challenging and rewarding years in my career. All of my experiences to date have prepared me for the next step I will be taking.

About 12 years ago, I set a goal that by the time I reached my 35th birthday, I wanted to establish a school that truly developed the talents, abilities and
character of young men and women who have traditionally lacked access to quality schools that offer safe, nurturing and challenging education environments.

With my 35th birthday rapidly approaching, and coupled with events in my personal life over the last 12 months, I have decided that now is the best time for me to directly pursue the dream and begin developing schools. Within the next few months, my wife Lisa and I plan to initiate the Next Generation Education Foundation. Its primary focus will be to establish quality single-sex secondary schools that prepare young men and women for success in post secondary education, and throughout their professional careers. I will share more information with you as additional details of this venture are fleshed out.

The motivation to focus on single-sex education grows out my experience watching 47 of my childhood friends enter jail and prison over the past 20 years, and another 15 lose their lives to murder, suicide and accidents. In June this year, a young man who was very close to me took his life because he did not believe there would be any bright spots in his future. Earlier this month, on the six month anniversary of his passing, his younger brother, who is also very close to our family, attempted to take his life as well for the very same reason. There are far too many similar stories playing out in real life among young men and women in our communities every day. While schools and education are not the cure-all to the myriad challenges many of our young people face, I know from personal experience that providing children with a quality education that builds their confidence and self-worth, and prepares them for various possibilities in their future can save lives and produce leaders that will add tremendous value to their families and communities.

I know several of you have taken similar steps before and have created some very good learning environments for our children. Please anticipate a call from Lisa and me, soliciting your wisdom, insights, and support, as we move forward with the development of Next Generation and our first school. While success is never promised, Lisa and I strongly believe that this is what we have been preparing for all of our lives. We will give our very best efforts to build a great team to provide an essential part of the foundation needed to ensure success for the next generation of our leaders.

You may continue to reach me at my contact information below beginning December 31, 2005. Thank you for all you have done for me, Fight For Children, our youth and those who serve them. I look forward to working with you in the future and wish the very best to you and yours in the coming new year.

Warmest Regards,

Kaleem

Kaleem Caire
4101 Woodrow Lane
Bowie, MD 20715
Phone: 202-997-3198
Email: KaleemC@aol.com

Kaleem was the once who almost single handedly ensured that school vouchers would become a reality in Washington D.C. by initiating the 3-sector approach. This framework included federal money not just so disadvantaged children could attend private schools, but provided significant financial resources to both charters and traditional public schools. In a conversation with Kaleem yesterday I told him that I would find a way that he and I could continue to work together. He is a great individual.

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