MacArthur "genius grant" winner a hero to NYC kids

Posted by Philissa at 3:55 PM

The MacArthur foundation announced its latest group of $500,000 "genius grant" winners today, and among them is Deborah Bial, the founder of the Posse Foundation, which cultivates groups of talented city kids to attend elite colleges on full scholarships. Bial was inspired to start the program by her work in New York City schools, where kids told her they'd be more likely to go away to college and to stay there if they went with their "posse" from the city. Since 1989, the foundation has sent hundreds of New York City students to college. I've been in schools the day kids hear that they will be going to Vanderbilt University or Middlebury College for free, and you just can't put a value on their happiness and relief.