Academics +Basketball = College Degree Education Foundation
About Us
We Help Students Achieve !!!!
Academics +Basketball=College Degree Educational Foundation is a 501C3 nonprofit organization that helps young men from lower economic backgrounds reach their potential in Academics and Basketball so that they can attend the college of their choice and receive a College Degree.Since 1997,the foundation has assisted over one hundred male students from Frederick Douglass Academy ,a college prep public high school in Harlem ,New York City, and other high schools go to college and receive a college degree.A team of very experienced teachers,coaches, and alumni have combined to form a dynamic force to help young men get a great start to a career and their adult life .
Why are we unique?
We are unique because the alumni of the program are the force that drives the foundation.This foundation is set up so the Alumni have a vehicle in which they can give back to an organization that helped them at a crucial time in their lives.For example, currently 5 alumni volunteer weekly ; helping with accounting, fundraising, and coaching.Also,alumni have organized fun and engaging fundraising events.Furthermore,alumni are constantly mentoring and advising our current students when they visit FDA.This component of Big Brother guiding Little Brother has been consistently successful.The foundation has served as a lifelong network for all of the young men involved,We now have accumulated 25 years of transformational success in helping young men from lower economic backgrounds use their college level of education to break through into a new world of career opportunities and economic advancement.(That is a really good sentence).
We have done this with minimal funding and without a fancy website like this one.Imagine what we can do now!
We are also unique because of the value and effort we put into "real" community service.Our young men learn the importance of helping others with their actions and it gives them a perspective of humility which develops their character quickly. Look at the We Help section to see our service to our community.
Introduction and Background
A+B=CD .This is the mantra of The Frederick Douglass Academy (FDA), Boys Basketball Program in Harlem, New York. This is where the culture and expectation of ABCD was started.Frederick Douglass Academy is a premier college preparatory school where the mission is for students to graduate and attend the college of their choice. The FDA Lions Boys Basketball Program has frequently received national and local recognition for its academic and basketball achievements. The uniqueness of this program is based on the school’s expectations of achieving college opportunities for all students. The young men are challenged to compete nationally both in the classroom and on the basketball court. It is demanding. Our students often take the most rigorous academic classes offered , such as Advanced Placement courses and College credited classes.
The A+B=CD program began in 1994 and FDA’s first graduating class was in 1997. Since that time, over 120 student-athletes have matriculated to four year colleges and the majority received full or almost full scholarships based on their academic achievement and financial need. The most outstanding achievement is that almost all have graduated from college, or are currently attending. These students have attended and graduated from some of the most competitive colleges . These include: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Penn State, MIT,U.of Rochester, Howard, Babson, Norfolk State ,U.of Virginia ,and Connecticut College. The Class of 2005 was the most outstanding and raised the level of expectation as they all met the challenge of achieving an 80 average and nine (9) out of ten (10) seniors attained over 1000 in the SAT’s. The national and local media covered their accomplishments extensively.
FDA’s team has simultaneously had tremendous athletic success. Since 2000, FDA has been consistently ranked in the top 20 in New York State, the top 5 in New York City, while competing at the highest and most competitive level. in the Public School Athletic League. In 2004-05, the Lions successfully competed on a national scale defeating the USA Today #9 team and were ranked as high as the #7 in New York State and #1 team in New York City. Also, the Douglass Lions have won the PSAL Manhattan Borough Championship on 6 different occasions. In 2019 FDA was the NYC and NY State Boys Basketball Public School "A "Champions.
This consistency in academic and athletic triumph is truly remarkable in today’s society while working with teenagers. The FDA Lions’ A + B = C D is an incredible formula for developing boys into young men ready for the challenges of college and adversities of life.
Another motto that our students live by is “Without struggle there is no progress”.
Our students come from some of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods, have to overcome the hardships of poverty the lure of drugs, and often face the difficulties of dysfunctional families. Our students abide by Frederick Douglass’ words, and through incessant effort and dogged determination, continue to overcome adversity and succeed.
In order to continue academic and athletic success, we need your help. We would like to invite you to the Frederick Douglass Academy so that you can meet our outstanding student- athletes. Please contact me at the following contact information: FDA-1-212-491-4107, Cell 646 526 2106 or email patmangan156@gmail.com We look forward to you meeting our college bound students
Sincerely,
Patrick J. Mangan
Teacher, Coach,Athletic Director, Founder and Executive Director of A+B=CD Program
What is the deal ?
We work with a group of young men in high school (our ABCD guys) and guide them to college using their interest in basketball. We need funds to help. This is a hand-up program, not a hand-out program !