FAME's History
While proud of its rich history, FAME's focus is on the future. The organization is moving at a measured and deliberate pace towards achieving its goal of supporting the academic growth and holistic development of 100 Scholars each year. FAME looks forward to strengthening our existing partnerships while working on developing new relationships.
A collaborative effort among Sewickley Academy, The Ellis School, St. Edmund's Academy, Winchester Thurston School, and Shady Side Academy worked to find funding so that talented African American students with significant financial need attending low-achieving public schools, would have the opportunity to attend academically challenging independent schools in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Education pioneer Dr. Helen Faison and FAME Scholar, Lamar Pickett – photo taken 2009
1993
The concept of FAME was developed in 1993 when founder, Ron Gebhardt, was Chairman of the Board of Sewickley Academy. He and members of the Boards of other independent schools in the Greater Pittsburgh area were concerned with the low enrollment of African American students in independent schools, as well as the lack of an African American presence in the corporate community. Seeking a solution to increase diversity in local independent schools as well as the local corporate community, Mr. Gebhardt visited the Fund for Independent Schools of Cincinnati (FISC). FISC was founded to "help develop a new generation of African American leadership in Greater Cincinnati" by offering scholarships to lower income African American students to attend independent schools and became the model for FAME. The consortium of schools made a commitment that FAME would award scholarships in the amount of $5,000 per student and, in collaboration with the independent schools, the FAME Scholars would be funded as required to meet their financial need.
1994
The Richard King Mellon Foundation approved a conditional grant payable to FAME within a three-year period at the discretion of the Foundation, to fund scholarships for FAME students to attend the independent partner schools. That year, one FAME student was enrolled into each of these five schools. In 1996, the Foundation's challenge grant was matched by the generous contributions received from several additional donors.
1999
Five years after FAME sent its first five Scholars to partner schools, 32 FAME Scholars were enrolled, $3 million was raised from 163 donors, and the first FAME Scholar graduated from high school.
2010
FAME integrated the first new school into the partner school consortium since the program's inception - The Kiski School. The Kiski School is an all-boys boarding school about an hour's drive outside of Pittsburgh. In both 2016 and 2017, a FAME scholar was named the Valedictorian at The Kiski School.
2012
With much preparation and promise, FAME launched a new initiative called FAME Academy. FAME Academy is a preparatory program for rising 7th graders who have the potential to benefit from an independent school education. Academy students participate in summer programs and attend weekly Saturday classes and various programmatic events during the school year. The first FAME Academy class consisted of 22 students who went on to attend partner schools and institutions of higher learning.
2014
FAME established a relationship with the addition of the Western Reserve Academy (WRA) in Hudson, Ohio to its group of partner schools. The relatively close geographical proximity of WRA to the Greater Pittsburgh area made the school a good fit for FAME Scholars.
2017
FAME Academy graduated its first Scholars. Currently, there are approximately 80 Scholars actively enrolled in the FAME program. FAME Scholars have had outstanding results at our partner schools and institutions of higher learning upon graduation. In total, FAME has helped many students graduate from high school with 100% of our Scholars being accepted at colleges and universities. These range from Ivy League schools to large and small public institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's).
2019
FAME graduates its first students from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio.
2021
FAME enthusiastically welcomes our newest Independent School partner, The Neighborhood Academy. The Neighborhood Academy is a faith-based, college preparatory, independent school whose mission is to break the cycle of generational poverty by empowering youth and preparing them for college and citizenship.
2021-2022
FAME welcomes Teachers’ Academy to its programming portfolio. Teachers’ Academy seeks to address the lack of African American educators in the independent school space and to introduce sustainable careers in education.
2023
FAME 30th Anniversary Celebration! For 30 years, 100% of our FAME Scholars have been accepted to 4-year colleges and universities. Additionally, FAME impacts the community at large through its FAME Academy and FAME Teachers' Academy programs. Stay engaged for celebration updates!
