For more than 18 years, the Be A Leader Foundation (BALF) has been supporting opportunity youth with financial assistance, personal mentoring and guidance in their pursuits of post-secondary education. Through a suite of programs beginning in 7th grade, BALF fulfills a mission of increasing the number of college-bound students by educating and empowering students and their families. Ultimate success is achieved through long-term relationship and stewardship of their educational evolution from middle school into high school, culminating with active participation at the university level. BALF offers the Be A Leader Institute High (BLIH) in response to the need to educate students between middle and high school, when they’ll need to be their most focused and prepared. BALF also offers a Senior Boot Camp, Be A Leader Institute Elementary, the Youth Leadership Conference, and Be A Leader Parent Clubs. BALF served more than 3,400 students in 2016, 81% of which were Hispanic. A full 82% of their students are still enrolled or have earned a 2 or 4 year degree.