First Graduate

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First Graduate Our mission is to help students finish high school and become the first in their families to graduate from college ready to pursue meaningful careers.

First Graduate is a San Francisco non-profit that helps students become the first in their families to graduate from college. We coach students from the summer after sixth grade through college graduation and beyond.

We are planning for our upcoming school year, and we would love for you to be a part of it! There are plenty of incredib...
07/10/2026

We are planning for our upcoming school year, and we would love for you to be a part of it!

There are plenty of incredible volunteer opportunities are lined up for 2026-2027, offering the perfect way for you to support First Graduate students.

Here are the 3 ways you can get involved:
🎓 1. College Essay Coaching
Coach our high school seniors as they brainstorm, draft, and edit their college application essays.

- Commitment: Mandatory training on Tuesday evening, Sept 22nd. Sessions run late Sept through Oct (Tuesdays in-person or Wednesdays virtually, 5:30-7 PM).
- Deadline: Apply by September 1st.
- Need: 30 coaches!
- Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevPM4B-jVwecsltlfZPU_bcmIrWH2Sif7ip_RB1-rrzP2jCA/viewform?usp=dialog

💼 2. Coach 3.0 (College Mentorship)
Mentor a first-year college student as they navigate choosing majors, picking classes, talking to professors, and adjusting to campus life.

- Commitment: Once a month virtual meetings with your student + monthly coach check-ins (August - May).
- Need: 20 coaches!
- Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEi7FLeKn1SG_ykI4hwQprIu18UYwjsdec7M5BRR1NppoLiw/viewform

🎤 3. Presentations of Learning Panelists
Sit on our panel and provide constructive feedback to high schoolers practicing speeches based on UC college application questions. Perfect for boosting their public speaking and networking skills!

- Commitment: One Saturday afternoon (Date TBD: Aug 29, Sept 12, or Sept 19) from 1 PM - 5 PM.
- Need: 21 panelists!
- Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10kzoEoYrHbR5JzEwir5Fx0rS6j4SPWOi03Qm-n7oAFk/edit

We look forward to partnering with you as a volunteer this upcoming school year! 🙌

During our recent Student Celebration, we witnessed one of our favorite traditions: families walking up on stage to put ...
06/24/2026

During our recent Student Celebration, we witnessed one of our favorite traditions: families walking up on stage to put the graduation stoles on their students.

It’s a beautiful reminder that our grads aren't crossing the finish line alone. They’re bringing their whole families along with them on this journey. It was a joy to celebrate with the 10 high school seniors and 2 college grads who joined us in person with their loved ones.

And a huge congratulations to our entire graduating class this year: 26 high school graduates and 13 college graduates! You all worked so hard for this moment!

06/04/2026

We couldn't let this 25-year milestone celebration go by without honoring our founder, Ann-Eve Hazen! 🌟

To show Ann-Eve just how much she means to us, our community put together a compilation of thank you notes from our staff and the generations of students and families she impacted.

Thank you Ann-Eve! ❤️🙏

A milestone night for a milestone year. 🥂 Thank you for making our 25th Anniversary Cap & Gown gala such a joyful, inspi...
06/01/2026

A milestone night for a milestone year. 🥂

Thank you for making our 25th Anniversary Cap & Gown gala such a joyful, inspiring, and deeply meaningful evening for our students, families, and community.

Because of you, we are thrilled to share that we surpassed our $300,000 goal and raised a grand total of $345,232!

To everyone who attended, sponsored, volunteered, bid in the auction, or raised a paddle: THANK YOU. The energy in the room was a powerful reminder of what is possible when a community invests in young people and their futures. 🧡

Dozens of volunteers, a room full of energy, and tons of care packages for our students! 📦✨We are so grateful to Joanie ...
05/20/2026

Dozens of volunteers, a room full of energy, and tons of care packages for our students! 📦✨

We are so grateful to Joanie Ojascastro, one of our amazing alumni, who teamed up with BlackRock to host a fantastic day of service. Joanie brought together BlackRock employees to make goody bags for our current students while learning all about the First Graduate mission.

Best of all, the team got to hear firsthand from Joanie about her own experience and the lifelong impact our program has had on her life.

Thank you, Joanie, for organizing and sharing your story, and a huge thank you to the BlackRock team for showing our students so much love through your volunteer energy and financial support.

We are so excited that members of the BlackRock team will be joining us to keep the celebration going at Cap & Gown 2026 on May 28. See you there! 🎓

Thank you to Fremont Group for hosting a close-knit roundtable for our juniors and alumni. It was a great exchange: our ...
05/11/2026

Thank you to Fremont Group for hosting a close-knit roundtable for our juniors and alumni. It was a great exchange: our students got a real look at how investment and wealth management work, while the Fremont team heard firsthand about the experiences and goals of First Graduate students.

Shoutout to Gopa Dasari and the team for being such incredible hosts and mentors!

See you at Cap & Gown!

First Graduate was proud to partner with SMART, San Francisco Achievers, and UC Law San Francisco to host a joint Career...
05/01/2026

First Graduate was proud to partner with SMART, San Francisco Achievers, and UC Law San Francisco to host a joint Career Conference for over 100 local high school students.

This event brought together professional volunteers who shared their career insights and college stories, providing students with a firsthand look at various professional paths.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support and mentor! Your time, stories, and mentorship are what make these "firsts" possible for our students.

To see the full gallery of images, click here: https://liveloveshoot.smugmug.com/Non-Profit-Foundation-Events/First-Graduate-Career-Conference



📸 Arnold Suliguin

We are delighted to announce a $5,000 Donation Match! From now until this Friday, April 10th, every gift made to First G...
04/08/2026

We are delighted to announce a $5,000 Donation Match! From now until this Friday, April 10th, every gift made to First Graduate will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Why your support matters:
📈 99% of our high school seniors graduate and enroll in college.
🎓 78% of our students graduate from college within six years.
💰 $200,000+ in scholarships were distributed in 2025 alone.

Each year, we provide 1:1 mentorship to 700+ first-generation students in San Francisco. This match is a vital opportunity to continue that work and support our city's future leaders.

Join us in meeting the challenge before the Friday, April 10th deadline!

🔗 Donate Online by clicking here: https://my.onecause.com/fundraiser/organizations/0c09c16a-8bb9-4ddd-a459-37b92dd87323/fundraisers/fundraiser:ebee9599-e152-45d6-bc96-617ffafb75b7/friendly

📲 Donate via Text: Text FirstGraduate to 44834

Sip, bid, and support! 🍷The First Graduate Associate Board’s Wine & Dine event is just around the corner, and our silent...
03/31/2026

Sip, bid, and support! 🍷

The First Graduate Associate Board’s Wine & Dine event is just around the corner, and our silent auction is officially stacked!

Highlights include
- Signed memorabilia: A bottle signed by Klay Thompson ($500 value).
- NBA-approved dining: A $200 gift card to Meski SF, the acclaimed Afrofusion spot owned by Draymond Green.
- Game Night: Three pairs of tickets to a Golden State Warriors home game ($500 value).
- Fine Art: A custom in-home portrait session and framed print with award-winning photographer Joshua Ets-Hokin ($3,000 value).
- Wine Country at Home: A 6-person tasting package and 3-bottle bundle from Croix Estate ($460 value).
- ... and more surprises at the event!

Every winning bid directly supports the 12-year journey of San Francisco’s first-generation students.

Event Details:
🗓️ Thursday, April 9th, 5:30–8:30 PM
📍 220 Montgomery St, SF (Yes SF Headquarters)

Space is limited and tickets are moving fast! Reserve your spot today!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wine-dine-with-first-graduate-tickets-1984150470469?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/19/2026

Today, our email system was compromised, and a phishing email was sent to several people in our community. Please do not open a private dinner invitation from Eric sent via Paperless Post. Should you have any questions, please call our office at (415) 561-3450.

Address

594 Howard Street, Suite 301
San Francisco, CA
94105

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm

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