NEED is a service of the country’s turbulent civil rights era of the 1960s.  Led by two of Pittsburgh’s pioneering women, Marion Jordan and Florence Reizenstein who were members of the Urban League’s Education Committee, the non-profit began as a temporary effort to find funds for 76 black high-school students who had been accepted to college, but, unfortunately, could not afford to experience the benefits and rewards of higher education.  As time and ideologies changed, NEED has evolved into a nationally recognized college access program that is supported by the corporate, philanthropic and general communities. 

NEED is designated as an Education Improvement Organization (EIO) through Pennsylvania’s Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and, as a college access program, offers grants, scholarships, mentoring, counseling and internships to help underrepresented, low-income and first-generational youth in college and career opportunities and options. 

Since its inception in 1963, NEED has supported approximately 19,000 deserving youth by providing over $19 million in grant allocations.  These grants have helped to empower Pittsburgh’s and the region’s next generation of leaders and to overcome financial, social status, educational and cultural barriers.

We Salute Our Class of 2009 African American Male Mentees!!!

On behalf of the African-American Male Mentoring Initiative (AAMMI) program, funded by The Heinz Endowment, we would like to commemorate our 2008-2009 senior members who all graduated from high school and went on to achieve post-secondary education.  Out of the 20 seniors who participated in the AAMMI program, 19 of these students are currently enrolled in a college, university, art/technical institute.  One of these students decided to dedicate his patriotic services to the United States Military after high school which we also praise and are proud of.

Dante Clarke	Penn State University
Davaughn Copeland	Slippery Rock University
Aeriel Green	Rosedale Technical Institute
Jahmiah Guillory	Penn State - Greater Allegheny
Dough Hollaman	Edinboro University
Jeremy Johnson	University of Pittsburgh
Javon King	Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Antonie Mathis	California University of Pennsylvania
Denzel Moore	Pennsylvania Culinary Institute
Omarr Moses	United States Military
Michael Peays	Cheyney University
Marcus Platt	Slippery Rock University
Anthony Roberts	Penn State - New Kensington
Glenn Smith	California University of Pennsylvania
Dieontae Swoope	California University of Pennsylvania
Carlos Thomas	Community College of Allegheny County
Michael Titus	Penn State - Greater Allegheny
Greg White	Penn State - Greater Allegheny
Jerry Horton	California University of Pennsylvania