Trustee pays for 67 2nd graders' college

Last week, University trustee George Weiss gave 67 Massachusetts second-graders the gift that keeps on giving -- an education. Last week, Weiss attended a meeting at the Herrington School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and announced that he would put the all of the 67 rising third graders through the college or vocational school of their choice, provided they graduate high school. "They can go to any college or post-secondary school in the country," Weiss said this week. "We want kids to be productive members of the society." Weiss graduated from the Wharton School in 1965, and said he is pleased that students at the University are involved in the community, especially through their tutoring programs. Since 1987, Weiss has launched similar programs in Philadelphia and Hartford, under the "Say Yes to Education" Program, which he and wife Diane founded. Each program works closely with universities nearby. Weiss' first donation was to the Belmont Elementary School, which is located at 41st and Brown Streets. The 308 students currently in the program represent many different ethnic backgrounds. "This is one university reaching out to another to make a difference," said Weiss. "We want to make a difference and we don't care what the ethnic background is." The program is administered by the University's Graduate School of Education. Its main goal, Weiss said, is set at redirecting lives of at-risk students by providing educational and financial support. Say Yes also provides tutorial programs, dental care and family support for the students. "It's one thing to say that we will give you financial support if you reach there," said Carl Maugeri, assistant director of news and public affairs at Penn which handles communications and public relations for the program. "It's another thing to say that we will be with you every step of the way." Maugeri also stressed the importance of advocacy for the students under their help. Say Yes staff members serve as advocates by monitoring students' academic progress, meeting frequently with school personnel, and through counseling students and parents. Coming from a relatively poor background himself, Weiss said he paid his own tuition when he attended the University. He said when he was a sophomore at Penn where he met underprivileged kids at a Christmas party. "We got together years later at the homecoming football game and I was very impressed that these kids had completed high school," said Weiss. "They told me, 'We couldn't look at you straight in the eye if we didn't'." Ever since that day, Weiss said he set wanted to help poor children achieve higher levels in education. "I said to myself, if God ever gives me the ability to make a lot of money," he said. "What I'll do is try to implement a program to help the poor, that will have a strong component of caring."

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