When Brian Young was in elementary school, he fell in love with percussion. Without the financial resources at home to take lessons or purchase a set of drums, he used to pound on bowls and pots from his mom’s kitchen. Brian’s dream to become “the next Michael Jackson” later matured into a desire to teach percussion. For that, he knew he would need to go to college.

Thanks to Peace Neighborhood Center, a United Way-funded agency, Brian is on his way to achieving his goal. He learned his art at Peace Neighborhood Center’s drum line, where he now teaches percussion instruments to elementary and middle school students. His counselors at the College/Career Prep Club at Peace helped him prepare for the required college admissions tests and complete applications. They helped him visit colleges and narrow down his choices. He and his twin sister will be the first in their family to graduate from college—Brian at Eastern Michigan University, his sister at Wayne State University.

“I don’t know where I would be without Peace,” says Brian. “Most of my classmates (at Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School) knew—or their parents knew—what to do to get into college. The College and Career Prep Club helped me with all of that. Peace helped me to afford the college entrance exams and the percussion equipment that I need at Eastern.”

“Through the Performing Arts Academy at Peace I was able to learn how to play drums,” he said. “I wasn’t able to afford the private lessons needed to get into the drum line at Pioneer High School.”

Of the 214 young people who have participated in the College/Career Prep Club since its inception:

• 147 (69%) went on to attend college;
• 122 (57%) were the first in their families to attend college; and
• 182 (85%) found employment with the help of the Club.

When you give to United Way, you are investing in what matters—helping young people succeed.