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Jeremy Konaris ‘02
“Going to museums and plays with achieve broadened me culturally. Socially it helped me because most people assume that I just like sports and music, but find it surprising that I appreciate different things.”

Ryan Sims ‘03
“The best thing about achieve is the mentality that everyone will succeed. If you WILL yourself to succeed then you WILL! ”

Rosa Magana ‘06
“achieve has served as a substitute parent and mentor, introducing me to the theater, art, community service, and possible careers. It has expanded my knowledge of the possibilities and options that are out there.”

Rosi Rodriquez ‘06
“achieve has challenged me to reach my full potential of being a bright, altruistic, competent young Mexican American woman.”

Devon Burnett ’05
“Being a part of achieve helped me improve my communication and people skills. I learned the importance of networking, staying in touch, and to always make a great first impression.”

Diana Perez ’05
“The achieve staff really does care about each student — not only while you are in high school, but beyond. They give you the support to insure that the success you had in high school will continue through college.”

Gladys Martinez ‘10
“What I find most helpful about achieve is that I always have someone at my back, pushing me towards the edge of a cliff. So far, I’m almost able to fly off that cliff with the help of achieve.”

Karen Gonzalez ‘07
“The achieve cultural events have helped me to realize that there is a whole world out there to discover beyond the comfort of my home. ”

Alberto Martinez ‘08
“Overall, I think the best thing about being in achieve is becoming a part of a new family and having new brothers and sisters.”

Eia Gardner ‘09
“achieve has instilled in me characteristics that I will need in the future: to speak up for myself, to stand up for what is right, to accept change, and to be bold in every situation that I face. ”

Michael Lech ‘08
“The single most life-changing experience that I have had since being in achieve is knowing that I can succeed if I set my mind to it. ”

Martin Marquez ‘08
“I truly feel that achieve is a family--- my family. I can always talk to my achieve brothers and moderators because I know that they are there for me and they are there to listen to what I have to say.”

Alyssia Smith ‘09
“I like the fact that achieve gives young minorities a chance to succeed in life and beat the odds.”

Teresa Hartwell ‘10
“achieve is like an extra parent. It keeps you on top of your school business and pushes you to your potential.”

Katia Garcia ‘10
“The best thing about being in achieve is that we have someone other than our parents to go to for help. Achieve is like one loving family.”

Mirasol Moncada ‘08
“achieve motivates me to reach my academic potential by providing me with solutions to my problems and having unending faith in me.”

Mia Henderson-Bonilla ‘08
“The most helpful thing about being in achieve is the sense of a community. At the beginning of freshman year, everyone is new, then by senior year everyone has created a bond that makes the achieve community so strong.”

Erika Rosas ‘09
“The best part of being in achieve is that it helps us become aware of our strengths and capabilities—but not only that, we learn how to use our strengths to help ourselves and to help others.”

Corrina Ramos ‘10
“achieve shows me that school is the key to your future and that it is very important to always give 100% in everything that you do.”

Chiandra Lewis ‘08
“I think the one particular thing I have gained from my achieve experience that will help me most in the future is knowing that it feels good to give back.”

Dani Erves ‘07
“Being in achieve has given my future a jumpstart and the tools I need to succeed.”

Johanna Vargas ‘07
“Confidence in myself has been the most valuable gift the achieve experience has given me. The belief in myself that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to will help me do my best in life.”

Valeria Navea ‘08
“achieve has taught me to always try my best and to truly believe in myself. When others see that confidence, they too will believe in you.”

Elizabeth Abundis ‘08
“achieve has made me more confident and taught me the importance of finding a passion. How beautiful and fulfilling it is to do what you love!”
Our History

Barbara Bass Bakar, former Chief Executive Officer for several major retail firms, founded the achieve program in 1997. Believing that education is the great equalizer in society and that low-income and minority youth were not being adequately served by the public school system, Barbara began the program with four boys at Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco. In 1999, the girls' program began at Holy Names High School in Oakland, and in 2006 achieve added a girls program at Mercy High School in San Francisco.

When the program began, Mrs. Bakar initially chose to remain anonymous. However, in the second year she realized that simply providing scholarship money was not producing success. She decided to get personally involved--- very involved. She visited students’ homes so that she could better understand their lives outside of school. She met individually with students to learn about their hopes and dreams for the future. She, in essence, became a “second mom” to all of the achieve students.

Mrs. Bakar is constantly striving to expand and improve the program. After asking the first achieve graduates what additional services would have improved their academic success, she took their advice and added a daily after school program at ARHS. Upon discovering that underlying reading deficiencies were hindering student achievement, she hired two full time reading specialists to work individually with students. According to Mrs. Bakar, the program continues to be “a work in progress” and she is committed to continue making any changes needed to maximize the success of every student in the program.

After graduation, students remain part of the achieve program and are invited to attend annual alumni events. Mrs. Bakar continues to advise and support alumni through letters, e-mails and phone calls. Alumni like to visit their alma maters to speak to and motivate students in the program.