Overview
Our Mission Statement
Our History
Student Events
Frequently Asked Questions


Ruben Aguayo ‘13
“What I like best about the achieve program is the different activities and cultural experiences we share with each other, and all the wonderful help that we receive from the achieve mentors, that help us to stay in track and continue to succeed.”

Christina Li ‘13
“achieve has taught me many values of giving back to my community, which has been a new experience for me and it has been truly rewarding.”

Jorge Navarro ‘13
“achieve has taught me the importance of being selfless, connecting with others from various backgrounds, and the importance of making change happen by being an active member of my community.”

Gabriela Colmenares ‘13
“What I like best about the achieve Program is that they keep me on top of
my school work, and from the first day, work to prepare me for college.”

Jennifer Urdaneta '13
“I was really amazed when I realized that the achieve Program not only helps us financially, but they really do care about all of us. achieve has taught me that even though I do not have a lot of money, I can help my community in so many other ways.”

Luana Deng ‘13
“achieve has taught me to believe and succeed in everything and anything. achieve pushes and pushes you to reach all of your goals until one day you look back and smile at your accomplishments.”

Sara Sologaistoa ‘13
“achieve has taught me that no matter what, if you try hard and give your best, opportunities will always be there for you.”

Van Joseph Macasaet ‘13
"achieve has taught me that there are countless people in need. It makes me realize that my life is very fortunate and, I would be glad to lend a helping hand to those who need it the most."
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 a full time reading specialist 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.