TEN GOALS
The 11-10-02 Foundation was established in 1998. At that time, its founder made a list of Goals for the organization to achieve in the short term and long term. Here are ten of those Goals and the outcomes:
Goal #1: 100 Brunches -- In 1997, a weekly mentoring program (The Brunch Bunch) was launched. When The 11-10-02 Foundation began in 1998, its initial focus was to oversee that already-ongoing mentoring program. So, the first Goal was to continue the streak of weekly brunches for 100 weeks. This Goal was reached in early 1999.
Goal #2: Brunches Come Full Circle -- Typically, 10 to 20 people attended each brunch -- half were kids, the other half were adult mentors. The second Goal was to continue the streak of weekly brunches until one of the kids returned to the table later in life as one of the mentors. This Goal was reached in November 2001. By that point, the brunches had taken place for 243 consecutive weeks.
Goal #3: First Grant -- From the beginning, the intent was for The 11-10-02 Foundation to expand beyond the brunches and fund grants that help students with financial need. This Goal was accomplished in late 1998 when the organization gave its first notable grant (to a local public school).
Goal #4: First Scholarship -- As the months passed, The 11-10-02 Foundation funded more grants for local kids & the schools they attend. The Foundation also continued to work toward the next Goal -- funding college scholarships. This Goal was reached in summer 2000 when The 11-10-02 Foundation announced the recipients of its first four college scholarships.
Goal #5: 'Peer-Funded' Scholarship -- The 11-10-02 Foundation's Grants & Scholarships are made possible by generous donors. Most of those generous donations have come from adult individuals and companies. Having said that, the phrase '11-10-02' stood for the founder's 30th birthday (November 10, 2002) and the belief that people under 30 can make a positive impact. With that in mind, one of the Goals was to see at least one scholarship funded on a 'peer-to-peer level'. In Summer 2002, that dream became a reality. Five high school students teamed up to raise the money to fund an 11-10-02 Foundation scholarship for a college-bound teen with financial need.
Goal #6: Namesake Event -- Another Goal was to stage an unforgettable event on the date after which The 11-10-02 Foundation was named. That Goal was achieved on November 10, 2002. On that date, a One Night Only 'Movie Premiere' took place at a Loews Cineplex Entertainment theater. It was attended by an audience of nearly 500 people. All proceeds benefited The 11-10-02 Foundation.
Goal #7: Evolve The Board -- Throughout its early years, The 11-10-02 Foundation's Board of Directors included its founder and some of the organization's supporters. Given The Foundation's efforts to encourage young people to participate in civic engagement and philanthropy, one of the Goals was to eventually include former Brunch Bunch Kids and former Foundation Scholarship Recipients on the Board. By summer 2024, the Goal was accomplished. By that point, more than half of the Board Members attended the brunches and/or received Foundation scholarships years earlier when they were students.
Goal #8: Three Grants &/or Scholarships in Every State -- One of the Goals was for The 11-10-02 Foundation to fund at least three grants and/or scholarships in every state in the nation. In Spring 2026, the Goal was achieved. The Foundation has now funded at least three grants and/or scholarships in all fifty states. In some states -- such as Illinois -- the Foundation has funded far more than three.
Goal #9: All Volunteers -- When The 11-10-02 Foundation began in 1998, one of the long-term Goals was the Foundation would always remain 100% volunteer run. As of 2026, twenty-eight years later, that Goal remains in tact. To this day, nobody has ever taken a salary from The 11-10-02 Foundation. The organization has always been 100% volunteer run.
Goal #10: The Thirtieth Birthday -- The 11-10-02 Foundation is named after the 30th birthday of its founder. A long-term Goal for The Foundation was to exist long enough to see its 30th birthday (2028). As of 2026, the organization remains on track to reach that Goal.
Goal #2: Brunches Come Full Circle -- Typically, 10 to 20 people attended each brunch -- half were kids, the other half were adult mentors. The second Goal was to continue the streak of weekly brunches until one of the kids returned to the table later in life as one of the mentors. This Goal was reached in November 2001. By that point, the brunches had taken place for 243 consecutive weeks.
Goal #3: First Grant -- From the beginning, the intent was for The 11-10-02 Foundation to expand beyond the brunches and fund grants that help students with financial need. This Goal was accomplished in late 1998 when the organization gave its first notable grant (to a local public school).
Goal #4: First Scholarship -- As the months passed, The 11-10-02 Foundation funded more grants for local kids & the schools they attend. The Foundation also continued to work toward the next Goal -- funding college scholarships. This Goal was reached in summer 2000 when The 11-10-02 Foundation announced the recipients of its first four college scholarships.
Goal #5: 'Peer-Funded' Scholarship -- The 11-10-02 Foundation's Grants & Scholarships are made possible by generous donors. Most of those generous donations have come from adult individuals and companies. Having said that, the phrase '11-10-02' stood for the founder's 30th birthday (November 10, 2002) and the belief that people under 30 can make a positive impact. With that in mind, one of the Goals was to see at least one scholarship funded on a 'peer-to-peer level'. In Summer 2002, that dream became a reality. Five high school students teamed up to raise the money to fund an 11-10-02 Foundation scholarship for a college-bound teen with financial need.
Goal #6: Namesake Event -- Another Goal was to stage an unforgettable event on the date after which The 11-10-02 Foundation was named. That Goal was achieved on November 10, 2002. On that date, a One Night Only 'Movie Premiere' took place at a Loews Cineplex Entertainment theater. It was attended by an audience of nearly 500 people. All proceeds benefited The 11-10-02 Foundation.
Goal #7: Evolve The Board -- Throughout its early years, The 11-10-02 Foundation's Board of Directors included its founder and some of the organization's supporters. Given The Foundation's efforts to encourage young people to participate in civic engagement and philanthropy, one of the Goals was to eventually include former Brunch Bunch Kids and former Foundation Scholarship Recipients on the Board. By summer 2024, the Goal was accomplished. By that point, more than half of the Board Members attended the brunches and/or received Foundation scholarships years earlier when they were students.
Goal #8: Three Grants &/or Scholarships in Every State -- One of the Goals was for The 11-10-02 Foundation to fund at least three grants and/or scholarships in every state in the nation. In Spring 2026, the Goal was achieved. The Foundation has now funded at least three grants and/or scholarships in all fifty states. In some states -- such as Illinois -- the Foundation has funded far more than three.
Goal #9: All Volunteers -- When The 11-10-02 Foundation began in 1998, one of the long-term Goals was the Foundation would always remain 100% volunteer run. As of 2026, twenty-eight years later, that Goal remains in tact. To this day, nobody has ever taken a salary from The 11-10-02 Foundation. The organization has always been 100% volunteer run.
Goal #10: The Thirtieth Birthday -- The 11-10-02 Foundation is named after the 30th birthday of its founder. A long-term Goal for The Foundation was to exist long enough to see its 30th birthday (2028). As of 2026, the organization remains on track to reach that Goal.