Elevate to Even Plus Embarks on a Record-Breaking Year

Elevate to Even+ • April 1, 2024

Founder Andrew Walker Shares Insight

Elevate to Even Plus ("Elevate+"), under the stewardship of founder and president Andrew Walker, is ushering in a groundbreaking year as it prepares to launch its 2024 internship program. With a focus on empowering marginalized students, Elevate+ is rewriting the narrative of access and opportunity in education. Walker shares insights into the organization's evolution and the strides it's making in creating transformative experiences for underserved youth.

A man and two women are posing for a picture together.

"Founded just four years ago, we're still learning and growing from year to year," Walker shares. "This year, we adopted a new budgeting approach, which had the potential to limit the size of our program during a one-year transition. However, extraordinary funding from the Greater Cleveland Partnership and several of our host partners contributing their own funds towards the interns' wages has meant our program is actually on pace to become larger than last year's."

Walker's words encapsulate Elevate+'s commitment to innovation and adaptability. From its inception, Elevate+ has been dedicated to providing underserved high school and college students from marginalized backgrounds with access to life-changing internship opportunities. These students, predominantly of color from low-income households, have demonstrated exceptional achievement or potential in various aspects of their lives.

With each passing year, the organization evolves, refining its strategies to maximize impact and reach more students, and adding enriching activities like networking events and a speaker series to provide a more holistic experience.

A group of people are posing for a picture together.

For Elevate+, 2024 marks a significant shift in fundraising tactics. "For our first three summers, we determined the cost of the summer program and then proceeded to fundraise intensively to cover our costs," explains Walker. "However, from 2024, we've started to raise money for the following year. So 2024 fundraising will pay for 2025 internships."

Despite facing a short fundraising window for 2024's internships, Elevate+ has secured vital support from various sources. "Since we only finished raising the money needed to pay for 2023 internships last November, we had a very short window to raise money for 2024's internships," Walker reveals. "As a result, we raised only a small fraction of what we funded in prior years for this summer's interns. Greater Cleveland Partnership will provide the lion's share of funding, enough to cover over 30 internships in the Cleveland area. A grant from the Good People Fund will cover two more spots and several host partners in other locations will be self-funding all or part of their intern's wages to bridge the gap."

A group of people are posing for a picture in front of a fountain.

Walker's insights highlight the collaborative efforts that drive Elevate+'s success. Through partnerships with organizations like the Greater Cleveland Partnership and host partners across the country, Elevate+ is able to expand its reach and provide more opportunities for students. "We are so fortunate and grateful for all the additional help this year," he said.

As Elevate to Even Plus embarks on its most ambitious summer yet, Walker's vision serves as a guiding light, propelling the organization towards even greater heights. With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and student empowerment, Elevate+ is poised to make a lasting impact on the lives of many more students for years to come.

____________________________________________________

Help is still needed

While the organization is in a great position to fund all interns' wages this summer, Elevate to Even Plus continues to fundraise for it operating costs. These costs include our staff member and activities that the interns participate in, such as networking events and professional headshot photoshoots. The organization continues to seek corporate sponsorships and individual donors to provide this critically important funding for this year. Supporters can provide essential funding here:

Donate

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Why Elevate+ Matters to Me

By Dr. Marilú Marcillo • August 17, 2026

By Elevate+ Board Member Marilú Marcillo

Building More Than Internships

By Carolyn Parelli • August 11, 2026

How Elevate+ Turns Workplace Experience into Career Readiness

A Summer of Showing Up

By Aguie Barrantes • August 5, 2026

An Intern's Perspective on Professional and Personal Growth

Showing Up Is Only the First Step

By Aguie Barrantes • July 8, 2026

Walking into a networking event alone is not exactly comfortable. I didn't know anyone, and I wasn't sure I belonged there. But somewhere between the first conversation and the second, that feeling changed. This summer, as the Marketing & Communications Intern at Elevate+ , I've learned that internships are about much more than completing projects. Managing and developing the Intern Spotlight posts, creating social media content, and building a content calendar and other marketing materials, including this blog post, have strengthened my organization, creativity, and communication skills. My biggest takeaway has been that building a personal brand starts before anyone is watching . Outside of Elevate+, one of my professors from Seton Hall introduced me to the opportunity to attend a two-day networking event at Next League. While I was nervous at first, I reminded myself that growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone . Connecting with students and professionals across the sports industry showed there isn't one path to success. Alongside Elevate+, I’ve also balanced two other part-time jobs with FC Motown and Momento. Whether it’s working long hours in the summer heat or adjusting to unexpected changes during a live event, I’ve learned that success comes from being adaptable and thinking on the fly. These experiences have shown me that the most valuable growth happens when you’re willing to step up and show up , regardless of the circumstances. Looking back on the first half of the summer, I’ve realized that my biggest growth hasn't come from checking projects off a list. It's come from putting myself in unfamiliar situations, asking questions, and embracing opportunities that once felt intimidating . As I head into the second half of the summer, my goal is to be more intentional about following up with the professionals I meet. I've had the opportunity to connect with many people, but I want those conversations to turn into meaningful, lasting relationships. Showing up is only the first step; following up is what makes a connection memorable .