America's Promise — The Alliance for Youth is a foundation

Foundation (charity)

A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....

 founded by Colin Powell

Colin Powell

Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...

 in 1997 to help children and youth from all socioeconomic sectors in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

In late April 1997 President

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

s Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...

, George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush

George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...

, Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...

, and Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford

Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...

 and First Lady

First Lady of the United States

First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...

 Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan

Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....

, representing President Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....

, met at the Presidents' Summit for America's Future in Philadelphia. Also present were 30 governors, 100 mayors, 145 community delegations, dozens of prominent business leaders and several thousand citizens. At this conference the Presidents asked the nation to make youth a top priority and to support the Five Promises. Powell was chairman of the conference and subsequently became the Chairman of the organization.He held that position until his appointment as Secretary of State but still actively supports the foundation. Alma Powell

Alma Powell

Alma Vivian Powell is an African American audiologist and the wife of military and political figure Colin Powell, whom she married on August 25, 1962. She is a graduate of Fisk University....

 is currently Chair of the Alliance.

The foundation works with hundreds of companies, non-profit organizations, faith based organizations, educational institutions, as well as government agencies to achieve its goals. A complete list of partners can be found here.

Marguerite Kondracke, the wife of journalist Mort Kondracke

Mort Kondracke

Morton M. Kondracke is an American political commentator and journalist. He gained great visibility via a long stint as a panelist on The McLaughlin Group. Kondracke worked for several leading publications, serving for twenty years as executive editor and columnist for the non-partisan Capitol...

, has served as CEO since 2004.

Five promises

1. Ongoing relationships with caring adults – parents, mentors, tutors, neighbors,youth volunteers or coaches

A caring adult serves as a guide, a mentor and a role model for young people. This sense of connection—within and outside the family—is a powerful factor that encourages are connecting caring adults to young people.

2. Safe places with structured activities during non-school hours

A safe place with constructive activities gives youth an alternative to street corners, gangs and other harmful environments. A safe place nurtures young people's Promise partners are responding by creating safe havens for young people.

3. Healthy start and future

Children need a healthy start before they begin schooling – and adolescents also need accessible and affordable healthcare, including good nutrition; eye, ear and dental checkups; and regular exercise. America's Promise partners provide accessible and affordable health services for all young people throughout development.

4. Marketable skills through effective education

Marketable skills enable young people to prepare for employment in the 21st century. Young people must mast and analytical skills, learn workplace etiquette and know how to use new technology, such these essential career skills.

5. Opportunities to give back through community service

Community
Young volunteers have higher self-esteem, perform better in school, build leadership skills and learn how to solve community service –
even though most volunteer when asked. America's Promise partners are providing numerous opportunities for youth to help their communities.

America's Promise also has a public policy affiliate organization called First Focus

First Focus

First Focus is a bipartisan children's advocacy organization, launched by America's Promise. The stated purpose of the organization is "making children and their families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions."...

http://www.firstfocus.net.

In 2009, America's Promise Alliance published GradNation: A Guidebook to Help Communities Tackle the Dropout Crisis, a tool that includes suggestions for how a community can keep students in school and prepare them for life after school.

References:
http://everyonecounts.sbcss.k12.ca.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=21