About The Freshman Fresh Start
Thank you for your interest in learning more about Freshman Fresh Start (formerly Freshman Fifteen Boston), an effort to support some of the Boston area’s most talented, but financially disadvantaged college-bound students. To date, over 1400 students have received packages of essential dorm room and school supplies allowing them to start college with dignity and a little less stress. We believe that this gift is one of a number of factors that help students attain the ultimate goal: college graduation.
100% of all donations go to fund students. Freshman Fresh Start co-founders stand by our ongoing commitment to assume all administrative and outside expenses.
We’d like to thank the founders of Freshman Fifteen in New York, Mary Buckley and her daughter, Meaghan, for their inspiration and many years of support. We wish them continued success.
Freshman Fresh Start By The Numbers
Since 2011, Freshman Fresh Start (formerly Freshman Fifteen Boston) has funded over 1400 students from 40 High Schools and Agencies in the greater Boston area.
In 2024, we provided packages for 170 students from the Class of 2028.
What We Do
- Freshman Fresh Start (formerly Freshman Fifteen Boston) was founded in 2011. We are proud to have funded over 1400 students at over 40 Boston area high schools, who have attended more than 70 colleges and universities.
- Freshman Fresh Start is a targeted effort to help students with extreme financial need by supporting their all-important transition to college life.
- The Freshman Fresh Start award of essential dorm room and school supplies allows our students to begin their college experience with dignity.
- While most college aid packages provide tuition, room and board, most do not cover the “hidden costs” of basic college dorm room and school supplies.
- Freshman Fresh Start partners with high schools, charter schools, support agencies and educators in the greater Boston area to identify financially-challenged college-bound students and provide them with the essential items they need to furnish their dorm rooms.
- Most of our awardees live below the poverty line, and many of our recipients tell us they have never had anything new in their lives. Some are heading off to college from homeless shelters.
- We have received heartfelt thanks and high praise from our partnering schools, agencies, colleges, educators, and our students and their families.
- Although we have grown and expanded each year, there is significant unmet need in the greater Boston area.
- With your help, Freshman Fresh Start can continue to provide dorm essentials and school supplies to acomplished students.
The Freshman Fresh Start Dorm Essentials
High Schools and Programs Attended by Freshman Fresh Start Students since 2011
Boston Arts Academy • Boston College High School • Boston Collegiate Charter School • Boston Green Academy • Boston International High School • Boston International Newcomers Academy • Boston Latin • Brighton High • Brockton High • Cambridge Rindge and Latin • Charlestown High • City on a Hill Charter School • Codman Academy • Cristo Rey Boston • East Boston High • Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (EMK Academy) • English High School • Fenway High • Fontbonne Academy • Jeremiah Burke High School • John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science • Josiah Quincy Upper School • Lawrence Academy • Lawrence High School • Lowell High School • Lynn Classical • Malden High • Match Charter School • Melrose High • New Bedford High School • New Heights Charter School of Brockton • New Haven Academy • New Mission High School • Notre Dame High School • Prospect Hill Academy • Revere High School • Somerville High School • South Boston Excel • South High Community School • Steppingstone Scholars • Tech Boston Academy • Thrive Scholars • Urban Science Academy • uAspire
Colleges and Universities Attended by Freshman Fresh Start Students since 2011
Becker College • Boston College • Boston Conservatory • Boston University • Brandeis University • Bridgewater State University • Brown University • Bryn Mawr • Bucknell • Centre College • Clark University • Colby-Sawyer • College of the Holy Cross • Connecticut College • Cornell University • Dartmouth College • Dean College • Denison University • Emmanuel College • Emory University • Fitchburg State • Framingham State • Green Mountain College • Hamilton College • Harvard University • Howard University • Lehigh University • Loyola • Macalester College • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts • Merrimack College • Morehouse College • Mount Ida • New York University • Northeastern University • Northwestern University • Princeton University • Providence College • Regis College • Rhode Island College • Roger Williams University • Saint Anselm • Saint John’s • Saint Michaels • Salem State • Smith College • South Carolina State • Spelman College • Stonehill College • Syracuse University • Tufts University • UMASS Amherst • UMASS Boston • UMASS Dartmouth • UMASS Lowell • Union College • University of Maine • University of Sciences Philadelphia • University of the District of Columbia • Vanderbilt University • Wentworth Institute of Technology • Westfield State • Wheaton College • Wheelock College • Worcester Polytechnic Institute • Worcester State • Yale University
