A Better Chance

Thank you to everyone who made the 2026 Kaleidoscope Ball an unforgettable night. Your generosity is opening doors for talented young people ready to change the world.

Scholar Awardee Alexander Bello said it best:
"There are countless young people with extraordinary potential who simply need support, opportunity, and someone willing to believe in them."

We believe. And because of you, we can act on that belief.

Thank you to our donors, sponsors, Scholar Award winners, and honorees Kourtney Gibson, CEO of Retirement Solutions at TIAA, and Kurt Van Wagenen, CEO of Summit Broadband.

Here's to the Scholars whose stories are still being written, the Alumni who prove every day what opportunity makes possible, and the future we're building together.

Alexander Bello, a student at Fieldston School in the Bronx, New York, and recipient of this year’s A Better Chance Family Award, represents the impact of opportunity, leadership, and generational success within the ABC community.

Since entering Fieldston in 5th grade, Alexander has distinguished himself as a leader, activist, and filmmaker. He has led the school’s Black Student Union, Film Society, and Students of Color Matter activism group while pursuing opportunities that expanded his perspective through travel, storytelling, and community engagement.

In addition to his leadership work, Alexander pursued acting opportunities across Broadway, television, and film before discovering his passion for storytelling behind the camera. His directorial debut, The Funeral, earned multiple awards and affirmed his belief in filmmaking as a tool to build empathy, strengthen community, and amplify underrepresented voices. This fall, he will continue his studies in film and creative writing.

Alexander’s journey is also part of a larger family legacy within A Better Chance. His older brother, Adam Bello, attended The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry through ABC beginning in 8th grade and is now a sophomore at Bowdoin College in Maine. Together, the Bello brothers exemplify the lasting impact of access to opportunity and the transformative power of education across generations.

The Bello family represents the spirit of the Family Award and the enduring mission of A Better Chance to create pathways for future leaders.

Join us in celebrating Alexander, Adam, and the Bello family at the Kaleidoscope Ball on June 9th! To learn more: https://abetterchance.org/2026-kaleidoscope-ball/

Christian Rodriguez, a senior at Stuart Hall High School in San Francisco and an incoming freshman at the Questrom School of Business at Boston University, is a member of the A Better Chance community.

Through his academic, athletic, and service commitments, Christian has demonstrated a deep dedication to leadership and community engagement. Inspired by the International Baccalaureate Program, he has cultivated a global perspective and a passion for creating meaningful impact.

At Stuart Hall, Christian serves as student body president, represents his school as a student ambassador, and helped lead his undefeated football team to the school’s first-ever NCS Championship.

Beyond school, Christian has completed more than 150 hours of community service, volunteering with the SF-Marin Food Bank and coaching youth through his nonprofit soccer club. His commitment to service reflects his belief in using leadership to uplift and support others.

Christian represents the power of purpose-driven leadership and community impact. This fall, he will attend Boston University to study International Business, where he hopes to use his understanding of global markets and economies to help bridge inequality and create a more equitable future for communities around the world.

Join us in celebrating Christian and his fellow scholars at the Kaleidoscope Ball on June 9th! To learn more: https://abetterchance.org/2026-kaleidoscope-ball/

Wishing our scholars, families, alumni, and community a blessed Eid al-Adha. 🌙✨

As we continue empowering the next generation through education, we celebrate the values of compassion, generosity, and unity that bring communities together.

Eid Mubarak from all of us at A Better Chance. 💙

Magdalena Sambajon Mercado, a senior at Phillips Academy Andover and an incoming freshman at Cornell University, is a member of the A Better Chance community.

Magdalena has demonstrated a strong commitment to equity, representation, and youth advocacy throughout her academic career. As a freshman, she founded Taking A Deep Dive, a youth-led initiative dedicated to expanding Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian culture and history in K–12 education. Through this initiative, she connected more than 100 students nationwide and helped raise nearly $15,000 to advance inclusive educational opportunities.

She has also led national AAPI youth advocacy efforts through Make Noise Today, generating more than 150,000 annual engagements, and worked with Thriving Asians to develop mental health resources that connect AAPI youth with professional support and mentorship.

Furthering her commitment to public service and education policy, Magdalena interned with Massachusetts House Representative Tram T. Nguyen, contributing to education and curriculum-related initiatives.

Magdalena represents the power of youth leadership, advocacy, and civic engagement. She will attend Cornell University this fall to study public policy, with aspirations of attending law school and helping shape a more inclusive future. We look forward to all that she will accomplish in the years ahead.

Join us in celebrating Magdalena and her fellow scholars at the Kaleidoscope Ball on June 9th! To learn more: https://abetterchance.org/2026-kaleidoscope-ball/

As we mark Memorial Day, we invite our community to pause in remembrance and to know the full story of where this day comes from.

In his 2001 book "Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory," Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David W. Blight traced one of the earliest Memorial Day observances to May 1, 1865, when as many as 10,000 formerly enslaved men, women, and children, joined by Black Union soldiers and missionaries, gathered in Charleston, South Carolina to honor the Union dead with a solemn procession and flowers. It was an act of love for those who fell in the cause of freedom.

On this day, we hold that history close. We honor all who gave their lives in service to this country, and we remember with special gratitude the members of our A Better Chance community who served and sacrificed.

Wishing our entire ABC family a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day.

Born into a Nigerian-American family in Louisville, Kentucky, Anabelle Anulika Harry is a graduating senior at The Field School in Washington, DC, and an incoming freshman at Washington University in St. Louis.

Anabelle has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence, leadership, athletics, and aviation. After discovering her passion for flying through gliding, she trained with the Washington International Flight Academy and Aim High Flight Academy, where she earned flight hours while working toward her Private Pilot License.

Hasin Shaykat, a senior at The Kew-Forest School in Queens, New York, and an incoming freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a member of the A Better Chance community.

Originally from Bangladesh, Hasin has demonstrated a strong commitment to scientific research, innovation, and leadership. His work has explored topics ranging from Bell’s Theorem in quantum mechanics to climate-adaptive infrastructure, and his research has been published in an international high school science journal.

Beyond his academic pursuits, Hasin founded the nonprofit CodeForChampions to expand access to technology education and has led several student initiatives at his school, including Math Club and Eco-Sweep, a robotics project dedicated to environmental cleanup efforts.

In addition to his work in science and technology, Hasin is passionate about writing and filmmaking, using creative expression as a complement to his academic interests.

Hasin represents the power of curiosity, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership. He will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this fall, where he plans to study physics or aerospace engineering. We look forward to all that he will accomplish in the years ahead.

Join us in celebrating Hasin and his fellow scholars at the Kaleidoscope Ball on June 9th! To learn more: https://abetterchance.org/2026-kaleidoscope-ball/