RISING TOGETHER FOUNDATION
Bridging the Gap for Education and Opportunity
Send a Scholar To Camp
Fundraising Campaign
Rising Together Foundation's vision is to create a community of leaders, educators, and supporters that helps all students receive opportunities in education and leadership. Our belief is that when students improve their lives by receiving a good education, then our entire community is strengthened. Unfortunately, many Memphis-area youth do not have access to high quality summer academic programs.
Rising Together Foundation provides excellent summer programming to first through ninth grade students with our three-week, full-day SLAM (Scholars, Leaders, and Athletes in Memphis) Summer Academy. During our programs participants enjoy positive social interactions with their peers and adults while improving their academic and life skills. Students take advantage of instruction in math, language arts, reading, writing, public speaking, and financial literacy. Our scholars enjoy nutritious lunches before an active afternoon of sports and games.
We need your help: Our cost per student is $750. Most of the students and their familes we serve cannot afford this cost so we provide needed financial assistance so that all children may particpate in our programs. Our goal is to raise $40,000. Please click the link below to explore the different ways you may help.
Donate Now To Help Our Students
SLAM Summer Academy
2024 Enrollment Is Open!
Rising Together Foundation is excited to be partnering with three organizations this summer to provide our SLAM Summer Academy program: Immanuel Lutheran Church and School (East Memphis/Bartlett), Saint Paul Baptist Church (Whitehaven), and Germantown Presbyterian Church. SLAM Summer Academy is a three-week, full-day (Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.) program involving academics, leadership, and physical fitness programming. Financial assistance is provided to make our programs affordable to all families.
Our teachers, counselors, and staff do an incredible job of engaging, encouraging, and loving our program participants. Our programs provide gifted children with the opportunity to continue to grow academically and assist other students with closing the learning gap. Participants will enjoy social interactions with their peers and take advantage of great instruction in math, language arts, reading, writing, STEM, public speaking, and financial literacy. They will also enjoy an active afternoon of physical fitness, games, and sports. Nutritious lunches and snacks are provided.
SLAM Summer Academy program dates and locations:
June 3 - June 21 at Immanuel Lutheran School (6319 Raleigh-LaGrange Road 38134) and St. Paul Baptist Church (2124 East Holmes Road 38116)
July 8 - July 26 at Immanuel Lutheran School, St. Paul Baptist Church, and Germantown Presbyterian Church (2363 S Germantown Rd, Germantown, TN 38138)
Enroll Now
2023 SLAM Summer Academy
Photo Gallery
SLAM Summer Academy
2023 Enrollment Is Open!
Rising Together Foundation is excited to be partnering with three organizations this summer to provide our SLAM Summer Academy program: Immanuel Lutheran Church and School (East Memphis), Saint Paul Baptist Church (Whitehaven), and Germantown Presbyterian Church. SLAM Summer Academy is a three-week, full-day (Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.) program involving academics, leadership, and physical fitness programming. Financial assistance is provided to make our programs affordable to all families.
Our teachers, counselors, and staff do an incredible job of engaging, encouraging, and loving our program participants. Our programs provide gifted children with the opportunity to continue to grow academically and assist other students with closing the learning gap. Participants will enjoy social interactions with their peers and take advantage of great instruction in math, language arts, reading, writing, STEM, public speaking, and financial literacy. They will also enjoy an active afternoon of physical fitness, games, and sports. Nutritious lunches and snacks are provided.
SLAM Summer Academy program dates and locations:
June 5 - June 23 at Immanuel Lutheran School (6319 Raleigh-LaGrange Road 38134)
July 10 - July 28 at Immanuel Lutheran School, St. Paul Baptist Church (2124 East Holmes Road 38116), and Germantown Presbyterian Church (2363 S Germantown Rd, Germantown, TN 38138)
Enroll Now
2022 SLAM Summer Academy
Photo Gallery
SLAM Summer Academy
2022 Enrollment Is Open!
Rising Together Foundation is excited to be partnering with three organizations this summer to provide our SLAM Summer Academy program: Immanuel Lutheran Church and School (East Memphis), Pursuit of God Church (Frayser), and Saint Paul Baptist Church (Whitehaven). SLAM Summer Academy is a three-week, full-day (Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.) program involving academics, leadership, and physical fitness programming. Financial assistance is provided to make our programs affordable to all families.
Our teachers, counselors, and staff do an incredible job of engaging, encouraging, inspiring, and loving our program participants. Our programs provide gifted children with the opportunity to continue to grow academically and assist other students with closing the learning gap. Participants will enjoy social interactions with their peers and take advantage of great instruction in math, language arts, reading, writing, STEM, public speaking, and financial literacy. They will also enjoy an active afternoon of physical fitness, games, and sports. Nutritious lunches and snacks are provided.
SLAM Summer Academy program dates and locations:
June 6 - June 24 at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School (6319 Raleigh-LaGrange Road 38134)
June 13 - July 1 at Pursuit of God Church (3759 North Watkins Road 38127) and St. Paul Baptist Church (2124 East Holmes Road 38116)
July 11 - July 29 at Immanuel Lutheran School, Pursuit of God Church, and St. Paul Baptist Church
SLAM Summer Academy 2021
Our summer programs are complete! Rising Together Foundation partnered with Pursuit of God Church (Frayser), Immanuel Lutheran Church and School (East Memphis/Bartlett), and the Neighborhood Christian Centers (Uptown) to provide academic enrichment and leadership development summer programming for over 110 disadvantaged students in Shelby County. The children and their parents loved our programs and we succeeded in fulfilling our mission for the Memphis community.
Our participants enjoyed social interactions with their peers and took advantage of great instruction in math, language arts, reading, writing, STEM, public speaking, and financial literacy. They enjoyed nutritious lunches and snacks before participating in an active afternoon of physical fitness, games, and sports that included yoga, martial arts, and self-defense. We had over sixty enrollees (1st through 9th graders) in our full-day (8:00-5:00), three-week SLAM Summer Academy programs at Pursuit of God Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church and School. RTF provided academic enrichment and leadership development programming for fifty middle school students at the Neighborhood Christian Centers' SOAR Camp.
Our teachers, counselors, and staff did an incredible job of engaging, encouraging, inspiring, and loving our program participants. We had veteran teachers from St. Mary's, MUS, Christ Methodist Day School, and Mt. Pisgah who have worked together in SLAM for fifteen years, and added instructors to our team from Immanuel Lutheran School, Pursuit of God Church, and Memphis Teachers Residency. Numerous college and high school students served as counselors in our programs. They were great mentors to the students and assistants to the teachers.
It was an outstanding year for Rising Together Foundation. The feedback we received demonstrates that there is community-wide interest in our programs and the significant impact we can have in closing the learning gap for many children, as well as providing gifted children with the opportunity to continue to grow academically. We plan to have six or more three-week, full-day SLAM Summer Academy programs for Summer 2022. Orange Mound and Whitehaven are our targets for establishing new programs. Sponsorships of our SLAM programs are our greatest priority. With your help we will continue "Bridging the Gap" for students from under-served Memphis communities. Thank you for your support!
Remembering Tommy Peters
We mourn the loss of Tommy Peters. He loved his family, friends, Memphis, and Memphis music. Tommy was President and Managing Partner of Beale Street Blues Company (BB King’s Blues Club, Itta Bena Restaurant, Lafayette’s Music Room, Moondance Grill, and more). He did a lot to help musicians from Memphis and around the world. He was a great ambassador for Memphis every where he traveled. Tommy had a lot of friends and never met a stranger. TP was a kind, funny, passionate, talented, humble servant-leader who helped many, but never wanted any credit. He was an invaluable board member at Rising Together Foundation. Tommy supported and advocated for our mission to serve disadvantaged students in Memphis through our academic programs and summer camps. He embodied ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Tommy is survived by his wife, Liz Peters of Memphis; three daughters, Sara Fay Egan (Merrick) of Dallas, Bethany Stooksberry of Birmingham and Grace Peters of Dallas; grandchildren Grace Egan and Walker Egan of Dallas; and his sisters, Sally Peters and Karen Hoff, both of Memphis.
In his memory and to continue his legacy Rising Together Foundation has established the “Tommy Peters Opportunity Fund” to provide scholarships so that disadvantaged students may attend our programs, events, and summer camps. It will also provide funding to give students from under-served communities a hand up when they are trying to help themselves become a better person.
TP, you are greatly missed! May you rest in peace. Love you!
SOAR and SLAM Camp 2020
Rising Together Foundation had the privilege to partner with the Neighborhood Christian Centers (NCC) to provide programming for fifty middle school girls and boys in our four-week SOAR and SLAM Camp . Participants represented the Chickasaw, Greenbriar, Orange Mound, Pershing Park, Ridgecrest, and Robinhood neighborhoods. Due to the pandemic students were allowed to be at the site only one day each week, but were able to participate virtually the other days through Zoom and Discord with laptops provided by the NCC. Each day these scholars participated in academic enrichment programs including creative writing, math, public speaking, yoga, and a STEM program where they created a solar-powered light sculpture. These young scholars LOVED IT! During the camp we helped students improve their academic and leadership skills and taught them the “new normal” of virtual school. All of our camp participants were better prepared for the coming school year.
Making an impact with kids in under-served communities.
We create, administer, and support excellent academic, leadership, and social programs and events designed for girls and boys and provide necessary financial assistance so that disadvantaged children from under-served communities may participate.
2022 SLAM Summer Academy
program enrollment is open!
Click the link below to register now.
Our Programs
Students in under-served communities do not receive the support and opportunities that many of their peers receive. As a result they may experience “learning loss” during the school year and in the summer months they experience “summer slide” where they regress academically and socially.
We address these problems by providing excellent college-preparatory and life-skills programming and events for girls and boys.
SLAM Summer Academy
Get ready for an experience that will change your life. Summer SLAM is more than just a summer camp; it’s an accelerator for fast-forward students.
Sports Writing Internship Program
We work with students to provide writing opportunities that provide real-world experience.
FLAG Conference
A new conference to aid in our mission. Details coming soon.
Get Involved with RTF
Your impact will extend beyond the classroom. Like sound waves from a ringing bell, your service starts with scholars in the center and reverts out to empower their circles of support of parents, teachers, and school administrators.
Partner with Us
Are you a school looking to host RTF throughout the summer?
Are you a parent or student looking to further your academic and athletic excellence?
We’d love to hear from you!