Annual Report
2026
Investing in the Next Generation of Leaders
About the Foundation
The Brewer Foundation empowers students through education equity, mentorship, and global debate. We break barriers, amplify voices, and champion the art of advocacy for lasting change. The Brewer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation that supports a range of community initiatives with a special emphasis on developing, overseeing, and funding a growing array of education programs, including the Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program (FLP) and the Brewer Foundation/ New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF). The Foundation welcomes community partners who desire to make a positive difference in the community.
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Table of Contents 3 From the Chairman 4 From the President 5 Future Leaders Program 13 International Public Policy Forum 19 In the News 20 Community Outreach
From the Chairman To our community partners, supporters, colleagues, and friends, Anniversaries invite us to do more than celebrate the past. They ask us to measure the distance traveled, reflect on the lives changed along the way, and renew our commitment to the work that still lies ahead. This past year, the Brewer Foundation marked the 25th anniversaries of the Future Leaders Program and the International Public Policy Forum. For a quarter century, these two initiatives have invested in the education of young people, changing their lives as well as the communities to which they will ultimately contribute. After twenty-five years, our impact is undeniable. Today, many of our alumni are scholars, professionals, advocates, educators, entrepreneurs, and leaders in their own communities. Their stories define our Foundation's success. The Future Leaders Program provides advanced education and mentorship for students through an enduring partnership between Dallas Independent School District and four of Dallas’ leading independent schools. We open doors that were once closed, equipping young people with the academic preparation and character development necessary to succeed wherever their ambitions lead. The International Public Policy Forum reflects this same commitment, but on a global stage. For twenty-five years, students from around the world have debated each side of a critically important policy question, thus improving their analytical skills and their ability to both articulate and listen.
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At a time when productive discourse is increasingly rare, our debate tournament challenges students to pursue reasoned discussion, intellectual rigor, and civic engagement. None of this would have been possible without the educators, volunteers, partner institutions, donors, families, and alumni who have supported this work for twenty-five years. Their commitment to education sustains a legacy of opportunity that expands with every student we serve. While this anniversary is an occasion to reflect on what has been accomplished, it also motivates us to embrace the future with even more energy and focus. Every new class of students or debaters represents another chance to invest in talent, expand possibility, and prepare principled leaders to change the world. A quarter of a century ago, we committed to invest in the lives of our students. Today, we see the return in the leaders our students have become. While their collective stories reflect our greatest achievement so far, we are just getting started. William A. Brewer III Chairman, Brewer Foundation
From the President To our supporters, partners, colleagues and friends, A year ago, I became President of the Brewer Foundation. With gratitude, I proudly led the Foundation into its historic year as we celebrated the Foundation’s 30th anniversary, as well as the 25th anniversaries of our flagship programs: the Future Leaders Program and the International Public Policy Forum. For 25 years, the Future Leaders Program has educated and mentored students from Southern Dallas - where fewer than 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree - and placed 100% of our graduates in college. And for 25 years, our International Public Policy Forum has provided a platform for young minds from every corner of the globe to come together to debate complex public policy issues. The next 25 years will be bigger in every way that matters: more students reached, more graduates sent into the world, more countries represented at the table, and more lives permanently changed because of our work. I write this letter not just as the Foundation’s President, but as someone who understands what our work can do. As a Black man born and raised in South Dallas, I saw firsthand how access to quality education can permanently alter the trajectory of a life, and I witnessed how a poor system failed to provide opportunities to those who were from my part of the world. I understand that talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
We believe education is the cornerstone of economic mobility. And through our work, we see what happens when a student's potential is backed by real institutional power. The student grows into a leader and a contributor upon whom their community can count. As the Brewer Foundation enters its 31st year, our strategy is clear: expand access to opportunity through education and deploy our resources to develop the next generation of leaders. This year we celebrated decades of impact, but our greatest work lies ahead. I want to personally thank the Dallas Independent School District, our private school partners, New York University, Howard University, Texas Southern University, and our network of donors, volunteers, and advocates. Your support and commitment make this mission possible. Together, we are not simply preparing for the future, we are creating it, one leader at a time. Ian Shaw President, Brewer Foundation
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The Future Leaders Program (FLP)
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Closing the opportunity gap, one class at a time In 2001, the Brewer Foundation founded FLP to close the education opportunity gap among students in Southern Dallas through a unique public-private partnership.
Every year, we work alongside the Dallas Independent School District and our private school partners, the Episcopal School of Dallas, St. Mark's School of Texas, Greenhill School, and The Hockaday School, to expand their education, mentor students through middle and high school and facilitate these students’ college pursuits. During twenty Saturdays each school year, hundreds of FLP students arrive on the campuses of our private school partners to receive rigorous academic instruction. Each class is co-taught by a Dallas ISD teacher and a teacher from one of our private school partners, creating a truly collaborative learning environment. We guarantee a 10:1 studentto-educator ratio to assure individualized instruction and mentorship. The model works. FLP delivers a 100% college acceptance rate. As a result, the Texas State Board of Education and the Governor's Office recognized FLP as the definitive standard for sustained educational investment.
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25 Years of FLP
2,000+
14
$22M+
100%
150
2,500+
lives changed since founding
college acceptance rate every year
QuestBridge & Gates Scholars
meals provided every weekend
in scholarships since 2009
bus rides provided to students
The College Counseling Gap Getting into college is a matter of opportunity and guidance. How much of it a student receives depends almost entirely on where they go to school.
38 MINS
Average U.S. public school senior receives across high school
80+ HRS
Every FLP senior receives in dedicated college guidance
Each square represents 38 minutes of college counseling. One gray square is the national average. The rest is what an FLP senior receives.
126x
More college guidance than the national average. The reason 100% of our seniors are accepted to college, from neighborhoods where fewer than 12% of adults hold a degree.
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Our Alumni QuestBridge Scholars
Gates Scholars
Efrain Vera, NYU, Class of 2010 Brianna Wiggins, Amherst College, Class of 2011 Semmey Neguse, NYU, Class of 2010 Juan Jaramillo, Pomona College, Class of 2014 Sulema Guevara, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2020 Estrella Garcia, UT Austin, Class of 2025 Judith Rodriguez, Grinnell College, Class of 2023 Raul Lopez, Northwestern University, Class of 2023 Where Our Alumni Work Today Vianca Flores, Pomona College, Class of 2023 Nonprofit & Community Teodoro Garcia, Pomona College, Class of 2023 9.6% Alfredo Fuentes, Boston University, Class of 2025 Isaac Molina, Emory University, Class of 2025 Military & Law Business & Corporate Angel Zavala, Princeton University, Class of 2026 Enforcement 31.6% 12% Emanuel Benitez, Columbia University, Class of 2026
Notable Alumni Careers Associate Producer, Rockstar Games Senior Marketer, Thompson Reuters Program Director, Dallas Urban Alliance Account Executive, Audacy Media Adjunct Faculty, New York University Inside Sales Associate, Philadelphia 76ers Teacher, Dallas Independent School District
Meet Efrain Vera
Legal 12%
STEM, Trades & Construction 20.4%
Education & Academia 14.4%
FLP Alumnus · Gates Scholar ‘10 · Founder, Vera Law Group A first-generation college graduate raised by a single mother alongside his two brothers, Efrain Vera joined the Future Leaders Program in high school and went on to become FLP's first Gates Scholar, earning a full scholarship to New York University. He later attended Albany Law School to receive his law degree. After graduating from Albany Law School and building a successful career in commercial litigation, Efrain founded the Vera Law Group, where he now uses his experience to help minority-owned businesses navigate complex legal challenges.
“FLP changed my life. It gave me the confidence and skills to do what I am doing today. My experience in the program is a big part of why I chose to build a firm focused on helping those I believe need it most.” - Efrain Vera
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FLP Class of 2026 Where Our Students Go Class Matriculation
This year, FLP graduated 29 seniors. Eleven of the 29 seniors received full scholarships. Full scholarship recipients are:
Austin College Babson College Bentley University Boston College California Institute of Technology Case Western Reserve University Claremont McKenna College Columbia University Coppin State University Cornell College Dallas College George Washington University Princeton University Roanoke College Southern Methodist University Texas Christian University (2) Texas Tech University Texas State University Texas Woman’s University The U.S. Military Academy at West Point Tufts University University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Houston University of North Texas (3) University of Southern California University of Texas at Arlington
Emanuel Benitez: Columbia University Angel Zavala: Princeton University Angel Campos: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point Jaide Crawford: Roanoke College Christopher Cueto: Texas Christian University Kwami Ketekou: Babson College Nicholas McClinton: Case Western Reserve University Malcolm Moore: Coppin State University David Castellanos: California Institute of Technology Carlos Vazquez: Tufts University Freddrick Walton: Texas Christian University
85%
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Seniors this year received over $2 million in scholarships! This year’s FLP seniors have matriculated to 26 of the nation's most selective colleges and universities, the majority of them far beyond Texas. Northeast Texas West South 0
10
20
30
Of the colleges our 2026 graduates will attend are outside Texas. Students from Pleasant Grove, South Dallas, and Oak Cliff will be building lives on campuses across the country.
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What Recent Graduates Say “Joining the Future Leaders Program as a freshman was one of the best decisions I made. As a senior, I can say that FLP challenged me to think outside of the box and be resilient. Most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to build meaningful friendships that I will always cherish and be a part of a kind and supportive community that I can always count on.” - Ximena Lopez, Rising Freshman at the University of Texas at Arlington
"The Future Leaders Program gave me a strong foundation for success before I even began navigating college life on my own. FLP helped me build confidence and develop important leadership and communication skills, while also teaching me how to balance academics and personal growth. I feel like because of FLP I can accomplish anything." - Emanuel Benitez, Rising Freshman at Columbia University
“One of the greatest benefits of the Future Leaders Program is how well it prepares students for the transition to college. FLP provided me with the tools and support system I need to thrive academically and personally.” - Angel Zavala, Rising Freshman at Princeton University
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FLP Partnerships Financial Literacy with JPMorgan Chase Beginning fall 2025, JPMorgan Chase professionals provided quarterly financial literacy workshops for FLP students building skills that support success in both personal life and career. Pictured below is Oscar Monsivas, a Chase community manager at a December workshop where students learned about the value of credit and the basics of banking.
Equipping Leaders with Capital One Building on the HEART Academy partnership launched earlier this year, Capital One provided 30 laptops this spring — one for every high-achieving graduate from Dallas ISD — closing a gap many first-generation college students face: reliable access to the technology that everyday academic work now assumes, from essay writing to coursework to collaborating with peers. “This donation is a tangible expression of Capital One’s deep commitment to building vibrant, opportunity-rich communities.” - Sanjiv Yajnik, President of Financial Services at Capital One
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FLP Supporters A Former FLP Student Gives Back Aaron Brewer participated in FLP during his time in DISD, before going on to a professional football career. This year, in honor of FLP's 25th anniversary, he returned to the program that shaped him with a $25,000 gift supporting the academic resources and leadership programming that are hallmarks of FLP. "We are immensely proud of Aaron, not only for his achievements on the football field, but for the leader and role model he has become off the field," said William A. Brewer III, Chairman of the Brewer Foundation. "Aaron's journey reflects the mission of the Future Leaders Program: to provide a platform where talent and hard work lead to extraordinary success."
“The program gave me confidence to compete at the highest level. I am blessed to be able to give back and to invest in the next generation of leaders from Dallas. My hope is that this gift helps provide the same opportunity for another young person that was provided to me.” - Aaron Brewer, Starting Center for the Miami Dolphins
FLP Food Partners Community-driven businesses that helped make FLP’s 25th year possible. We are grateful for their partnership and their shared commitment to investing in the next generation of leaders. As we look ahead, we remain thankful for these relationships and excited to grow them in the years to come.
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The International Public Policy Forum
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Redefining civil discourse, one debate at a time In 2001, the Brewer Foundation launched the National Public Policy Forum to change how students engage with the world’s hardest questions. New York University joined the tournament as an administrator in 2003.
The 2026-27 Topic: Resolved: The United Nations should prioritize protecting the rights of women and girls over respecting state sovereignty.
In 2009, it opened its doors to students everywhere as the International Public Policy Forum. What began with 50 schools in the United States quickly became the world's only global high school competition dedicated to written and oral public policy debate — an international exchange of ideas rooted in intellectual rigor and civil discourse. Unlike most debate competitions, IPPF places equal value on written and oral advocacy, making the written word just as important as the spoken one. Twenty-five years later, the topics have evolved, but the goal remains constant: developing leaders who confront complex issues with critical thinking and sound judgment. Trophy Central generously provided the trophies presented at this year’s IPPF Finals. The Brewer Foundation is proud to be supported by organizations that recognize the impact of debate.
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25 Years of the IPPF
$1M+
4,577
700+
3,000+ 49
In prize money since founding
Teams competed
Volunteer judges
Essays written
10,000+ Competitors to date
U.S. States
2001-02 Champion: Woodward Academy, College Park, Georgia
2002-03 Champion:
East Carteret High School, Beaufort, North Carolina
2012-13 Champion: Shanley High School, North Dakota
2003-04 Champion: Westminster Schools, Atlanta, Georgia
2004-05 Champion:
2011-12 Champion:
2005-07 Champion:
2012-13 Champion:
Greenhill School, Addison, Texas
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. School of the Arts, West Palm
Team Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
Shanley High School, Fargo, North Dakota
2007-09 Champion:
2013-14 Champion:
2009-10 Champion:
2014-15 Champion:
2010-11 Champion:
2015-16 Champion:
Bellaire High School, Bellaire, Texas
Ministry of Education, Singapore
Hamilton High School, Chandler, Arizona
St. Mark's School of Texas, Dallas, Texas
Plano Senior High School, Plano, Texas Plano Senior High School, Plano, Texas
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2023-24 Champion: Westwood High School, Texas
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Countries
Our Alumni Alumni & Circle of Champions Workforce and education distribution across IPPF alumni and the Circle of Champions. Education & Nonprofit 8.3%
Notable Alumni Careers
Law, Policy & Government 11.1%
Students 41.7%
Academia & Research 16.6%
Program Manager, Tesla Software Engineer, Microsoft Associate, Kramer Levin Executive Director, Kansas Holistic Defenders CFO, Europe, Anheuser-Busch InBev Special Litigation Division, Public Defender Service for D.C. Executive Director, Commercial Banking, JPMorgan Chase Co-Founder, Stealth Startup
Business, Finance & Consulting 22.3%
2016-17 Champion:
Westfield Academy, West Hartford, Connecticut
2017-18 Champion:
LEAF Academy, Bratislava, Slovakia
2017-18 Champion: LEAF Academy, Bratislava, Slovakia
2018-19 Champion:
Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks, California
2020-21 Champion: Slovak National Team, Bratislava, Slovakia
2021-22 Champion:
Pine-Richland High School, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
2022-23 Champion: Potomac Oak, Rockville, Maryland
2009-10 Champion: Ministry of Education, Singapore
2023-24 Champion:
Westwood High School, Austin Texas
2024-25 Champion:
Carroll Senior High School, Southlake, Texas
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The 25 Annual IPPF th
The Global Education Crisis Resolved: The Group of 20 Nations should levy a global education tax equal to 1% of each member country’s gross domestic product to establish a dedicated international organization that supports universal, free, quality primary and secondary education. This year’s tournament emerged from the largest and most internationally diverse qualifying round in IPPF history, with 332 teams from 30 U.S. states and 39 countries, including Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, China, and Japan, among others.
The 2026 World Champions
The Elite Eight
We congratulate North Allegheny Senior High School for winning the Brewer Cup. North Allegheny junior Sanjeev Arora won the John E. Sexton Award and a $1,000 prize for exceptional performance during the final debate.
North Allegheny Senior High School — Wexford, Pennsylvania Millburn High School — Millburn, New Jersey Ivy Bridge Academy — Johns Creek, Georgia Westwood High School — Austin, Texas BASIS International School Shenzhen — Shenzhen, China Çevre College — Istanbul, Turkey Delbarton School — Morristown, New Jersey Troy High School — Troy, Michigan
Meet Çevre College
This year, the IPPF welcomed its first team from Turkey to the Finals. Coached by Jasmin Saaka, the team of Dima, Duru, and Lorin had never debated before — but the IPPF gave them the opportunity to travel to New York City and compete against teams from across the world, advancing all the way to the Elite Eight in their very first tournament. Their run is a reminder of what the IPPF was built to do: give students who have never had a platform for civil discourse the training, the stage, and the confidence to use one.
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New Frontiers in the IPPF Inaugural Symposium The weekend opened with the inaugural IPPF Symposium, Educating the World: Obligation, Opportunity, or Overreach? at NYU, where a panel of experts took up the very question the students would later debate at NYU School of Law. The panel included Faith Abiodun, Executive Director of the United World Colleges (pictured left), Angela D. Minor, Director of the MLK Jr. Forensics Program at Howard University, Lindsay Brown, Senior Research Scientist at NYU Global TIES, Lawrence Aber, Paulette Goddard Professor at NYU, and Alex Eble, associate professor at Columbia University. Dr. Florencia Lopez-Boo, Director of NYU Global TIES, moderated the panel. Students had the opportunity to write questions and ask them to the experts before they took the stage the next day.
New Partnerships This year, we welcomed the Howard University Speech and Debate Team to IPPF. Under the guidance of NYU Director of Global Debate Will Baker, students judged debates from the Qualifying Round to the Sweet Sixteen. Director of Debate Angela D. Minor joined Finals Weekend as a Symposium panelist and Final Debate judge.
Texas Southern University’s Speech and Debate Team also joined as an IPPF judging partner this year, judging alongside Howard and NYU from the Qualifying Round to the Sweet Sixteen.
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In the News How a Dallas nonprofit built education pathways from Oak Cliff to New York and beyond
Building Pathways in South Dallas and Beyond: the Brewer Foundation Marks 30 Years of Impact
Speech & Debate Team Collabs with the Brewer Foundation
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Community Outreach
Beyond its core programs, the Brewer Foundation remains committed to strengthening the communities it serves. Over the past year, the Foundation supported a range of organizations and initiatives. These contributions reflect our belief that meaningful change happens through direct programming and partnership with those making a tangible difference. As the Foundation grows, we continue to identify ways to give back and to support the organizations and causes that align with our mission of empowering the next generation of leaders. Brewer Foundation | 20
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