Our Mission
The mission of UP RVA is to empower students to achieve economic sustainability by providing access to exceptional secondary and post-secondary academic opportunities and bridging the educational equity gap.
We accomplish this by:
- partnering with Richmond-area independent schools, colleges and universities, and other community partners,
- meeting the financial, transportation, technological, and incidental needs of all of our students,
- supporting our students with an intentional eight-year plan beginning in the summer before ninth grade and culminating with on-time college graduation.
Our Vision
We envision a future where historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students from Richmond’s East End can realize their full potential, achieve college degrees and full-time employment, and become thriving change-makers in their community.
Learn More About Our Programs:
Our Partner Schools
We partner with independent schools across the Richmond region who are dedicated to working with UP RVA to ensure the most positive outcomes for our students. By developing strong relationships with independent school leadership, administrators, faculty, mental health counselors, student life personnel, college counselors, and coaches, UP RVA staff is able to proactively support our students.
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Collegiate School -
St. Catherine’s School -
St. Christopher’s School -
The Steward School -
Trinity Episcopal School
Our History
In 2015, while working at Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia, Toby Desch recognized a need to support students from the city’s East End who attend independent schools. Getting into a competitive private school was only half the battle for low-income students; they also needed transportation to and from school, reliable Wi-Fi for homework, and dress code-friendly clothing—to start.
Inspired, Toby started UP RVA in 2015 in partnership with the Anna Julia Cooper School, a middle school in the East End of Richmond. During the early days, a single van drove nine students to and from school and all school-related activities at four different independent schools from early morning until 8 p.m.
Gradually, UP RVA added more programming, including academic and social-emotional support through a daily after-school program, summer classes, and college application assistance. In 2018, UP RVA began supporting its high school graduates as they entered college, providing financial support (up to $10K per year) and assisting with other academic and incidental needs.
With the generous support of the Richmond community—and a lot of hard work—UP RVA has grown to serve 48 students at five different schools with 14 team members, five vehicles, and countless volunteers.
