Ennis William Cosby Foundation A Short Financial History As an initiative-driven organization, the Foundation has taken a "build it and they will come" approach that lets its programs, products and services speak for themselves in creating sustaining support.  Generous contributions from the Cosby family have provided the seed for innovative programs whose success has then attracted support from private donors, grant-giving foundations, fundraising events and corporate philanthropy.  Over the past several years, the Cosby family has also underwritten a substantial portion of the administrative costs of the Foundation. The Hello Friend / Ennis William Cosby Foundation has been awarded grants from corporate and philanthropic organizations such as Bank One, Bank of America, Verizon Foundation, the David Rockefeller Foundation, Westchester Community Foundation, the Leon Lowenstein Foundation, and Scholastic Book Clubs.  In addition, it has partnered with such organizations as National Council of Negro Women; New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago Public Schools; LDonline and literacy organizations throughout the country in accomplishing its programs.  An active group of volunteers in Southeastern Vermont has provided thousands of hours of labor.  To insure the integrity of its mission, the Foundation has stayed clear of government funding and has been selective in accepting corporate donations. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $6.33 million. The Foundation's flagship project and most substantial programming investment is the nationally recognized Cosby Scholar program at Fordham University.  Over the last six years, a philanthropic investment of $1.58 million has resulted in 130 NYC public school primary teachers completing a eighteen month program which prepares them to be effective teachers of all students regardless of learning differences.  Almost 12,000 New York City school children have helped by Cosby Scholars. The Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation hopes interested donors will agree that it has leveraged its resources to create a substantial return on the investment of its donors and supporters to the benefit of America's children.