For ten years, RTS has supported over 400 first-generation and foster care impacted college students as they persist through college, launch vibrant careers, and step into leadership roles. During this time, we’ve learned what fuels lasting, transformative impact for foster youth.
Co-founders Romi Lassally and Patrick McCabe spark the idea for Ready to Succeed over a latte, launching the organization with a bold vision to support former foster youth on their path to college and career success. With an initial budget of just $5, Ready to Succeed officially launches and welcomes its very first cohort of Scholars.
RTS Scholar Natalie becomes the first participant to secure a job placement through the program, launching her career as a financial advisor at Kayne Anderson Financial Advisors and demonstrating the early impact of the organization’s career-focused support model.
The Pritzker Foundation awards Ready to Succeed its first foundational grant of $25,000, providing critical funding that helps fuel the organization’s early growth and expand its programming for Scholars.
Ready to Succeed moves into its first flagship office in Santa Monica, marking an important milestone in the organization’s growth. That same year, RTS launches the Pat McCabe Impact Fellowship, connecting Scholars with social impact organizations across Southern California and creating new pathways for meaningful career experience.
RTS partners with the R&S Kayne Foundation to expand its programming to include first-generation and low-income college students. The organization also launches Project Dorm Room, a new initiative that provides essential dorm supplies and a welcoming sense of community to hundreds of college-bound former foster youth each year.
Ready to Succeed hosts its first in-person Camp Ready, an immersive overnight career-readiness bootcamp designed to welcome incoming Scholars and equip them with the tools, connections, and confidence needed to begin their college journeys.
With funding from California House Representative Ted Lieu, RTS launches the Basic Needs Scholarship pilot program. The initiative provides Scholars with $5,000 per year to help cover essential expenses such as housing, groceries, and transportation, ensuring they can stay focused on their education.
Ready to Succeed expands its impact by launching two new initiatives—Graduate School Pathways and Alumni—strengthening long-term career support for Scholars at every stage of their professional journeys. RTS also grows its physical presence with two Los Angeles office locations in Brentwood and Downtown LA.
A decade after its founding, Ready to Succeed reaches a $6 million annual budget and supports more than 400 Scholars and Alumni as they pursue college graduation and long-term career success—an extraordinary expansion from its $5 founding budget just ten years earlier.
Ten years ago, Pat & Romi set out to change what was possible for foster youth in Los Angeles. Join the Ready to Succeed Alumni Council in honoring our founders, Romi Lasally and Pat McCabe. This unforgettable evening will celebrate the Ready to Succeed Scholars and Alumni who have walked across graduation stages, launched careers, and built lives of independence and purpose—with a community behind them every step of the way.
Co-founders Romi Lassally and Patrick McCabe spark the idea for Ready to Succeed over a latte, launching the organization with a bold vision to support former foster youth on their path to college and career success. With an initial budget of just $5, Ready to Succeed officially launches and welcomes its very first cohort of Scholars.
RTS Scholar Natalie becomes the first participant to secure a job placement through the program, launching her career as a financial advisor at Kayne Anderson Financial Advisors and demonstrating the early impact of the organization’s career-focused support model.
The Pritzker Foundation awards Ready to Succeed its first foundational grant of $25,000, providing critical funding that helps fuel the organization’s early growth and expand its programming for Scholars.
Ready to Succeed moves into its first flagship office in Santa Monica, marking an important milestone in the organization’s growth. That same year, RTS launches the Pat McCabe Impact Fellowship, connecting Scholars with social impact organizations across Southern California and creating new pathways for meaningful career experience.
RTS partners with the R&S Kayne Foundation to expand its programming to include first-generation and low-income college students. The organization also launches Project Dorm Room, a new initiative that provides essential dorm supplies and a welcoming sense of community to hundreds of college-bound former foster youth each year.
Ready to Succeed hosts its first in-person Camp Ready, an immersive overnight career-readiness bootcamp designed to welcome incoming Scholars and equip them with the tools, connections, and confidence needed to begin their college journeys.
With funding from California House Representative Ted Lieu, RTS launches the Basic Needs Scholarship pilot program. The initiative provides Scholars with $5,000 per year to help cover essential expenses such as housing, groceries, and transportation, ensuring they can stay focused on their education.
Ready to Succeed expands its impact by launching two new initiatives—Graduate School Pathways and Alumni—strengthening long-term career support for Scholars at every stage of their professional journeys. RTS also grows its physical presence with two Los Angeles office locations in Brentwood and Downtown LA.
A decade after its founding, Ready to Succeed reaches a $6 million annual budget and supports more than 400 Scholars and Alumni as they pursue college graduation and long-term career success—an extraordinary expansion from its $5 founding budget just ten years earlier.
This past March, Ready to Succeed hosted our first-ever networking brunch in honor of Women’s History Month: Helping Ourselves: Voices of Women Who Lead. It is important to remember career growth doesn’t stop at graduation. As part of our formalized alumni program, this event brought together RTS alumni and volunteer professionals for a morning of meaningful connection, honest conversation, and shared learning.
