Meet Our Founder

Sam Prater
Founder
Born and raised in Detroit, MI. Sam is the 12th born of 14 children. After dropping out of high school and attending community college, Sam went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University (FireUp Chips!), a master’s degree from Fordham University (Go Rams!), and his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from California State University, Northridge (Go Matadors!). With nearly 13 years of experience in higher education as a student affairs practitioner, most of his career has been built in Housing & Residential Education.
Sam is passionate about fostering student success in the context of housing and has developed a keen sense of the critically important growth & development that occurs at the intersection of living in communities where students also learn. Sam currently works within the Dean of Students office at California State University, Los Angeles where he manages the campus’s SB-85 Basic Needs Initiatives (Housing & Food Insecurity and Emergency Needs Grants) as well as providing wrap-around services (health and wellness, academic, and emotional support) to students.
Founding Supporters
Founding Supporters
All Ways Up Foundation
Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation
ECMC Foundation
Everytable
Rob Ettinger Family Foundation
John and Sarah Kobara Family Fund
Reissa Foundation
Ready to Succeed LA
Social Venture Partners LA
Students 4 Students
Mayer Foundation
John and Marilyn Wells Family Foundation

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CONTACT US
444 Flower Street, 1400,
Los Angeles, CA, 90071
(213) 878-4788