The Promise: How One Woman Made Good on Her Extraordinary Pact to Send a Classroom of 1st Graders to College

An inspiring memoir of a woman who pledged to pay for the college education of a class of impoverished first graders. The author not only commits her own meager financial support, but all the resources she can muster to ensure the success of "her" kids. This very accessible book should be read by everyone who cares about the education of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

More than anything else, our youth need people to be there for them for the LONG-TERM. Not for 1 day, or 1 week, or 1 month, but as Oral Lee Brown shows us, for years. Imagine how our next generation would be impacted if adults nationwide reached out in just 10% of the way that Oral Lee Brown did? Go Ms. Brown for inspiring us all and go Caille Millner for doing such a wonderful job capturing this story. You're both heroes!

After reading this book and having met Ms. Brown in person during a family situation in June, I was totally impressed and influenced by this Woman of courage. Ms. Brown happens to be the God Mother of my step-son who lives in Tulare, Ca. She and I started our conversation about this new generation of young people. It finally led to her being a book writer. One thing I can say about her during the 30-minute or so meeting is the need for properly educating our youth. If everyone cared as much as she does about education for all on the same level, then maybe more of our children would realize how important it is. The parents, neighborhood, and the churches should take a more visible interest in seeing that all kids, poor and rich would get these tools for enriching their lives. I would say, Ms. Brown is most humble and not a star-struck person. She has truly been blessed by God. I can't imagine how she did all this and kept her sanity. God Bless this beautiful woman. I recently retired as a Job Counselor/Placement and mentor for young job seekers from the State of California/EDD. I share in her need to impress upon our children the importance of getting an education, it is the substance needed for a successful and stable lifestyle . Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to express how much Ms. Brown has influenced me. I am hoping to get her to autograph my book someday. Bettye Sullivan, Fresno, CA.

This book is written the way that an average person speaks, which is to say that it rambles a bit and frequently repeats things; but it's an easy read that I think every reader (both young and old) should find very approachable. As literature goes, it's not a great work of linguistic mastery. That being said, this is an excellent book that I wish everyone would read, because there's an extremely important lesson for all of us here. Oral Lee Brown first recognized the very root cause of the brutal cycle of poverty that persists in America (it's the education system, people!), and then she tackled that problem in one of the most extraordinary ways I've ever heard of. Her story is brilliant and inspiring. And as I said before, I hope that it reaches as many people as possible, and will serve as an inspiration to us all. Great story, great lady, 5 stars.

Words fail me when it comes to Ms. Oral Lee Brown. We were living in the bay area when the Oakland Tribune and other media were reporting on her promise to send an entire 1st grade class to college. A real estate woman who was making less than 50k a year and a big heart and a bigger faith in God is what made her quest and her story so awesome. And she made some big sacrifices and it did put a bit of a strain on her marriage and family life. And for some of the students parents who worked 2-3 jobs just to support their families, she would often step in and volunteer to attend PTA and parent-teacher meetings and report back to the parent(s). It wasn't just funds she was setting aside for college expenses but her time and energy. As silly as it may sound she often gives as an example, that instead of buying shoes for her kids at Macy's she would buy shoes at Payless (just like many of us). And she would work more than one job herself. What she shows is that if a woman who makes less than 50k a year can set aside money for twelve years to send a couple dozen kids to college, then a huge number of Americans can and should try to do the same. What if a handful of citizens in a given city/town/village/community were to set up a foundation like she did, and raise money to put next years first grade class thru college in twelve years? Education is power, and while we homeschooled, I still believe that no matter the educational choice, that any child who can get into a Jr. college or four year institution should have that guarantee of funding. Ms. Oral Lee Brown is a hero of mine.