Inner-City Scholarship Foundation
Producers - Austin Chang, Kenneth Shults
Editor - Evan Cohen
Cinematographer - Yves Wilson
Camera Operator - Ricardo Mueses
Sound Mixer - Lucien Formichella
Assistant Camera - Vlad Gradescu
NON-PROFIT | EDUCATION
Inner-City Scholarship Fund changes lives for the better by providing families with demonstrable financial needs the opportunity to give their children a quality, values-based K-12 Catholic education within the Archdiocese of New York. Inner-City exists to ensure that the gift of an excellent Catholic school education continues to be a viable option for students of all faiths today and for future generations to come.
CASE STUDY
BACK STORY
We partnered with Inner-City Scholarship Fund to create the centerpiece film to be screened at their annual Awards Dinner, one of the organization's most important fundraising moments of the year.
The organization supports more than 9,000 students annually, helping low-income families access Catholic education across the Archdiocese of New York. For the 2025 campaign, they wanted not only to showcase the need for their programs but also what happens after those scholarships are given.
The theme we decided to focus on became "Opportunity Realized." Students were not defined by circumstance but rather by their potential, growth, and ambition.
CREATIVE APPROACH
We conducted virtual pre-interviews with students weeks before filming. These conversations built trust, surfaced nuance, and allowed students to reflect on their growth with confidence. With limited time for each interview we wanted the young scholars to feel both as relaxed and as composed as possible.
In pre-production, we worked with Inner-City's team to review archival materials to be used creatively. Letters students wrote to donors. Early reflections. School records.
We also had the opportunity to broaden the perspective beyond students alone. Parents spoke honestly about the financial relief, stability, and long-term impact the scholarship provided their families.
THE RESULTS
The campaign culminated in the most successful fundraising event in Inner-City Scholarship Fund’s history.
The Awards Dinner raised over $5 million, far exceeding prior years, and helped secure significant multi-year commitments.
Beyond the night itself, the process reshaped how Inner-City thought about approaching its storytelling. The pre-interview model and inclusion of family voices were embraced by leadership and school partners as a new standard. Participating schools also received high-quality footage and assets to support their own outreach and enrollment efforts.