Celebrating an Exciting New Chapter for Aneesh Sohoni and OMD

JOIN US TO FINISH THE YEAR STRONG

Your gift invests in scholars and propels us into our 20th anniversary with momentum.

The guys are sitting around the table smiling

BUILD THE
FUTURE WITH US

01

Year-End Giving Matters.

Our goal is to raise $150K before December 31st. As always, donations will fund the programs scholars rely on from day one: coaching, tutoring, financial assistance, and the stability that keeps them on track.

02

2026 Marks Our 20th Year.

For two decades, OMD has shown what’s possible when community college students receive real support. This milestone isn’t a look backward—it’s the foundation for the next era of growth. Your support today builds the capacity required for the next 20 years.

When you give to OMD, you enable our life-changing student support model.  

  • $5,000 underwrites one scholar’s participation in OMD for one year
  • $2,500 provides one year of professional development supports
  • $1000 provides one semester of support from a dedicated OMD staff member
  • $500 provides one semester of individualized tutoring
  • $250 covers the cost of one semester of professional development and experiential events
  • $100 supports the cost of books for one course

A gift today supports our vision: A future where all community college students are on a pathway to economic mobility. 

David Scherer

David Scherer, Treasurer

One Million Degrees Co-founder 

David is principal of Origin, co-chairs the Investment Committee, and oversees investment analysis, acquisition and asset management. He has more than 20 years of experience in real estate investing, finance, and asset management. In 2006, he co-founded One Million Degrees, which has raised $20 million to help low-income community college students graduate and successfully enter the workforce. David has served as the organization’s Board Chair for the past 12 years, as the organization has grown from 30 to 1,000 students served per year. He also serves as the President of the Harvard Club of Chicago and is on the Advisory Board of Invest for Kids.  

Rose Lizarraga

Rose Lizarraga

OMD CO-Founder & President & CEO, Lysa LLC

An award-winning documentary filmmaker and freelance writer, Rose’s career also includes 10 years spent developing new product and brand strategies as well as marketing and advertising campaigns at Leo Burnett, Foote, Cone & Belding, M&M/Mars and other small businesses.  More recently, she worked as a writer/editor for Modern Luxury Inc., publishers of magazines such as CS and Angeleno.  Rose graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with dual degrees in English and Political Science.  She is a founding member of the Daniel M. Kerrane, Jr. Foundation, former Board Vice President of the Fairy Godmother Foundation, and currently serves on the Chicago committee for Human Rights Watch.

Michael B Golden

Michael B. Golden

One Million Degrees Co-Founder 

A former national award-winning broadcast journalist, Michael Golden has also served as a political campaign manager and communications strategist for U.S. Presidential, Senate and Congressional races. Michael is a fellow at the British-American Project and the Open Society Institute. In 1999, Michael’s investigative and public affairs reporting for NBC earned him honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the AP, and the Edward R. Murrow Awards. In 2011, Michael co-founded Newsbound, Inc., a media and software company based in San Francisco, CA. He is also a co-founder of the Complete the Degree back-to-college initiative in Chicago, Illinois. Michael serves on the board of the ADL and on the governing board of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, as well as the Illinois Commission to Eliminate Poverty. He received his B.A. from Indiana University, and his M.S. in Public Services Management from DePaul University.