Our History
Rooted in a Dream for Education Equality
The vision for Education Comes First began over 20 years ago with Mike and Phyllis Conway, who dreamed of creating equal educational opportunities for children in under-resourced communities. They believed that every child, regardless of their zip code, deserved access to high-quality educational support.
In 2021, that dream became a reality when Brian and Grace partnered with the Conways to officially launch Education Comes First. Together, they built a nonprofit dedicated to supporting out-of-school agencies, helping them expand their educational programming with a focus on reading, math, social development, and academic confidence.
What began with just four pilot programs in Massachusetts and New York has now grown to 26 sites across five states and one U.S. territory, serving more than 2,800 youth ages 5 to 18.
Today, ECF empowers students to become leaders in their classrooms, stay on track to graduate, and explore meaningful futures through college, trades, or other career pathways. We’re proud of the impact we've made—and even more excited about what’s to come.
Want to get involved with ECF?
