Intimate Dinner at Billionaire’s River Oaks Home and a Major Luncheon Make For One Powerful Doubleheader

YES Prep Charter Schools Win Big

By Shelby Hodge // Dec 4, 2017

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Mark DiBella, Chris Barbic, Lori & Chip Johnson at the luncheon

What: YES Prep Public Schools 20th anniversary luncheon

Where: The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

PC Moment: More precisely, there were two moments of import in the doubleheader celebration. The first came at the intimate founders dinner party held in the River Oaks home of honorary chairs Laura and John Arnold, where distinguished development economist Lant Pritchett of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Public Policy was guest speaker. The second came the following day at the luncheon when the $1.2 million proceeds were applauded.

YES Prep board of trustees Lori and Chip Johnson chaired the luncheon that honored Chris Barbic, who founded and led YES Prep for 13 years and who today serves as senior education fellow at the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.

Praising Barbic, veteran educator and YES prep CEO Mark DiBella noted, “Chris Barbic has impacted thousands of children through his commitment to providing all students opportunities inside and outside the classroom . . . Under his leadership, YES Prep grew into an award-winning charter school system for underserved communities throughout Houston.” The vision that Barbic had in 1995 when he created Project YES today has 17 schools serving 12,600 students.