Dereon Pyles' Journey with The Gray Matter Experience

When Dereon’s grandmother learned about The Gray Matter Experience, she didn’t hesitate. She told Dereon’s parent the program was exactly what he needed and insisted he apply. “He gotta get into this program,” she said according to Dereon. His mom agreed to sign him up, and her mother kept the family on track: “I said I was going to sign him up and she kept reminding me about the due date.”

Going in, Dereon’s mom wasn’t sure what to expect. “I didn't know what to expect from the program, but I will say it exceeded all my expectations.” What surprised her most was how TGME strengthened Dereon’s confidence and expanded what was possible for his venture, Operation Santa. “The confidence that it placed in Dereon and the resources he was able to receive, as well as the legal part of it, were remarkable.”

Dereon had already been running Operation Santa for years, but TGME helped him sharpen and scale it. “He's grown a lot… he was like, ‘I'm prepared. I can do this.’ I do think that it gave him an amazing amount of confidence, as well as helped guide him to make Operation Santa more streamlined and more viable.”

She also saw independence grow. “Over the summer, he would take the train down to the building, and that was just another level of independence for him, getting up and being responsible for getting there.”

TGME’s hybrid model and accountability made a big difference. “I love the fact that it was hybrid… I love the follow-up and the accountability. I felt like you couldn't just say something with the instructors. You actually had to show them something.” Her conclusion was simple: “So the accountability was unmatched.”

The pitch competition became a turning point. Dereon placed second and won $5,000. “It helped us a lot because this was our biggest year yet.” The prize money created breathing room for real growth: “That extra prize money really helped cushion us… get the U-Haul, have food for our volunteers, and have gas… It was a cushion and that was very helpful.”

It also helped Dereon see himself differently. After buying food for friends who volunteered, he said, “That was a business expense.” His parent remembers, “It just felt good. He felt good and he felt legit.”

Today, Dereon is at Morehouse College, where he is attending on a full scholarship awarded for his philanthropic work.

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Stories like Dereon’s show why investing in youth mindset and opportunity matters, and your support makes them possible.

This Giving Season, people are giving to the causes they believe in — and here in Chicago, we at The Gray Matter Experience are proving what happens when you invest in young minds ready to lead.

We’re raising $20,000 to prepare Gen Z for what’s next — not just in business, but in life.

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