12 Plus Welcomes M. Night Shyamalan to Board of Directors

12 Plus is proud to announce that acclaimed filmmaker, author, and philanthropist M. Night Shyamalan is officially joining our Board of Directors.

For Night and his wife, Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan, this next chapter builds on a relationship that began years ago. Through the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation, they first partnered with 12 Plus in 2018, when we were working in just a handful of schools. Their early support helped fuel 12 Plus’ growth during a pivotal period in our history. Today, 12 Plus serves students and alumni across 15 high schools in multiple cities, reaching more than 7,000 young people annually as they work toward college, career training, and long-term success beyond high school.

Night visiting 12+ PLUS Center at Kensington Health Sciences Academy; Night as keynote speaker at 12+ 10 Year anniversary

Night’s decision to join our board reflects the strength of our partnership and a shared conviction in what is possible for young people when the right support arrives at the right time. His perspective as a visionary builder, storyteller, and champion for education will bring a rare combination of imagination, visibility, and long-term commitment to economic opportunity and mobility.

For 12 Plus, what began as a small, community-rooted effort has grown through years of partnership with students, schools, families, and supporters who saw what we could become. Night serving on our board is a powerful reminder of how far we have come and a source of inspiration for how much more is possible in the years ahead.

Night and 12 Plus CEO, Raymond John

M. Night Shyamalan is one of the most recognized filmmakers of his generation, known for writing and directing groundbreaking films including The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, and The Village. He is also the author of I Got Schooled, a book that explores how to close the education gap in America. Through the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation, he and Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan have supported leaders and organizations around the world working to remove barriers created by poverty and social injustice. That commitment is especially close to home in Philadelphia, the region he has long championed through both his philanthropy and creative life. 

Night’s presence on the board reflects his confidence and investment in 12 Plus, our leadership, and most importantly, the students at the heart of our mission. We are honored to welcome him to our Board of Directors and grateful for the trust he has placed in our team.

More than anything, this moment speaks to a shared belief in young people, and in the quiet but powerful act of believing in another person—of seeing possibility in someone, standing beside them, and helping them grow into the life they deserve. That belief has always been at the center of 12 Plus, and it will guide us into all that comes next.