Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, College Track & Prince George's County Public Schools Team Up To Empower Students Striving For College Success With Innovative Program & New Educational Facility

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. and OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation today announced a 10-year, $10 million commitment to bring College Track's renowned college completion program to Durant's hometown of Prince George's County, Maryland, creating The Durant Center, a new state-of-the-art educational and leadership facility.

College Track @ The Durant Center will welcome its inaugural class from nearby Suitland High School this Fall. Founded by Laurene Powell Jobs and Carlos Watson, College Track empowers students from underserved communities to graduate from college. Its comprehensive 10-year program from ninth grade through college removes barriers that can prevent students from earning a four-year degree, and prepares them to succeed in the 21st century economy. College Track students graduate from college at a rate that is more than double the national average for low-income and first-generation students. This marks College Track's first center on the East Coast, with additional locations slated to open in the D.C metro area by 2021. 

"This is the realization of a dream of mine. To come back home and positively impact the lives of kids – who share the ambitions I've always had – with world-class educational opportunities and resources that can completely change the game in our community for generations to come," said Durant.

The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation has a rich history of improving the lives of youth from low-income backgrounds through education, athletics and social programs. In 2015, the Foundation announced its Build It and They Will Ball initiative, building and renovating courts across the globe to increase the number of high-quality basketball courts accessible to underprivileged youth. To date, 14 courts have been completed and more projects are on the slate for 2018. Additionally, the Foundation has supported several organizations working to help youth facing homelessness, including Positive Tomorrows, an elementary school for homeless children in Oklahoma, plus Oakland Elizabeth House and Larkin Street Youth Services in the Bay Area.

"Every day, we work towards a more just and equitable world, inspiring today's youth to unlock their full potential and become tomorrow's leaders, mentors, and innovators," said Elissa Salas, CEO of College Track. "We couldn't think of a better example of leadership and perseverance for our students than Kevin Durant, and are thrilled to be partnering with his outstanding Foundation and the progressive leaders of Prince George's County Board of Education and Public Schools." 

"Kevin Durant's athletic skills and accomplishments are known around the world; however, to Prince Georgians, his compassion, commitment and dedication as a humanitarian is what truly makes him a world class role model to our children," said Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. "On behalf of all the residents of Prince George's County, I want to thank Kevin, his mother, Wanda Durant, his business partner Rich Kleiman and the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation for this investment for our County's youth. The Durant Center will have a tremendous positive impact on our County's next generation of leaders."  

For more information about The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation and College Track, please visit www.kevindurant.com/foundation and www.collegetrack.org.

About The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation
The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation (KDCF) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2013 by Kevin Durant. The foundation's mission is to enrich the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds through educational, athletic and social programs. Over the past five years, the KDCF has committed over $1.5M to support youth athletics, organizations serving youth facing homelessness and renovating basketball courts across the world. 

About College Track 
College Track is a comprehensive college completion program that empowers students from underserved communities to graduate from college. From ninth grade through college graduation, our 10-year program removes the academic, financial, and social-emotional barriers that prevent low-income and first-generation students from earning their college degree. In 1997, we started with 25 students in East Palo Alto, and today, we have nine centers located in underserved communities across California, Colorado, and Louisiana, with more than 3,000 students on the path to upward social mobility.

Media Contacts:
Dave Donovan for Kevin Durant/The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation:
212-981-5240 / [email protected]

Leela de Souza Bransten for College Track:
415-710-7391 / [email protected]

John White for Prince George’s County Public Schools:
240-691-6744 / [email protected]

SOURCE The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation