PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. Awards $450,000 Grant to Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. awarded a three-year, $450,000 grant to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. The grant – the first in the series of the PwC Charitable Foundation's extended four-year, $5 million veterans commitment – will provide necessary financial assistance to the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen who are seeking certification in today's most hands-on careers through the Scholarship Foundation's Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.

"Service members have sacrificed so much, but their education – or that of their children – shouldn't be on the table," said Frank Gaudio, PwC Charitable Foundation trustee and veterans liaison. "It's our responsibility to help provide stronger, diverse educational pathways for these incredible individuals, and we're passionate about providing support through incredible organizations like the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to help achieve that goal."

Nationally, 8.4 million individuals are seeking post-secondary certificates and associate degrees in CTE fields through career centers, community and technical colleges, and more. CTE programs provide clear pathways to certifications and degrees in 21st century high-growth industries, such as healthcare, renewable energy, and STEM fields in demand as technological advances increase. Yet, the United States is currently on track to produce at least 11 million fewer certificates and degrees than our economy will require by 2025.

"We're thrilled to continue our collaborative relationship with the PwC Charitable Foundation," said Margaret B. Davis, President and CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. "We're committed to supporting all Marine children in pursuit of their educational goals, and these days there's no more versatile educational path than Career and Technical Education."

The Scholarship Foundation's CTE program continues to respond to the growing need for skills in technical fields. The program saw a 36 percent increase in applications between the 2015-2016 academic year alone.

"CTE programs offer a variety of options and the flexibility to fit today's world, better than traditional postsecondary education," Gaudio continued. "These programs provide pathways to certifications and degrees in the high-growth industries of the future, and CTE professionals graduate with a combination of academic knowledge and technical skills that put them on the cutting edge of today's most hands-on careers."

Since its inception in 1962, the Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than 40,000 scholarships valued at nearly $120 million. As the cost of pursuing a post-high school education increases, the need for investment in America's next generation of leaders is greater than ever.

About the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc.: The PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc., a section 501(c)(3) organization, makes contributions to the people of PwC in times of financial hardship and to nonprofit organizations that support and promote education and humanitarianism. The PwC Charitable Foundation's investment in the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation was the first in a series of the Foundation's extended four-year, $5 million commitment to support U.S. veterans and their families with a focus to provide scholarships for education as well as support with the transition to the workforce.

About the Scholarship Foundation: Established in 1962, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the Nation's oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships for military children. Since its inception, the Scholarship Foundation has awarded $120 million in scholarships to 40,000 recipients. For more information on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, please visit www.mcsf.org.

CONTACT: Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Dana Umbach
[email protected]
571.384.2821

PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Megan DiSciullo
[email protected]
609.903.4394

SOURCE Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation