USA Funds Awards $1 Million in Higher Education Grants

INDIANAPOLIS, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- USA Funds®, a nonprofit organization that helps American families benefit from postsecondary education, announces the award of more than $1 million in grants for the quarter ending March 31. USA Funds awarded 63 grants to organizations in 16 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, to enhance awareness of and preparation for, access to and success in postsecondary education.

"USA Funds focuses its grant-making primarily on our target populations of underserved low-income middle and high school students, students of color and first-generation postsecondary students to ensure these students are prepared for, have access to and can succeed in postsecondary education," says Robert C. Ballard, USA Funds senior vice president, program and corporate development. "Through our grant-making we support organizations that can help our target populations achieve their goals of postsecondary education success."

Highlights of USA Funds' grant-making efforts during the quarter include the following items:

• Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center (Indianapolis) — $150,000 to strengthen the infrastructure and support programs of the Learning Communities Initiative at the Washington Community School. The initiative seeks to enhance rates of high school graduation and college enrollment in lower-income communities.
• Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund (New York) — $100,000 to provide scholarship dollars to deserving students.
• University of Nevada Foundation (Reno, Nev.) — $75,000 to support mentoring and tutoring for students who are less likely to graduate from high school and encourage them to enroll in college through the Dean's Future Scholars program.
• YMCA of the United States (Chicago) — $75,000 to provide guidance, consultation and best practices to states in the support of College Goal Sunday, which helps families qualify for financial aid for higher education.
• St. Vincent Hospital Foundation (Indianapolis) — $70,000 to support a teacher to help children continue their education while they are hospitalized.
• Cathedral High School (Indianapolis) — $55,700 to fund tuition for four students at Cathedral High School through the Shamrock Scholars program.
• Robotics Organizing Committee (Honolulu) — $50,000 to promote students' interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education through robotics.
• Indiana Dollars for Scholars (Indianapolis) — $50,000 to support the 2010 Hoosier Heroes recognition program that provides Indiana students with opportunities to identify Indiana citizens who have made significant contributions to society.
• Starfish Initiative (Indianapolis) — $50,000 to assist students in preparing for postsecondary education access through mentoring relationships.
• Nevada Public Education Foundation (Reno, Nev.) — $50,000 to provide support for regional events to improve postsecondary education access for Nevada students.
• YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, Urban Mission Branch (Indianapolis) — $50,000 to support the Young Achievers program, which assists low-income high school students in preparation for postsecondary education.
• Scholarship America (Minneapolis) — $39,910 to provide support for members of the Learning Communities Initiative, a coalition of organizations focusing services on select communities to improve access to postsecondary education for low-income students.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities Inc. (Indianapolis) — $30,000 to provide need-based scholarships to students seeking a postsecondary education.
• Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (Jackson, Miss.) — $25,000 to provide free assistance to students and parents in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid through the annual College Goal Sunday event.
• The Fund for Hoosier Excellence (Indianapolis) — $25,000 to provide scholarships to Indiana minority students who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership.
• United Way of Central Indiana (Indianapolis) — $25,000 to support the launch of the Early Readers Club program to promote literacy from an early age.  
• Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis — $25,000 to support ScholarShop programming, to motivate and prepare students to achieve their potential through postsecondary education, at four Boys and Girls Clubs.
• United Way of Central Indiana (Indianapolis) — $25,000 to support expansion of community schools in the Indianapolis Public Schools by implementing a community school coordinator.
• National Association of Latino Elected Officials Education Fund (Los Angeles) — $20,000 to sponsor NALEO's annual conference, the largest convening of Latino elected and appointed officials from across the nation.
• Center for Leadership Development (Indianapolis) — $20,000 to support Project MR (Male Responsibility), an intensive, six-week program designed to educate adolescent African-American males in key attitudinal and behavioral traits.
• Indiana Dollars for Scholars (Indianapolis) — $20,000 to provide matching funds for scholarships awarded through the Hoosier Heroes program.
• Girl Scouts of Central Indiana (Indianapolis) — $20,000 to provide scholarships to high school senior students involved in scouting.
• Grantmakers for Education (Indianapolis) — $20,000 to support an annual conference convening and briefing grantmakers, leaders and educators regarding college completion.
• Frontline Outreach, Inc. (Orlando, Fla.)  — $10,022 to take students within the Orlando Learning Coalition on a tour of postsecondary institutions.
• Educational Policy Institute (Arlington, Va.) — $10,000 to engage policymakers and education stakeholders in in-depth discussions of the significant educational issues facing the U.S. education system.
• Be a Leader Foundation (Phoenix) — $10,000 to provide higher educational development for disadvantaged elementary, high school and college-bound students.
• Kansas Academic Decathlon Association (Topeka, Kan.) — $10,000 to support academic competition challenges students in 10 academic testing areas.
• La Plaza Inc. (Indianapolis) — $10,000 to support the Night of Americas recognition program, which raises funds for Hispanic programs and scholarships in central Indiana.

For its next quarterly cycle of grant awards, until June 1 USA Funds is accepting grant applications that meet its guidelines.  For details, visit www.usafunds.org/access_and_outreach/grant_index.htm.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, USA Funds is a nonprofit corporation that works to enhance postsecondary education preparedness, access and success by providing and supporting financial and other valued services. For more information about USA Funds, visit www.usafunds.org.

SOURCE USA Funds