The Lincoln Financial Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to Achieve Hartford to support the organization’s Summer Transition and College Persistence programs that serve Hartford Public Schools (HPS) graduates who attend Capital and Manchester Community Colleges.
The Class of 2021 has lived through a pandemic during the last year and a half of its high school experience. Hartford seniors who plan to start community college this fall can benefit from peer support through the summer and their first semester at Capital or Manchester Community College. With its partners, such as, Lincoln Financial, Achieve Hartford is working to close existing gaps HPS graduates face in reaching their goals to attain post-secondary education. With an uncertain future, we know first-generation, underserved students, communities and the economy benefit when students receive some education after high school, be it a two- or four-year college or university, a trade school or a skills-training program.
Achieve Hartford’s Summer Transition program will offer peer support to students from Hartford to help them complete the matriculation process. We expect about a third of those students to start college at MCC or CCC. The College Persistence program then provides first-year students with mentors to guide, support, cajole and inspire them to continue their studies when they face challenges.
Elevating the number of Hartford students who earn a living wage will help revitalize and stabilize neighborhoods, strengthen economic development and help reduce quality-of-life disparities between underrepresented people and more affluent residents.
“We’re working with our partners to increase the number of low-income, first-generation Hartford Public Schools graduates who start and persist through post-secondary education, ending the cycle of poverty for them and their families,” says Paul Diego Holzer, Achieve Hartford’s executive director. “We’re serving students who are bright, hardworking and tenacious.
“We are honored to support the journey of those who really need the help, and we are very grateful to the Lincoln Financial Foundation for its continue support of our work and of underserved students and graduates. Their commitment helps prepare the next generation to fill jobs offered by Connecticut employers.”
About Lincoln Financial Foundation:
Lincoln Financial Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Lincoln Financial Group, was established in 1962. Grants are made in the areas of arts, education, human services, and economic/workforce development. Lincoln Financial Foundation awards grants to hundreds of nonprofits each year that empower and improve the lives of people in their communities. Contributing to strong, vital communities is not only intrinsic to our values, it’s our responsibility. The education focus area supports organizations that help students reach their learning potential and prepare them for critical transitions in their education including: starting school ready to learn, reading on grade level, middle school success, high school graduation, and college and career readiness. We fund programs that strengthen critical learning skills, improve academic performance and prepare students for college and careers. Learn more about the foundation at www.LincolnFinancial.com.
About Achieve Harford:
Achieve Hartford joins a group of private-sector leaders from local companies, nonprofits, higher education and philanthropy working to ensure educational success for students in Hartford’s high schools through post-secondary degree completion. Our mission is to close the educational opportunity and achievement gap and build a valuable talent pipeline here in Hartford. Visit achievehartford.org. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AchieveHartford. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AchieveHartford