Funding supports local Learning Communities initiative
USA Funds awards $100,000 grant for scholarships to Sunnyside students
TUCSON, ARIZ. — USA Funds®, a nonprofit organization that works to enhance preparation for, access to and success in higher education, has presented a $100,000 grant to the Sunnyside School District Alumni Association Dollars for Scholars chapter. The funds will support scholarships to help graduates of the school district pay college expenses.
USA Funds has designated $25,000 of the award as a challenge grant to match other donations made to the local Dollars for Scholars chapter through Dec. 31.
“This funding will permit us to significantly increase the number of students we can assist with scholarships to make their college dreams come true,” said Sunnyside Superintendent Dr. Manuel Isquierdo.
The local Dollars for Scholars chapter last year awarded more than $57,000 in scholarships to help 60 Sunnyside District students attend college. Dollars for Scholars is a national network of 1,200 chapters that help hometown students achieve their educational goals by raising scholarship funds, establishing endowments, providing assistance with college readiness and the financial aid process, and distributing scholarships each year. Dollars for Scholars is a program of Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship and educational support organization.
“As a Sunnyside alum, I am proud of this community-wide effort to increase the number of students who complete high school and go on to college,” said U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva. “I believe education is the key to a brighter future for our young people and I commend those individuals, businesses and organizations supporting this initiative.”
The USA Funds grant builds on its support of the highly successful Sunnyside Learning Community. Last year, USA Funds awarded a grant of nearly $150,000 to provide program and staff support for the district’s Learning Community, one of six across the nation. USA Funds and Scholarship America are working with local community organizations, businesses and school officials in the Learning Communities to target resources to enhance student achievement, graduation rates and college-going rates. The other five Learning Communities are located in Indianapolis; Okolona, Miss.; Orlando, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; and the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.
“The Sunnyside Learning Community has demonstrated tremendous progress during the past three years,” said Carl C. Dalstrom, USA Funds president and CEO. “We’re delighted to help increase the capacity of the local Dollars for Scholars chapter so that more students can realize their goal of graduating from high school and pursue postsecondary studies.”