Wal-Mart Foundation to Fund Needs Assessment of College Access & Opportunity Guide
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joe Tavares
Director, College Access & Opportunity Guide
(301) 951-7101 ext. 203
jtavares@csopportunity.org
April 6, 2009 – BETHESDA, Md. – Center for Student Opportunity, a 501 (c)(3) national nonprofit organization filling the need for greater college counseling and preparation resources for first-generation college and traditionally underserved college-bound students announced
today that the Wal-Mart Foundation is granting $32,437 to conduct a needs assessment evaluation of its College Access & Opportunity Guide, a comprehensive college guidebook designed for students who will be first in their family to attend college.
“The College Access & Opportunity Guide is a significant breakthrough in arming first-generation college, low-income, rural and minority college-bound students and their supporters with the necessary information to prepare for and find the ‘right fit’ college,” said Matt Rubinoff, Executive Director of Center for Student Opportunity. “This investment from the Wal-Mart Foundation demonstrates a shared belief that underserved college-bound students need better guidance throughout the college process and deserve better information about access and retention initiatives at colleges where they hope to one day enroll.”
“At Wal-Mart, we understand that education is critical to the lives and well-being of all Americans. We are proud to have focused much of our recent giving on supporting the success of first-generation college students,” said Wal-Mart Foundation President, Margaret McKenna. “Grants in this area serve to increase access to young people to get the quality education they need to be successful today and become the leaders we need in the future.”
The College Access & Opportunity Guide includes easy-to-read information on access and retention programs at over 230 four-year colleges and universities across the country, and in collaboration with KnowHow2GO—a national college access campaign created in partnership with Lumina Foundation for Education, American Council on Education, and the Ad Council—provides a plan for first-generation and other underrepresented students to go to college through information, articles, and stories built around four steps.
The needs assessment evaluation will be carried out in partnership with The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University and will use focus group analysis and questionnaire results from students, parents, and college access providers to illustrate the genuine need filled by the publication in today’s college access landscape. The results will be published in May.
“We’re confident that the evaluation outcomes will showcase the College Access & Opportunity Guide to be a valuable and necessary resource for first-generation college and traditionally underserved college-bound students,” said Joe Tavares, Project Director of the College Access & Opportunity Guide. “With these results, we hope to be able to garner further support from foundations, organizations, and donors who can help ensure that the College Access & Opportunity Guide reaches as many students, families, and counselors nationally as can use it.”
Center for Student Opportunity is aiming to annually distribute over 100,000 copies of the College Access & Opportunity Guide for free to high schools and community organizations nationwide. The book is also available for sale through Center for Student Opportunity’s website (www.CSOpportunity.org) and other national booksellers.
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About Center for Student Opportunity
As a leader and expert in college access and success for first-generation and other historically underserved students, Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit bridging the divide between leading institutions of higher education and those who most need college guidance, preparation and admissions assistance.
About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Wal-Mart – and its domestic and international Foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
About The Evaluation Center of Western Michigan University
The Evaluation Center's mission is to advance the theory, practice, and utilization of evaluation. The Center's principal activities are research, development, dissemination, service, instruction, and national and international leadership in evaluation.
About KnowHow2GO
KnowHow2GO is a national public service campaign designed to inform young people about the actual steps they need to take to make their college dreams a reality. The campaign includes television, radio, print, outdoor and interactive advertising. It is sponsored nationally by the American Council on Education, Lumina Foundation for Education and the Ad Council. For more information visit KnowHow2GO.org.
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