COVID-19 CHANGED
LIVES FOREVER
Industries with face-to-face contact shut down first and for the longest period. Those families have been pushed from their homes, and employment opportunities have changed due to remote work options and e-commerce growth.
AND
REVEALED
A DIGITAL
DIVIDE
COVID-19 draws attention to persistent inequalities not just around health but also equitable access to the internet and digital devices. The Internet is the entry point for many support services and jobs and is essential for continuing education. For families with limited resources, a computer is not an option.
CONSEQUENCES OF LIMITED RESOURCES
Our growing population continues to challenge our education system. Too few resources in high school leave economically disadvantaged families to navigate their college and financial aid applications alone.
The largest amount in grant and scholarship dollars is available between high school and the first year of college. The window of opportunity disappears quickly, and a perpetual cycle of poverty takes hold. This is a social equity crisis.
PEOPLE AT THE
HEART OF IT ALL
The socio-economic makeup of people changes survivability through economic and physical distress.
Stable housing, prenatal care, nutrition, preventative medicine, and work-life balance are some of the more tangible areas impacted.
Our Mission
College Bound AZ is a community resource that shares the journey to and through college with underrepresented students with mentoring, guidance, and education support resources for their advancement to a better future through education.
Civic Engagement for Social Impact
In 2009, our founder worked with a high school graduate destined for a university and learned of the daunting challenges she faced to transition to college successfully. The student was the first in her economically disadvantaged family to apply for college. A high academic achiever, she still needed assistance to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that would qualify her to receive federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid for college. Her impoverished family was barely able to resource her for dorm life. There was no money for books. In the end, what could have ended disastrously was turned around by a committed community leader.
This was College Bound AZ’s first student.
Economically disadvantaged students require an investment of resources to aspire to higher education. Our founder embarked on a mission to give talented and deserving young students from economically depressed families the motivation and support needed to graduate high school and go on to complete college. Engaging a group of area business and civic leaders to help, College Bound AZ launched its pilot program at a local elementary school in 2010, adding a high school component in 2012.
College Bound AZ relentlessly pursues social equity by helping families lift themselves out of poverty through education.
THE URGENCY
TO ACT NOW
THE SUREST PATH TO END POVERTY IS THROUGH EDUCATION.
THE ECONOMY HAS CHANGED.
SO MUST OUR RESPONSE.
COVID-19 CHANGED
LIVES FOREVER
Industries with face-to-face contact shut down first and for the longest period. Those families have been pushed from their homes, and employment opportunities have changed due to remote work options and e-commerce growth.
AND
REVEALED
A DIGITAL
DIVIDE
COVID-19 draws attention to persistent inequalities not just around health but also equitable access to the internet and digital devices. The Internet is the entry point for many support services and jobs and is essential for continuing education. For families with limited resources, a computer is not an option.
CONSEQUENCES OF LIMITED RESOURCES
Our growing population continues to challenge our education system. Too few resources in high school leave economically disadvantaged families to navigate their college and financial aid applications alone.
The largest amount in grant and scholarship dollars is available between high school and the first year of college. The window of opportunity disappears quickly, and a perpetual cycle of poverty takes hold. This is a social equity crisis.
PEOPLE AT THE
HEART OF IT ALL
The socio-economic makeup of people changes survivability through economic and physical distress.
Stable housing, prenatal care, nutrition, preventative medicine, and work-life balance are some of the more tangible areas impacted.
WE CAN DO
MORE
MORE THAN A MISSION STATEMENT
BECAUSE MAKING SOCIAL CHANGE IS
A MINDSET