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For
release: January 16, 2014
With a $1.5
million grant, Florida College Access Network to support
regional networks
that build a college-going culture and lay out clear paths to
postsecondary education
Tampa, Fla. – Helios
Education Foundation has announced a three-year, $1.5 million grant
to the Florida College Access Network
(Florida C.A.N.!), aimed at boosting the number of Floridians who
hold a college degree or high-quality postsecondary credential. The
funds will help Florida C.A.N.! support the development of local
college access networks (“LCANs”) throughout the state that are comprised
of regional leaders representing local governments, businesses,
school districts, higher education institutions, nonprofit agencies
and foundations working together to build a college-going culture in
their communities.
Florida C.A.N.!’s Big
Goal is for 60 percent of working-age Floridians to hold
a high-quality postsecondary degree or credential by the year 2025.
It works to achieve this goal through thought leadership on policies
to increase college readiness, access and completion and by supporting
collaborative initiatives to increase attainment rates at the local
level. Florida C.A.N.! will utilize some of the Helios funds to
provide grants to local college access networks working to achieve
these goals.
“We are grateful to have Helios as a partner in this important work,”
said Florida C.A.N.! executive director Laurie Meggesin. “Florida needs a
well-educated workforce to compete in the 21st Century
global economy, yet there is a significant gap between Floridians’
current education levels and employers’ workforce needs. A high
school diploma is simply not enough today for many Floridians to
qualify for well-paying jobs. Communities can work together to close
the achievement gap and in the process, raise the quality of life for
their residents as a whole. The Helios grant will go a long way in
helping to support such efforts.”
Paul Luna, president and CEO of
Helios Education Foundation, said “It is critical that we continue to
provide students with pathways to postsecondary success, and creating
local college access networks helps to achieve that goal. Helios is
pleased to support the work of Florida C.A.N.! whose leadership in
this area will help to ensure more Florida students earn a
postsecondary degree or credential.”
About Helios Education
Foundation
Helios Education
Foundation is focused on creating opportunities for individuals to
succeed in postsecondary education by advancing the academic
preparedness of all students and fostering a high-expectations,
college-going culture in Arizona and Florida. The Foundation focuses
its investments across the education continuum in three key impact
areas: Early Grade Success, College and Career Readiness and
Postsecondary Education Success.
As an engaged
foundation, embedded in communities across both states, the
Foundation is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial
resources to better prepare students for college and career and to
compete successfully in a globally-competitive economy. Since 2006,
Helios has invested over $138 million in education-related programs
and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. For more information about
the Foundation, visit www.helios.org, or join us on facebook, twitter and youtube.
About the Florida
College Access Network
The mission of the
Florida College Access Network is to create and strengthen a
statewide network that catalyzes and supports communities to improve
college & career preparation, access, and completion for all
students. Our Big Goal is to increase the percentage of Florida
residents who hold a high-quality postsecondary degree or credential
to 60% by the year 2025. www.floridacollegeaccess.org.
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