Donation - On Point for College

This basket was a recent donation we did for On Point for College. The rich brown magazine rack is filled with all kinds of decadent chocolate and will be used for their upcoming 10th Anniversary dinner and silent auction.

I met the founder of On Point for College a few years ago when we were working on forming the original WISE Advisory Board. When Ginny Donohue stood up and explained what On Point does for local kids, I swear I got goosebumps.

This is what they do:

* They begin with One-on-one counseling - choosing a college, financial aid, and college applications

* Take students on College Visits
* Connect them with Mentors
* Help with clothing, bedding, backpacks and college supplies
* Offer Transportation to college
* Provide an Orientation workshop before the first day of college.
* To help bridge the intimidating gap between financial aid and college costs, they offer students “last dollar” grants for expenses such as enrollment deposits, textbooks, fees, housing etc. Since 1999, more than 1,242 “last dollar” grants, totaling more than $168,372, have helped On Point for College students get to college or stay in college.
* Follow up with Advocacy and support for students on college campuses (i.e. financial aid, diversity issues, tutoring services, getting along with roommates, etc.)
* Offer Transportation to and from college on vacations

This is the impact that On Point has had:

* 1,710 students were actively involved with On Point for College, more than 1,070 were enrolled in 140 colleges and universities, and 125 had earned college degrees.
* A total of 2,040 young adults, age 17-25 had received one-on-one admission counseling from the On Point for College staff. An additional 160 volunteers support the program on all levels, from mentoring to transportation to fundraising.
* More than 84 percent of On Point for College students remain in college from their freshman to sophomore years. This is well above the national average retention rate of 75 percent – and a phenomenal achievement for an at-risk student population.
* More than 85 percent of all funds raised go directly to student services.
* For every dollar in aid awarded to its students, On Point for College leverages an additional $33 in aid from federal, state and private sources.

It's really an amazing organization - you can stop by their website at http://www.onpointforcollege.org/ for more information.