Santa Monica Daily Press
Canyon News
When Jeffrey steps across the stage and takes his degree in a few short years, he won’t be the only one who benefits. Every graduate is a million dollar victory for the future of Los Angeles County. Every South Central Scholar who leaves high school college-ready, who has the services and support to succeed, makes our region stronger and more prosperous. Investors in L.A. and around the country have taken notice of LASIF's impact and are coming together to realize the potential of our children.
Jeffrey Castro’s parents instilled in him a drive to attend college. But just as he entered high school, tragedy struck. His father passed away, leaving his mother to provide for him and his two older brothers. College seemed further away than ever. Then he discovered LASIF partner Upward Bound.
So much attention is placed on college admission, but what happens next? That’s the question South Central Scholars staff found themselves asking as their students began their journeys into higher education.
Experience shows that scholarships aren't enough to close the graduation gap. LASIF combines need-based scholarships with intensive services before and during college to end the college completion crisis and increase the number of low-income youth who achieve their degree. That's how LASIF programs have helped tens of thousands of Angeleno students prepare for, pay for and succeed in college.
Few things transform a life like a college diploma. A bachelor’s degree can lead to an additional $1 million in lifetime earnings, but it’s about more than just money. College success benefits entire communities. That's why the Los Angeles Scholars Investment Fund combines need-based scholarships with innovative services proven to help students graduate.
At a time when a college degree is more necessary than ever, Los Angeles County is facing a graduation crisis. In this issue, you'll learn the extent of this crisis and how donors are joining forces to end it through the Los Angeles Scholars Investment Fund.
The “Great Recession” may be over, but L.A. need is rising, the organizations we count on to address our most pressing issues are overstretched and the charitable giving that sustains them is on the decline. “The Generosity Gap: Donating Less in Post-Recession Los Angeles County,” a first-of-its-kind study from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs in partnership with the California Community Foundation, uncovers the concerns and motivations of Los Angeles donors and the extent of the county’s growing gap in charitable giving.