PDT Staff Report

Funding received through a pioneering public-private partnership will strengthen the Scioto Foundation's efforts to boost college enrollment by increasing the availability of scholarships for Ohio's neediest students.

As part of the Ohio Can! Go to College campaign sponsored by the Ohio Board of Regents and administered by Ohio College Access Network, the Scioto Foundation has been awarded $52,000. The funds will be used to support the foundation's goal of raising $3 million of matching money by 2010 to encourage further scholarship development by Scioto County high schools.

"We are so excited to receive the Ohio Can! Go to College grant; this award will greatly assist the Scioto Foundation in its UCAN (University/College Access Network) project," said Kim Cutlip, the foundation's executive director.

The support received through the Ohio Can! Go to College campaign will enhance the Scioto Foundation's efforts to encourage private investment in education. It will enable the foundation to bring in the consultant services of the PhilanthropicResource Group to offer training and planning in fundraising for Scioto County school districts and the foundation as both seek to increase their endowments and scholarships for local students. The foundation's fundraising goals are a key part of its new UCAN program with its vision one day, every student from Scioto County will have the financial resources to attend the college or university of his or her choice.

The Ohio Can! Go to College campaign was launched in response to Chancellor Eric Fingerhut's call to action in his 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education (2008-17). Through an unprecedented bipartisan commitment to strengthen and broaden college access, Ohio's state legislature appropriated $8.5 million to the Ohio Can! campaign to support Gov. Ted Strickland's goal of enrolling an additional 230,000 students in post-secondary programs by 2017.

"Ohio's economic future is directly linked to our ability to raise the educational attainment of the state," Fingerhut said. "This program will help Ohio's investment in education reach more people than ever before."

The two-year Ohio Can! campaign will focus on raising scholarship dollars that will enable 23,000 new students to enroll in numerous post-secondary programs throughout the state.

The Ohio College Access Network provides advocacy and support to college access organizations by building partnerships with national, state and local entities. Its intent is to boost capacity and strengthen the network of innovative programs designed to increase the number of individuals who achieve a post-secondary education.

For additional information, contact Cutlip at (740) 354-4612, or e-mail her at kim.sciotofoundation@verizon.net.