March 19, 2010

Nonprofits Add Mentoring to Money to Keep Minorities in College

By TRACEY TAYLOR

As college admissions season draws to a close, the spotlight has been on students’ getting a foot in the door. Less attention is paid to how many of today’s high school seniors will emerge a few years down the line with diplomas in hand, and what might cause them to veer off track.

It is much tougher to stay the course in college if you are the first in your family to enroll in college, if you have rarely strayed far from home and if your life is still affected by family problems, be it a jobless parent or an addicted sibling.

At a national level, one student in two enrolling in college earns a degree within six years. In the Bay Area’s most challenged communities, the ratio is far worse. The problem is most acute among young black and Latino men. According to data gathered by the Oakland Unified School District, only 8 percent of black teenagers entering ninth grade will get a bachelor’s degree. Only 34 percent of black male students, and 44 percent of Latino male students who entered the combined University of California and California State University system in 2001 had graduated six years later. The rate for white men was 62 percent.

That statistic, graduation rates, is in the cross hairs of the East Bay College Fund. It is perhaps the most visible of a small but growing number of Bay Area nonprofits that are beginning to make inroads in steering young, at-risk students to college, and also helping them through it. The fund’s method is to supplement financial aid with a carefully administered program of mentoring, peer-to-peer guidance and life-skills training.

Click Here for Link to Full Article

***************************************

Hoops Great Courtney Paris will Share Off-Court Lessons
with East Bay College Fund Scholars

Basketball superstar Courtney Paris returns home on May 19 to give
an off-court assist to 18 East Bay youth who have beaten significant
personal odds while preparing for college.

Paris will speak at the East Bay College Fund’s seventh annual
“Great Expectations Awards” at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday (5/19) at the
Student Union Building on the campus of Mills College, 5000
MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland. The ceremony is open to the public.

Paris, the Piedmont High standout who became the first four-time All-
American in women’s college basketball, will be the keynote speaker
at the East Bay College Fund’s awards ceremony honoring the 2009
recipients of four-year college scholarships. Expanding her influence
off the court, Paris is an advocate of giving back to one’s community
and a firm believer in the importance of a college education.

Paris recently earned her B.A. in journalism from the University of
Oklahoma and joined the Sacramento Monarchs as a No. 7 selection
in the 2009 WNBA draft. The daughter of former 49ers lineman
Bubba Paris, Courtney Paris has a twin sister, Ashley, who will play
for the Los Angeles Sparks.

The eighteen scholarship recipients, all seniors at Oakland and
Emeryville public high schools, come from low-income households
and communities with historically low college attendance rates. The
majority will be the first in their families to attend a four-year
university. Along with facing financial need, many have experienced
family tragedy and other major hardships.

The East Bay College Fund, a community-based nonprofit, will
provide each recipient with a $16,000, four-year college scholarship,
along with an adult mentor and other support throughout the college
experience.

Andy Fremder, president of the East Bay College Fund, says, “We
are thrilled that Courtney will be there to welcome our new group of
scholars to the East Bay College Fund community. Her
accomplishments and attitude are truly inspiring. Courtney is a
wonderful role model for us all.”

The 2009 scholarship recipients were selected from among 165
applicants. This fall, they will attend such schools as UCLA, UC San
Diego, UC Merced, the University of Oregon, Ohio Wesleyan, San
Jose State, the University of San Francisco, and CSU East Bay.

Along with honoring the incoming class of scholarship recipients, the
East Bay College Fund will celebrate the forthcoming college
graduation of six of its scholars, bringing the total number of Scholar
graduates to seventeen. Since its inception in 2002, the East Bay
College Fund has helped 100 resilient public high school seniors fulfill
their dreams of going to college.

For more information, please visit www.eastbaycollegefund.org

For news coverage:

Oakland Tribune feature

ABC 7 News story

****************************************

Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Low Cost Cialis lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Viagra Women difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Viagra Prices Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Cialis For Less prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Bayer Cipro 2003 accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Viagra Song lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Lowest Prices For Cialis difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Buy Cheap Phentermine Online Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Buying Phentermine No Prescription Needed prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Nexium Coupon accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Cipro lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Cialis To Buy New Zealand difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Nolvadex Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Zoloft Sertraline Generic Images prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Purchase Phentermine Online accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Buy Phentermine Cod lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Phentermine Studies difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Mexican Rx Cialis Low Priced Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Phentermine Fast prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Viagra Mexico accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Hoodia 57 lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Herbs And Viagra Interaction difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Color Of Phentermine 37.5 Caps Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Compare Prices Of Phentermine prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Using Viagra accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Liquid Hoodia lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Levitra Medicine difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Buy Viagra Soft Online Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Prozac And Weight Gain prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Viagra Uterine Thickness accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Doxycycline Lyme lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Xanax And Weight Loss difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Cheap Propecia Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Zoloft Package Insert prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Phentermine Diet Pills Diet Pills accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Phentermine Without Doctor Approval lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Order Levitra difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Phentermine Online Consultation Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Viagra Equivalent prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Phentermine Cheapest Uk Shipping accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Mail Order Viagra lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Buying Viagra Online difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Cheap Generic Viagra Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Nexium Rebate prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Phentermine Sale accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Cheapest Viagra lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Celexa Weight Loss difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Lipitor Vs Zocor Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Over The Counter Viagra prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Cheap Viagra Canada accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Cipro Severe Itching lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects No Rx Phentermine difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Phentermine Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Purchase Viagra prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Hoodia Medical Research accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Acomplia lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Uses For Prednisone difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Hoodia Sure Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Mg Buy Phentermine prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Viagra England accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Zoloft Withdrawal lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Cheapest Phentermine Online difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Viagra For Sale Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Intermittent Explosive Disorder Zoloft prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa No Prescription Phentermine accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Compare Phentermine lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Doxycycline J Code difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Prednisone Steroid Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Dissolve Doxycycline Hyclate For Mouth prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Phentermine Canada accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Phentermine Hcl lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Phentermine Addiction difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Hoodia Weight Loss Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Buy Cialis Doctor Online prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Buy Phentermine Online accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Phentermine No Perscription lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Generic Lipitor difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Phentermine 37.5 Lowest Price Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Prednisone Arthritus Relief Cat prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Prozac Suicide Class Action Lawsuit accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. New Viagra lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Hoodia Patch difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Prozac Withdrawal Symptoms Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Phentermine Success Story prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Compare Phentermine Price accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Alternative To Viagra lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Generic Cialis difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Black Phentermine Capsule Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.
lipitor drug cost Price Of Viagra prednisone stopped taking side effects
difference between lexapro and celexa Crestor Vs Lipitor accutane timeline,
Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823. Mexican Rx Cialis Low Price lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects Low Cost Viagra difference between lexapro and celexa
accutane timeline, Clomid Symptoms of zoloft working sie effects of lexapro 823.

OAKLAND, CA-May 20, 2008

Contra Costa Times–Montclarion/Piedmonter

Best friends Clarresha Slay and Clarisha Walton of Oakland share sound-alike names, similarly dazzling smiles-and an exceptional drive to overcome personal hardships that have plagued their youth. On Thursday, May 22, the two graduating seniors from Oakland’s Castlemont-Leadership Prep High School will share a celebratory moment as they accept $16,000 scholarships from the East Bay College Fund.

The 17-year-olds say their friendship gave them the strength to survive and to believe they could become the first in their immediate families to attend college. Clarresha Slay, who left a troubled home situation last year, is a foster child who dreams of becoming a nurse. Clarisha Walton, who once lived in an abandoned house as a small child, now lives with her aunt and is an aspiring psychologist. “I want to be a child psychologist to help people like me,” says Clarisha Walton, who will attend CSU Los Angeles in the fall. Clarresha Slay will be attending CSU East Bay.

“It means the world to us,” says Clarresha Slay of the scholarship assistance. “I wanted better for myself and she did, too.”

They are among 22 resilient Oakland and Emeryville public high school students heading to four-year universities this fall as 2008 recipients of the East Bay College Fund’s “Great Expectations Awards.” Along with the $16,000, four-year college scholarships, each scholar will be provided with an adult mentor and other sustained support throughout the college experience.

The East Bay College Fund’s sixth annual “Great Expectations Awards” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, at the Student Union Building, Rothwell Center on the campus of Mills College in Oakland. The community is invited to attend.

The 22 scholarships-the most ever awarded by the community-based nonprofit in a single year-come at a time of escalating college costs and economic uncertainty. “Despite the challenging economic environment, the community has really stepped up to help,” says Andy Fremder, president of the East Bay College Fund. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to expand our scholarship support for these remarkable young people.”

Founded in 2002, the East Bay College Fund assists local students from low-income families and East Bay communities with historically low college attendance rates. The 2008 scholarship recipients were selected from among 175 applicants. The majority of the scholars will be the first in their families to go to college and have overcome significant personal challenges while successfully preparing themselves for higher education. This fall, they will attend such schools as UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, San Jose State University, Sacramento State University, and San Francisco State University.

While honoring the incoming class of scholarship recipients, the East Bay College Fund also will celebrate the achievements of nine of its scholars who are graduating from college. Many graduates and current scholars already are giving back to their communities through volunteer activities and service professions.

Since its inception, East Bay College Fund has helped more than 80 public high school seniors fulfill their dreams of going to college. Overall, the organization has granted college scholarships totaling over $1.3 million.

For more information, please visit www.eastbaycollegefund.org

Oakland Tribune
By Katy Murphy, STAFF WRITER
Article Created: 03/22/2008 02:37:25 AM PDT

OAKLAND — They are 10 and 11 years old, more than six years shy of the college application crunch. But if they earn good grades and graduate from high school, the fifth-graders at Think College Now Elementary School in East Oakland will have $1,000 to spend on a higher education. For the second year in a row, the East Bay College Fund has pledged scholarship money to Think College Now’s fifth-grade class. More than 90 percent of the roughly 250 students who attend the Fruitvale-area school come from low-income families, and more than two-thirds are learning English, according to data posted on the school’s Web site.

The idea behind the pledge, said Principal David Silver, is to say to them, “If you do your part, we’re going to do our part to get you there.”

Click for more information about this program

March 19, 2008

On Thursday, March 20, fifth graders at a trailblazing Oakland public school
will get a jump-start on their college education.

The East Bay College Fund, a nonprofit scholarship organization, is pledging
$1,000 college scholarships to each member of the 2008 graduating class at Think
College Now (TCN), a college preparatory school in Oakland’s ethnically diverse
Fruitvale district. The scholarships will be announced at TCN’s first-ever
Alumni Night. Thursday’s event features returning sixth graders describing their
middle school experiences and two scholars from the East Bay College Fund
talking about becoming the first in their families to get a higher education.

The ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the school, 2825 International
Boulevard, Oakland.

This marks the second consecutive year that East Bay College Fund has pledged
scholarships to graduating TCN students. Andy Fremder, president of the East Bay
College Fund, said his grassroots organization is delighted to support TCN’s
mission of enabling youngsters from low-income households to pursue higher
education.

“We continue to be impressed with the ability, passion and results demonstrated
by the TCN team,” says Fremder. Additionally, East Bay College Fund wants to
encourage “invaluable peer-to-peer counseling” among grade-school youngsters
similar to the successful model now taking place among the organization’s
college students.

TCN Principal David Silver says, “The $1,000 gives the students and their
families something tangible to motivate them to stay on the right track on their
path to college.”

The East Bay College Fund scholarships will become available once the fifth
graders graduate from high school and enroll in a t wo- or four-year college.

East Bay College Fund scholars Ana Guzmán and Adriana Pérez will be on hand to
congratulate and encourage the fifth graders. “I think it’s a great thing to be
thinking about opening up their eyes,” says Guzmán, a 20-year-old freshman at
San Francisco State University. A first-generation college student from Oakland,
Guzmán is the recipient of a $16,000, four-year scholarship from the East Bay
College Fund. “Education is the way out,” she says.

Pérez, also the first in her family to attend college, says, “Setting aside
money for fifth graders to go to college shows that people have hope in you.”
Pérez, a 21-year-old graduate of Oakland’s Fremont High School, is now a junior
at San Francisco State and helps advise Oakland high school students on the
college application process.

Founded in 2002, the East Bay College Fund has a core mission of providing
four-year college scholarships, mentoring an d other support to public high
school seniors from low-income families and East Bay communities with
historically low college attendance rates. Including the 2008 scholarships to be
awarded in May, the East Bay College Fund has assisted more than 75 promising
high school graduates.

For more information on the East Bay College Fund, please visit
www.eastbaycollegefund.org.

To learn more about Think College Now, please visit www.thinkcollegenow.org

Contra Costa Times
By Andrea Wolf, Correspondent
Article Launched: May 18, 2007 03:15:31 AM PDT

Not only is Krsna Avila the first in his family to go to college, but he also is hearing from his friends from Skyline High School that they are now thinking of college because of him. His parents were able to save a little money for Avila to attend college. But with his father going on disability recently and his mother being a small-business owner, it would have been difficult. Now, partly thanks to the East Bay College Fund, Avila can explore his interests as a freshman at UC Davis in computer science or psychology without worrying where the tuition will come from.

Full Story at Contra Costa Times

Diverse Magazine
By Emily Wilson
Oakland, California
Published: May 17, 2007

From the time she was 10 years old, Katie Jay was in and out of homeless shelters with her mother, eventually attending a total of 32 different elementary and high schools. But Jay overcame the chaos in her life and is now a senior studying criminology at San Jose State University, thanks in part to a scholarship from the East Bay College Fund.

Full Story at www.diverseeducation.com

As she prepares for her own college graduation, Beatriz Torres will present the 2007 East Bay College Fund scholarships to 16 high school seniors at a May 23 ceremony at Mills College. Torres, who will graduate in June from UC Santa Cruz and plans to go to law school, is the first East Bay College Fund scholar to complete a four-year university degree.

“East Bay College Fund has played an important role in my college experience,” says Torres, a sociology major who received one of the organization’s first $16,000 scholarships in 2003. “They have supported me financially and have encouraged, guided and advised me academically and emotionally. They’re there with you for the entire four years.” A 2003 graduate of Oakland’s Life Academy high school, Torres came to the United States from El Salvador at age 11 and is the first member of her family to graduate from college.

East Bay College Fund President Andy Fremder says, “We have had the privilege of seeing Beatriz grow from an excited high school graduate to an accomplished young woman with a college degree and unlimited potential. That is what we are all about, and we are excited about the prospect of working with many more outstanding young scholars.”

The East Bay College Fund’s fifth annual “Great Expectations Awards” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, at the Student Union Building, Rothwell Center on the campus of Mills College. The community is invited to attend. Other speakers include David Silver, principal of Oakland’s pioneering Think College Now public elementary school.

The 2007 scholarship recipients attend Oakland and Emeryville public high schools, and were selected from among more than 150 applicants by a committee of diverse East Bay community members. The scholars have successfully prepared themselves for college while overcoming significant personal challenges. The majority will be the first in their families to go to college and this fall, they will attend such schools as UC Berkeley, UCLA, San Francisco State University, Colgate University and Columbia University.

Since its inception in 2002, East Bay College Fund has helped 59 resilient public high school seniors fulfill their dreams of going to college. The community-based nonprofit organization assists local students from low-income families and East Bay communities with historically low college attendance rates.

Along with its awards of $16,000, four-year college scholarships, East Bay College Fund provides mentoring and other sustained support throughout the scholars’ college years. Overall, the organization has granted college scholarships totaling $944,000.

“It seems like it was yesterday when I was getting my award,” says Torres, 22. “It’s an honor and it makes me happy to know there will be other people getting what I got.”

East Bay College Fund 2007 “Great Expectations” Scholars

East Bay Express
By Emily Wilson
Published: May 16, 2007

In a warm spring day, a bunch of fresh-faced, smartly dressed young men and women wait nervously at the Alameda County Conference Center for college scholarship interviews. Appearances are important. These kids are among 48 Oakland and Emeryville high school seniors who already have made the first cut, down from 150. But only seventeen will walk away with assistance that could make many of them the first in their families to move beyond a high-school diploma.

Full Story at East Bay Express

Forty Oakland elementary school children will receive a special gift when they graduate from fifth grade this June – the pledge of a $1,000 college scholarship. In a partnership intended to encourage youngsters to stay in school and prepare for higher education, East Bay College Fund, a grassroots scholarship organization, is making a financial commitment to the entire 2007 graduating class of Think College Now (TCN), a pioneering public elementary school in Oakland’s Fruitvale district.

The East Bay College Fund scholarships will become available to each TCN youngster after they graduate from high school and enroll in a two-or four-year college.

CBS5 News Coverage of 5th Grader’s Story

East Bay College Fund President Andy Fremder sees a common bond between his group’s mission and that of TCN. Both organizations believe that it is never too early for young people to expect and prepare to go to college. “TCN Principal David Silver and his team have done a wonderful job of creating a real culture around higher education, and we want to do our part to help these students and families achieve their goals,” Fremder said.

Founded in 2003, TCN is focused on high academic standards and emphasizes the importance of college attendance as soon as its pupils enter kindergarten. Principal David Silver said, “Think College Now is about equity – to truly close the achievement gap, our children must have a true opportunity to attend college and pursue their dreams. We’re delighted that the East Bay College Fund shares our vision and is stepping up to help our students in such a meaningful way.”

The donations represent an extension of East Bay College Fund’s core mission of providing $16,000 four-year college scholarships, mentoring and other support to public high school seniors from low-income families and East Bay communities with historically low college attendance rates. East Bay College Fund will grant its 2007 awards to 16 graduating high school seniors at a public ceremony at Mills College on May 23. Including those awards, the nonprofit organization has granted 59 college scholarships since its inception in 2002.

Fremder was introduced to the TCN team on a visit to the school in his role as a trustee of the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools (BayCES), an Oakland-based school reform organization. “After being on the campus for about 10 minutes, you could feel that there was something unique happening there, and I immediately began to think about how East Bay College Fund could play a role,” Fremder said.

TCN graduates will receive their scholarship certificates at a formal graduation ceremony on June 8. They are the first class of fifth graders to graduate from the K-5 school.

East Bay College Fund hopes to continue and expand its scholarship partnership with TCN. To become involved or learn more about East Bay College Fund, please visit www.eastbaycollegefund.org. To learn more about Think College Now, please visit www.thinkcollegenow.org.

Contact information:

Andy Fremder, President of East Bay College Fund
afremder@faralloncapital.com
510.219.4554

David Silver, Principal of Think College Now
david@thinkcollegenow.org
510.879.1490