Providence, R.I., March 15, 2010 – The College Crusade of Rhode Island today announced it has recently received two grant awards totaling $35,500 to support college-readiness programs and services for youth in Rhode Island’s low-income urban school districts. It received a gift of $25,500 from the Amgen Foundation, and a gift of $10,000 from Textron Charitable Trust.

The funds from Amgen Foundation provide a match for The College Crusade’s federal GEAR UP grant, helping to underwrite Advisory services for students along with programs such as extracurricular reading and math enrichment, college visits, leadership opportunities, career exploration activities, and financial aid workshops. The grant from Textron Charitable Trust provides The College Crusade with funds needed to support operations.

“To fulfill our mission, we are absolutely dependent on the generous grant support of our local philanthropic partners,” said Todd D. Flaherty, president and CEO of The College Crusade. “Their gifts demonstrate a deep commitment to advancing educational achievement in our state by investing in the academic and career success of Rhode Island’s young people. We thank the Amgen Foundation for its significant grant in support of our ongoing college-readiness programs and services, which help thousands of low-income urban students and families stay focused on the goals of higher education. We also thank Textron Charitable Trust for making a crucial gift of operating support at a time when identifying the vital resources necessary to continue our mission is more challenging than ever.”

About The College Crusade of Rhode Island

Now celebrating its 20th year, The College Crusade of Rhode Island is the state’s most comprehensive college-readiness and scholarship program for middle school and high school students in low-income urban school districts. It serves approximately 3,700 students per year and rewards their efforts and achievements with up to four years of college scholarships. From grade 6 through grade 12, Crusaders experience the steady, nurturing presence of caring adults and participate in activities that focus on academic enrichment, social and personal development, career awareness and exploration, and readiness for college. Students who are members of The College Crusade graduate and go right on to college at much higher rates than their peers in the state’s urban school districts. Since 2001, The College Crusade has awarded over $20 million in college scholarships to more than 2,700 graduates from Rhode Island high schools. For more information, please visit www.thecollegecrusade.org.

The College Crusade is a nonprofit organization funded by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP program, by the State of Rhode Island, and by private corporations, foundations, and individuals.

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Contact:

Karen Donovan

kdonovan@thecollegecrusade.org