The Helios Education Foundation has awarded a grant to the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCCF) to fulfill a dollar-for-dollar US Department of Education (DOE) Title V Endowment Match Challenge, resulting in $1.2 million in newly endowed scholarships funds.
The effort began with three Maricopa Community Colleges – Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), Glendale Community College (GCC) and GateWay Community College (GWCC) – participating in an endowment challenge in their DOE Title V grants with the goal of raising the maximum match before the 5-year Title V grant programs ended. The Helios Foundation stepped-in with a matching grant to help achieve the DOE match.
“Helios Education Foundation is excited to partner with the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation to establish the Hispanic Serving Institutions Scholarship Fund,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of the Helios Education Foundation. “These scholarships will help ensure more students in Arizona have the opportunity to pursue and complete a postsecondary degree, including Latino and first-generation students.”
Between the Helios grant and local fundraising, the Title V Endowment Challenge successfully achieved a match of $640,000, resulting in endowed funds totaling more than $1.2 million. Revenue generated by these endowments will provide annual support for scholarships and programs targeting low-income and underserved students.
“More than 115 students will benefit each year directly as a result of these endowed funds,” said Brian Spicker, Interim President and CEO of the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation. “It’s exciting to see how our longstanding partnership with Helios has grown over the years from a $15,000 Heroes of Education sponsorship in 2007 to an investment of nearly $5.8 million throughout multiple scholarships and programs. Their generous dollar-for-dollar match marks a new chapter in their relationship with both the Foundation and the Maricopa County Community College District, and builds a lasting legacy creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education.”
The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, with its donors and partners, supports the Maricopa County Community College District, its students, faculty, and staff through scholarships, programs, equipment, and financial and human capital.
The Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education. The Foundation believes in the transformational power of education and is strategically investing our knowledge, expertise and resources across the education continuum to advance student academic preparedness and to foster college-going cultures within Arizona and Florida.
