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Tri-County Scholarship Fund (TCSF) was founded in 1981 with the mission of improving the lives of New Jersey’s most financially vulnerable inner-city children by providing them access to the superior and safer option of values-based K-12th grade independent schools. “Today, as the need has grown, TCSF’s founding principles remain unchanged,” says TCSF President, Prudence Pigott. “We believe that every child deserves access to a safe, quality education regardless of their family’s zip code or income level. In many poverty-stricken zip codes, the public schools are trying, but not able to deliver an environment that encourages success. There is little in the way of a positive peer group, of character development, or educational excellence. Our parents seek a better option for their children, and Tri-County makes this dream a reality by awarding partial scholarships to better, safer schools.” TCSF addresses the striking education disparities and related racial inequalities experienced by inner-city New Jersey children. The majority of scholarship students come from inner-city, single parent homes with an average household income of $30,000. 85 percent of scholarship students are racial and ethnic minorities. With a 40-year proven track record, Tri-County points to a winning formula of shared commitment: TCSF provides partial scholarships, the partner schools offer discounted tuition, and parents sacrifice to pay their share. All are invested in the students’ success. As a result, the students feel cared for and believed in and make the most out of the educational opportunity. “By awarding scholarships and educational opportunities, Tri-County breaks the cycle of generational poverty,” says Pigott. “Providing access to a quality education makes all the difference. 100 percent of our scholarship students graduate from high school. They go on to college, successful careers, and give back to their communities. With this education, their lives are no longer pre-determined by zip code, poverty, family situation, or race.” Tri-County scholarship recipients go on to college and productive careers, becoming success stories as they also give back to their own communities. This year, scholarship alumna Ximena Cespedes addressed TCSF trustees and donors. Ximena, a graduate of Mary Help of Christians Academy (North Haledon, NJ), went on to earn a degree in Political Economy from Georgetown University. She was employed as a financial analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This past fall, Ximena began studies at Harvard Law School. “None of my successes—past, present or future—would be possible without the donors of the Tri-County Scholarship Fund. An education is truly the single greatest gift a child can receive. Thank you for choosing to invest in mine. It has made all the difference. I can’t wait to one day be in your seat so that I can change the lives of many students in the way you have changed mine.”—Ximena Cespedes, Tri-County scholarship recipient 2007-2015 The need is still great. There are 1800 children on the scholarship wait list. Please help one more child receive the life-changing gift of a quality, safe, values-based education. Learn how at www.tcsfund.org