FACES
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2015 ISSUE 2
OF PHILANTHROPY
9
Investing in Paths to College
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In the course of a person’s life, there are a few pivotal junctures where a decision has huge repercussions. One of those is going to college for at least one year.
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Studies show that on average, a student attending at least one year of college earns 30% more income, is 29% less likely to be unemployed, and lives seven years longer. 7KHVH ORQJ WHUP LPSDFWV ZHUH VLJQLČ´FDQW HQRXJK WR JHW WKH DWWHQWLRQ RI FRPPXQLW\ FROOHJHV DQG GRQRUV DFURVV +DZDLȆL ČŠ-XVW ORRN DW WKH VWDWLVWLFV ZH FDQȇW DÎ?RUG QRW to invest in that extra year of schooling,â€? said Jim Lally, whose vision and funding helped launch the Wai‘ale‘ale Project at Kaua‘i Community College in 2010. The Wai‘ale‘ale Project provides academic support through tutoring, mentoring, summer college-readiness programs, and on-going academic support to students who wouldn’t normally attend college. Jim Lally felt that Kaua‘i Community College’s small setting was the perfect launch pad when he and his wife, Lynn, funded the Wai‘ale‘ale Project through the Jim & Lynn Lally Family Fund at Hawai‘i Community Foundation. The program works with social service agencies and high school counselors to Č´QG SURVSHFWLYH FDQGLGDWHV VSHFLČ´FDOO\ SHRSOH ZKR ZHUH QRW FRQVLGHULQJ FROOHJH The Wai‘ale‘ale Project pays for tuition and books, yet the academic and practical VXSSRUWV SURYLGHG DUH DV LPSRUWDQW WR WKH VWXGHQWV DV WKH Č´QDQFLDO DVVLVWDQFH 7KH support system for students includes tutoring and training in life skills and study habits, even before they enter the classroom. Childcare support is also crucial because most of the recruited students have children. continued on next page
“ This will change lives right in our community.� – Benjy Garfinkle, Co-chair of the Ku-ki‘o Community Fund