Polk Bros Foundation grant awarded for College Preparation Program

For the third consecutive year, Roosevelt University has been awarded $60,000 from the Polk Bros Foundation to support a college preparation program for students in Chicago’s Social Justice High School.
 
Approximately 20 to 25 students this summer are learning about college life, improving their writing and math skills and gaining knowledge about the college application process, including financial aid. 

Since 2008, Roosevelt has hosted more than 110 Social Justice High School students and held numerous parent, faculty and staff meetings at the high school. During the past two academic years, a total of 22 students from Social Justice have enrolled at Roosevelt, making it the University’s largest feeder high school.
 
“The partnership between Roosevelt University and Social Justice High School has made the possibility of college a reality for many first generation college students.  Roosevelt has worked effectively with Social Justice High School to assure the college success of its students.  Polk Bros Foundation is pleased to be a partner in this effort,” said Sandra Guthman, chief executive officer of the foundation.  The Social Justice in Action program is administered by Roosevelt’s College of Education.
 
Dean Holly Stadler and a leadership team develop the academic and social activities and evaluate their impact.  The team is comprised of representatives from Social Justice High School and Roosevelt’s Office of Community Engagement, Student Support Services, Trio Upward Bound, Project Prime, Financial Aid, the Composition Program and the Writing Center.

“This program is a great example of the good work that can be done in the service of students and their community,” said Stadler.

The Polk Bros Foundation has awarded Roosevelt $637,255 since 1979.  The foundation partners with nonprofit Chicago organizations that work to reduce the impact of poverty and provide area residents with better access to quality education, preventive health care and basic human services.