Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood Commits to New Partnership with CBO

The Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood is partnering with College Bound Opportunities (CBO) to provide $10,000 in scholarships per year for five years beginning in 2018, an investment totaling $50,000. These scholarships will be designated for CBO Scholars attending Highland Park High School and will be awarded each year prior to graduation.

College Bound Opportunities mentors economically disadvantaged students, and provides financial resources to ensure they graduate college and pursue meaningful professions.

“Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood strongly believes that education is a critical aspect of supporting one’s personal aspiration for a better life. Over the last few years, our club disbursed over $100,000 in scholarships to deserving Highland Park High School seniors who would not otherwise be able to attend college due to financial hardship and challenging life obstacles,” said Paul Munk, Chair of Rotary’s Scholarship/RYLA committee. The partnership with CBO will help ensure that Rotary's ongoing scholarship funding will have maximum impact by adding the proven success of CBO's mentorship model to our historical process, and it adds scale to CBO's already sizable accomplishments.”

“We are very grateful to the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood for their continued support of our Scholars’ success as students and leaders in the community,” said CBO’s Executive Director, Susan Bell. “This type of partnership is critical to our mission of assisting underserved students as they make their college dreams a reality. We look forward to working with Rotary members in the years to come as we make a lasting investment in the lives of CBO’s bright Scholars right here in Highland Park.”

About College Bound Opportunities:

College Bound Opportunities (CBO) mentors economically disadvantaged students to unleash their potential, graduate college, pursue meaningful professions, and inspire others to follow in their footsteps. CBO currently supports 74 high school students, 112 college students attending more than 35 colleges and universities across the country, and more than 200 active community volunteers. CBO is also proud of its 87 college graduates, all of whom are currently employed or pursuing graduate degrees. Accepting students from Buffalo Grove High School, Deerfield High School, Highland Park High School, Lake Forest High School, and Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep in Waukegan, CBO achieves its goals by offering 1:1 mentoring, in addition to providing academic and financial support for college. Learn more at cbo4success.org or find us on Facebook.

About Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood:

The Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood is a group of men and women who come together to make positive, lasting change in our communities and abroad. Members believe in the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self". The Club provides service initiatives, college and vocational scholarships and supports a number of local charities. Rotarians guiding principles are the foundation of their values: service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership. Learn more about the Club at highlandparkrotary.org or find us on Facebook.