College-Bound & Needy: Cranston Teens Find Extra Help from College Crusade

CRANSTON, RI—Some 250 Cranston middle school and high school youngsters are signed up for The College Crusade. The non-profit helps prepare low-income youth academically and financially to continue their education after high school.

"Benefits for students include personalized advising and after school learning opportunities such as financial literacy workshops, book clubs, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities, tutoring, life skills, guest speakers, and field trips," said Karen Donovan, for The College Crusade. "Students are also able to participate in numerous Saturday, school vacation, and summer programs to meet their academic, social development and college readiness needs."

The College Crusade is open to public and public charter school students in Cranston, Woonsocket, Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls. It's financed by "a large federal grant" which is used to "provide comprehensive advisory services and college readiness programs," she said.

Recently, Taco/The White Family Foundation awarded The College Crusade of Rhode Island a $5,000 matching grant to support college readiness programs during the 2016-2017 school year.

Courtesy Photo Caption: Leftmost, Irving Schneider, board member of The White Family Foundation, presents a check to Nazeli Avagyan, College Crusade Advisor in the Cranston schools, and Jaelah Lopes, a student at Cranston High School East. At right is Bob Oberg, Vice President for Development & Communications for The College Crusade. The grant presentation was held at The College Crusade’s annual Believe Breakfast celebration on November 17, 2016.