GRASP receives $25K grant from the Memorial Foundation for Children

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Memorial Foundation for Children, GRASP financial aid services and mentoring to students through GRASP advisors at all ten City of Richmond public high schools is supported for the 2018-2019 school year.

Ken Barker, GRASP CEO, expressed his gratitude for the grant saying, “It is so appreciated and will enable us to do even greater work in the City of Richmond.  So many lives will be changed because of this $25,000 gift!”

GRASP, a Virginia college access non-profit, implements its services via advisors who provide free, confidential, one-on-one counseling to students seeking financial aid and scholarships for continuing education after high school – whether that is at a technical school, community college or a four-year university.  GRASP’s goal is to expand students’ opportunities to learn.

GRASP advisors now serve students and families in 79 Virginia high schools/venues, from the greater Richmond area, to Highland County in the west, to Lancaster County in the east, and to Sussex County in the south.  The highly trained, GRASP advisors are adept at navigating the maze of the college and post-secondary education financial aid process.  They also have a passion for helping today’s youth grasp infinite opportunities.

Overall, during the 2017-2018 academic year, GRASP advisors met with 7,022 students individually, helping them with their plans for education after high school.  Additionally, GRASP awarded 162 Last Dollar scholarships totaling $124,200 and 48 “2+2” scholarships (for students planning to attend a community college and then transfer to a four-year college) totaling $48,000.  These scholarships provide additional financial assistance for students toward their educational goals.

GRASP was co-founded in 1983 by Senator Walter Stosch and Dr. Ray Gargiulo.  GRASP advisors work one day per week at each school.  Appointments, which are free of charge, can be made through the schools’ counseling offices.  More information about GRASP is available at the website, www.grasp4va.org.