CITY OF PHILADELPHIA TO KICK-OFF THE FINANCING COLLEGE CAMPAIGN

Campaign launched with the “I <3 College” lollipop giveaway.rnrn rnrnPhiladelphia, February 14, 2013 – The City of Philadelphia launched the Financing College Campaign, a city-wide effort to encourage Philadelphia students to apply to and enroll in college and to take advantage of programs and initiatives to help them finance their education. The kick-off event is the I <3 (heart) College lollipop giveaway co-sponsored by PhillyGoes2College and Graduate Philadelphia, which will distribute 20,000 lollipops across the City to promote higher education.rnrn rnrn“Education is the key to everything we want to achieve in Philadelphia, from crime reduction to economic development. The Financing College Campaign connects Philadelphians with valuable information to help pursue higher education,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “By offering assistance in college enrollment and the financial aid process, we are positioning Philadelphians for better careers and brighter futures.”rnrn rnrnThe Financing College Campaign is a three phase initiative:rnrn rnrnProfessional development – a workshop series for high school counselors, college access professionals and financial aid administrators to help them advise families and students as they navigate the financial aid process;rnFAFSA and scholarship application completion – workshops and events that assist prospective students in completing the FAFSA and other benefits forms and apply for scholarships with scholarship essay writing clinics; andrnHigher education support services for financial aid – financial aid completion sessions to ensure full understanding of financial aid packages.rn rnrnOver the last four years, the Financing College Campaign has improved FAFSA completion in Philadelphia by 10%.rnrn rnrnChief Education Officer Lori Shorr said, “Tomorrow’s economy will depend on students who have at least some college education and making sure you can finance college is very important. I am pleased that we have been able to increase Philadelphians’ access to federal money, but we can still do better. I urge people to take advantage of these resources.”rnrn rnrnThe Campaign also includes the opening of the Countdown to College Center, which will offer individualized services for families and students, including financial planning and income tax assistance and financial aid guidance. The Countdown to College Center is a collaborative effort between the Mayor’s Office of Education and the School District of Philadelphia’s Parent Program Office, located in the Parent Resource Center, 440 North Broad Street.rnrn rnrnThe next event, College Goal Saturday, is on February 23, 2013 at the Community College of Philadelphia. Co-hosted by CCP and Penn State University, College Goal Saturday is a financial aid program for all college-bound Philadelphians. It is an opportunity to meet with financial aid professionals and learn more about the financial aid process.rnrn rnrnAdditional information about enrolling in college and how to pay for it is available at www.phillygoes2college.com or by calling 215-686-0315.rnrn rnrnListings for upcoming FAFSA Completion and Financial Aid Workshops and other Financing College Campaign events is available on the PhillyGoes2College website (www.phillygoes2college.com), Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable website (www.phillycollegepreproundtable.weebly.com), and the School District of Philadelphia website (www.phila.k12.pa.us).rnrn rnrnCampaign Partnersrnrn rnrnMayor’s Office of EducationrnrnSchool District of PhiladelphiarnrnArchdiocese of PhiladelphiarnrnCharter SchoolsrnrnU.S. Department of Education, Office of Student Financial AidrnrnU.S. Department of Education, College Access InitiativernrnPennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)rnrnPA Student Financial Aid AdministratorsrnrnPhillyGoes2CollegernrnPhiladelphia College Prep RoundtablernrnCampaign for Working FamiliesrnrnGates Millennium Scholars ProgramrnrnCORE Scholars ProgramrnrnDream Activist PArnrnCLARIFI