News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2003

Lumina Foundation announces second group of McCabe Fund grant recipients

Seven organizations receive grants totaling nearly $510,000 to improve college access

INDIANAPOLIS — Lumina Foundation for Education is awarding grants totaling $509,200 to seven organizations from across the country to support college-access programs for underserved students. These awards represent the second group of grants issued from Lumina Foundation's McCabe Fund. The McCabe Fund supports organizations that enable students — particularly first-generation college students, low-income students and students of color — to gain access to postsecondary education.

The McCabe Fund provides modest, competitive grants for programs that work directly with students to improve access to postsecondary education. These programs expand successful models or propose new approaches that are ready to be tested in the field. Lumina Foundation invited about 100 organizations from across the country to submit proposals. The McCabe Fund plans to award grants totaling $2 million by March 2003.

In announcing the grants, Martha D. Lamkin, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation, said, "As organizations on the front line, these grant recipients are in an excellent position to develop, expand or experiment with new approaches to improve college access. We hope these success stories will inspire other organizations to reach out to underserved students."

Below are profiles of the seven grant recipients, along with summaries of their college-access initiatives.

American University (Washington, D.C.): A $74,800 grant to encourage underrepresented high and middle school students to pursue postsecondary education and professional careers through experiential learning and an annual computer science conference.
Augusta State University (Augusta, GA): A $75,000 grant to implement successful parts of a previously state-funded access program in two predominantly African-American high schools in Georgia.

Center for Leadership Development, Inc. (Indianapolis, IN): A $75,000 grant to establish a College Prep Institute to help high school students of color prepare for and enroll in college.

Cleveland Scholarship Program, Inc. (Cleveland, OH): A $75,000 grant to provide enrichment activities and college access services outside the classroom for area, low-income sixth- through ninth-graders.

College Bound (Washington, D.C.): A $75,000 grant to prepare area middle and high school students for postsecondary education through long-term mentoring relationships with adult professionals.

Jefferson County Public Schools and Continuing Education (Louisville, KY): A $74,700 grant to provide support services that help recent GED graduates make the transition to postsecondary education.

New Orleans Public Schools Scholarship Foundation (New Orleans, LA): A $59,700 grant to prepare an additional 80 high school students for an education beyond high school through assistance with standardized testing, study skills, counseling, college visits and financial aid.

The grant program is named for Lumina Foundation's founding chairman of the board, Edward McCabe. A distinguished leader in government, law, business and higher education for nearly half a century, McCabe has been deeply interested in making a college education possible for disadvantaged and underserved students. The program will be evaluated, and, if successful, the Foundation may renew it in the future.

Lumina Foundation for Education, a private, independent foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access and success in education beyond high school. Through research, grants for innovative programs and communication initiatives, Lumina Foundation addresses issues surrounding access and success — particularly among underserved student groups, including adult learners. The Foundation bases its mission on the belief that postsecondary education remains one of the most beneficial investments that individuals can make in themselves and that society can make in its people.

For more information, contact Sara Murray-Plumer, director of communication at (317) 951-5493