News Release
November 30, 2004
American Indian College Fund receives Lumina Foundation grant
DENVER — The American Indian College Fund will use a $373,000 grant from Lumina Foundation for Education to create a fund that will help Native American students achieve academic success.The American Indian College Fund’s Angel Fund will help financially strapped students pay for emergency expenses that sometimes prevent non-traditional students from reaching their educational goals.
“Many students at the 34 tribal colleges have said that financial problems at home and at school hinder their education,” said Nicole Adams, director of foundation relations for The American Indian College Fund. “Problems such as transportation, health care and child care often require extra money and attention — things our students don’t always have.”
The Lumina Foundation grant will provide each of the 34 tribal colleges with a one-time $10,000 gift to establish an Angel Fund. Each college is responsible for identifying students in need and distributing money to them.
Next year, the American Indian College Fund will contribute money to the 34 Angel Funds while each college takes increasing responsibility for fund raising to replenish the funds as monies are spent. Over a five-year period, American Indian College Fund funding will gradually diminish until each college’s Angel Fund is self-sustaining.
“Presidents of several American Indian College Fund institutions have told us that emergency aid funds are the number one need on their campuses,” said Martha Lamkin, president and chief executive officer of Lumina Foundation. “The Angel Fund will let students know that people understand that there are more financial obstacles to face than just tuition and textbook costs. The American Indian College Fund and Lumina Foundation are trying to address these needs.”
For more information about the American Indian College Fund, visit www.collegefund.org.
