Arlington Tomorrow Foundation ATF Annual Report FY2019

Stay the Course helps pull
students out of poverty
Arlington
Tomorrow Foundation
annual report fy 2019
The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, which is The
American Dream City’s largest charitable endowment,
provided financial support for a 12 th straight year to
programs and projects offered by a variety of the community’s
social service agencies, cultural and recreational
organizations..
In 2019, the foundation contributed nearly $1.6 million
through 29 grants to support projects enhancing the lifestyle,
leisure, environment and culture of the city, improving
neighborhoods and addressing the human service needs. Since
the foundation’s inception in 2007, $23.4 million has been
awarded to support nearly 423 projects, of which $9.7 million
contributed to City of Arlington projects and programs, and
$13.7 million supported local non-profits.
COA
Department
Grants
$734,500
29 grants = $1,575,800
Community
Enrichment
Grants
$441,300
Large Grants
$400,000

For low-income students, completing community college
poses unique challenges. With help from the Arlington Tomorrow
Foundation, Catholic Charities Fort Worth (CCFW) is working to
address these roadblocks through Stay the Course, which provides
comprehensive case management and targeted emergency
financial assistance to low-income students.

“Financial hardships, family emergencies, car troubles and
lack of childcare are difficult for any college students, but they are
catastrophic for low-income students,” said Judith Priest, director of
client navigation for Catholic Charities FW. “Stay the Course helps
place students on the path to self-sufficiency.”

The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation has contributed a
$50,000 grant to support the program at Tarrant County College
Southeast campus in Arlington, which began in 2018 with 120
students. CCFW will use the money to provide emergency
financial assistance, savings incentives and case management to
participants.

Community college is a critical piece of education for millions
of students, with studies showing that those with a two-year degree
have significantly higher earnings and lower unemployment than
those with only a high school education. Yet graduation rates hover
around 38 percent nationwide. In North Texas, Priest said, fewer
than 12 percent complete their community college education
within six semesters.

“Catholic Charities wants to help find a solution for this crisis,”
Priest said. “We know that one of the key ways to end poverty is to
help people find living-wage jobs, and one of the main ways to get
a living-wage job is through education.”

To be eligible for Stay the Course, students must be 18 years
or older, seeking a community college degree or certificate, have a
2.0 GPA and a household income below 200 percent of the federal
poverty level. Participants receive holistic case management from a
navigator and access to emergency financial assistance, up to $500
a semester and $1,500 for the duration of their time in the program.

So far, Stay the Course is proving successful. After six
semesters, 50 percent of students enrolled in the program had
completed community college or were still enrolled, compared to
24 percent for students not in the program.

Priest said the support from the Arlington Tomorrow
Foundation provides crucial support to the community.

“This is about changing the trajectory for individual students,
but also helping an entire generation pull itself out of poverty,” she
said. “When people see a family member getting an education,
they know what’s possible. It’s a game changer.”