Lynchburg, Virginia's Beacon of Hope Announces $100,000 Challenge Gift

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Aug. 30, 2013 - PRLog -- Lynchburg’s Beacon of Hope announces a Challenge Gift in the amount of $100,000. The gift is named in honor of the donors, The Honorable Elliot and Rosel Schewel of Lynchburg, Virginia.  Rosel Schewel has been actively involved since the Beacon of Hope’s inception through the Dialogue on Race and Racism and currently serves on the Beacon’s Board of Directors.

Both Senator and Mrs. Schewel have been strong supporters of education throughout their careers.  “We are supporting Beacon of Hope because we feel it will benefit our entire community from its very core.  When all students have the opportunity, the tools, and the resources to earn an education beyond high school, our local workforce is improved, the families of the students are improved; and we know that a better educated citizenry results in better health.”

At the press conference on August 30, Beacon of Hope also announced its new Director of Development Joan Foster.  Foster brings years of non-profit experience and community relations to the position and looks forward to furthering this necessary mission to offer hope and opportunity to all Lynchburg students.

“One of the goals of Beacon of Hope is to change the culture of the community to a cradle to career one. Through Beacon of Hope our students will receive educational and job training opportunities which will enable them to maximize their potential. This gift goes a long-way to mobilizing support of the whole community; positive results are possible when a community comes together to invest in our most valuable asset…our children,” said Foster.

Laura Hamilton, Executive Director of Beacon of Hope said, “We have worked very hard to get our Future Centers operational in both Heritage and E.C. Glass High Schools.  This gift is a huge confirmation that we are on the right track and already making a significant impact with our Lynchburg City School students.”

Specifically, the Beacon of Hope aims:

To fund and maintain Future Centers at Heritage and E.C. Glass High Schools, which will serve as college-and-career-readiness hubs for students.
To provide college/technical school opportunities for those who would not be able to otherwise attend post-secondary education.
To provide scholarship dollars that fill the gap for many of Lynchburg City School’s students, making post-secondary education a cultural norm in Lynchburg.
To create a stream of qualified and educationally-prepared talent that will benefit the economic development community for years to come.
To ensure that all students who graduate from Lynchburg City Schools are prepared for the next step in life: four-year college or two-year college, technical, trade-school, military or industry certification.

More about Beacon of Hope

The Beacon of Hope’s mission is to encourage all Lynchburg City Public School (LCS) students to pursue their dreams, and provide them with the tools and resources to attain a post-secondary education. The Beacon of Hope will help equalize the playing field for all of Lynchburg’s children.  More students will have the chance to support their families better and to be a part of the life of our community.  The Beacon of Hope will ensure that more students will be prepared for the job market either through a four-year college education or through an education in technical fields. For more information, go to www.beaconofhopelynchburg.org.

Early Impacts in Future Centers’ First Year of Operations

o   Launched two future centers to serve as the hub for college and career readiness at Glass and Heritage High Schools. Each center is staffed with a full time director and volunteers who coordinate closely with LCS administration, guidance offices and teachers.

o   Reached 1,600 students in LCS high schools and middle schools.

o   Served 96% of seniors through financial applications, college applications and/or exploration of future aspirations.

o   Organized opportunity for more than 200 seniors at Heritage High School to complete at least one college application at the first College Appreciation Day (92% of eligible seniors).

o   Increased by 23% the number of seniors taking the SAT for the first time.

o   Increased by 20% the completion of early FAFSA (FreeApplicationforFederalStudentAid). Studies conclude there is a direct correlation between FAFSA applications and college attendance.

o   Achieved nearly 70% for the 2013 graduates of Heritage engaging in post-secondary education, up from 53% in 2011.

o    Attained record number of Glass seniors (60) enrolling in general studies and technical certification at Central Virginia Community College who did not have a post-graduation plan.

o   Registered dozens of athletes for NCAA Athlete Clearinghouse.

o    Created Partnerships with the following in the first year of operation: Lynchburg City Schools: Memorandum of Understanding; Dunbar, Sandusky and Linkhorne Middle Schools with programs that include College Prep Curriculum, Future Fridays, Map It Curriculum, Career Exploration, Reality Checks; Local Colleges and Universities; Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneur Program; IRON, a mentoring program for African American men at Glass; PRIDE Club for Alternative Education