The College Crusade of Rhode Island Recognized Nationally As a “Program That Works”

The Business-Higher Education Forum names The College Crusade one of 35 programs nationwide that are improving U.S. education

Providence, R.I., September 16, 2008 – The College Crusade of Rhode Island today announced it has been named by the Business-Higher Education Forum as one of 35 programs in the country that are improving U.S. education. The Business-Higher Education Forum (Washington, D.C.) is an organization of Fortune 500 CEOs, prominent college and university presidents, and foundation leaders working to advance innovative solutions to the nation’s education challenges in order to enhance U.S. competitiveness.

The College Crusade, the only Rhode Island organization selected, was chosen based on its contributions to improved college readiness and access and its demonstrated history of positively impacting educational outcomes. The Business-Higher Education Forum has featured The College Crusade in a new online resource center called StrategicEdSolutions.org , a site that provides strategies, tools, and successful programs to help corporations make strategic investments in education.

“We congratulate The College Crusade for its effectiveness and for the many community partners it has mobilized to address college readiness in Rhode Island,” said Jeanne Contardo, Ph.D., director of programs for the Business-Higher Education Forum. “The research indicates that the students in its program achieve higher graduation and college attendance rates than their peers in the state’s low-income urban school districts, which clearly shows it is a program that works. We consider The College Crusade to be a model program in the category of Student Opportunity and Access.”

“We are grateful to the Business-Higher Education Forum for recognizing our success in helping Rhode Island’s urban youth stay on the path to college,” said Paul E. Moran, CPA, acting chair for The College Crusade. “As many people now understand, opening a way for these young people to achieve a higher level of education is pivotal for the future economic well-being of our state and our nation. It is exciting to know there are other forward-thinking organizations and individuals ready to look closely at educational programs and to invest in what works.”

“By working with kids to achieve the goal of a college education and then helping make it affordable, The College Crusade performs an invaluable service for Rhode Island,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a former member of The College Crusade’s board of directors. “Our public education system continues to fail too many children. Higher education is becoming increasingly expensive. Programs like this help fill the gap until we have an administration that will get serious about American education.”

More information from the Business-Higher Education Forum about its “Programs That Work” announcement is available at: http://www.bhef.com/news/ses_release.asp

About The College Crusade of Rhode Island
The College Crusade of Rhode Island is the state’s most comprehensive college-readiness and scholarship program for middle school and high school students in low-income urban school districts. It serves approximately 3,800 students per year and rewards the efforts and achievements of financially eligible students with up to four years of college scholarships. From grade 6 through grade 12, Crusaders experience the steady, nurturing presence of caring adults and participate in activities that focus on academic enrichment, social and personal development, career awareness and exploration, and readiness for college. Since 2001, The College Crusade has awarded over $18 million in college scholarships to more than 2,500 graduates from Rhode Island high schools. For more information, please visit www.thecollegecrusade.org.

The College Crusade is a nonprofit organization funded by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP program, by the State of Rhode Island, and by private corporations, foundations, and individuals.