1,000 Volunteers Will "Walk for Success;" Offer Qualifying Students $6,000 Scholarships

Hoping to instill hope for the future, more than 1,000 parent, student and community volunteers including Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner will "Walk for Success" October 28 in the San Fernando/Pacoima area as they visit the homes of 2,500 students and their parents to inform them about scholarship opportunities and requirements.

Additionally, sixth-grade and kindergarten students and their families will be given an opportunity to sign a scholarship compact that establishes a commitment by the parents, the school and Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) Los Angeles to support the students' academic preparation for college.

FamilyCare administers Connections, a component of Project GRAD. Connections provides individual assistance, engages community resources, encourages family support and promotes high academic achievement for elementary and middle school students as part of the Project GRAD school reform program.

"We want to get parents involved in their children's education," said Connections Director Dr. Audry Sandoval.

Each student who graduates from San Fernando High School and completes program criteria will receive a scholarship of up to $6,000 from Project GRAD Los Angeles. Project GRAD partners with 15 schools impacting more than 25,000 children in the San Fernando School Cluster. The program introduces four programs in elementary and middle schools to enhance school instruction. Its mission is to prepare students for graduation from high school and success in college.

Walk for Success participants will survey students' families to identify needs that the school can address, to introduce parents to school expectations and to explain the many opportunities available at the school for both students and families. The ninth-grade scholarship agreement outlines the criteria students must complete in order to prepare for college and receive the a scholarship. The Project GRAD Compact for sixth-graders and kindergarteners establishes a commitment among parents, schools and Project GRAD to help students succeed in school and go onto college if desired.

Last year, More than 450 ninth graders and about 780 sixth graders signed scholarship agreements and compacts.

Funded by a mix of federal grants, school district contributions, and private donations, Project GRAD serves more than 25,000 students in the 15 schools of the San Fernando cluster. Project GRAD's goal is to raise the rate of San Fernando High Schools students attending four-year colleges.

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