FAFSA Assistance Program Expands Across Iowa
FAFSA assistance program expands across Iowa
Thirty-one locations in 2012 to help students and parents complete financial aid forms.
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – January 3, 2012 – College-bound Iowa students won’t find
themselves fighting snowstorms or traveling great distances to find financial aid assistance in
February. Students and parents seeking help with financial aid forms will find it closer to home,
due to the expansion of Iowa College Goal Sunday to 31 locations in 26 communities
throughout the state next year.
Volunteers for Iowa College Goal Sunday will help students and their families fill out and file the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of a national program that helps
students qualify for federal financial aid. The FAFSA, which is a free form available in paper and
electronic formats from the U.S. Department of Education, is the first step in the qualification
process.
“This program is great for anyone who has questions or wants free help with the FAFSA,” said
Jennifer Coffman, state coordinator of the 2012 Iowa College Goal Sunday. “It’s especially
helpful for students who are low-income or are in the first generation of their families to attend
college, or both.”
In 2012, Iowa College Goal Sunday will be a week-long event running from Saturday, February
18 through Sunday, February 26 in Calmar, Cedar Rapids, Centerville, Clarinda, Clinton,
Council Bluffs, Creston, Davenport, Denison, Des Moines, Dubuque, Emmetsburg, Fort Dodge,
Iowa City, Marshalltown, Mason City, Monticello, Muscatine, Ottumwa, Perry, Sheldon, Sioux City, Storm Lake, Waterloo, Waverly and West Burlington. There is no cost for
FAFSA assistance received at a College Goal Sunday location.
The Iowa College Goal Sunday planning committee has secured specific dates
during Iowa College Goal Sunday week for each site and is beginning its recruitment of
volunteers to assist families at each event. “The success of the College Goal Sunday program is
due, in large part, to the volunteers. In 2011, we had professionals from college financial aid
offices, local banking institutions, and state and private education organizations represented in
our volunteers,” said Coffman. “Their knowledge and expertise made all the difference for the
more than 600 families that received assistance and we’ll look to them again this year.”
For more information, please visit the Iowa College Goal Sunday Web site, www.IowaCGS.org.
Details are also available from the Iowa College Access Network by calling (877) 272-4692 or emailing CGS@ICANsucceed.org.
Iowa College Goal Sunday is part of the national College Goal Sunday program, currently
managed by the YMCA of the USA and held in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The
program is funded by grants from Lumina Foundation for Education. A number of Iowa
organizations are partnering to plan and implement Iowa College Goal Sunday, including ACT,
Inc., Des Moines Schools GEAR UP program, GEAR UP Iowa, Iowa Association of Student
Financial Aid Administrators, Iowa College Access Network, Iowa College Student Aid
Commission, Iowa Dollars for Scholars, Iowa School Counselor Association, Iowa Public
Television, Scott County Family YMCA, Iowa TRIO programs, Veridian Credit Union, Wells
Fargo and the YMCA of the USA.