Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Supports Career and College Readiness

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (March 13, 2014) — The Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, in partnership with the Linn County Board of Supervisors. Provided through the Linn County Fund, this grant will help support college and career readiness programming as part of its Linn County Career and College Readiness Initiative.

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation improves the quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors to the causes they care about, strengthening nonprofits through grants and support, and providing leadership on community issues that involve charitable giving.

In its second year, the Linn County Career and College Readiness Initiative will expand the career and college preparation education taking place in the high schools within rural Linn County communities to inform high school students and parents of the steps required to achieve their educational goals. With services provided through ICAN, the initiative will serve more than 5,600 individuals including: students, parents, and educators through a partnership with the high schools in rural Linn County including Alburnett Jr-Sr High School, Center Point-Urbana High School, Central City High School, Lisbon High School, Mount Vernon High School, North Linn Senior High School and Springville Secondary School.

“ICAN programs are unique in the respect that they are brought into individual communities and provide face-to-face presentations and one-on-one advice to students in the communities in which they reside,” explained Rob Miller, ICAN executive director. “This grant enables ICAN to bring vital programming to students and parents and help build the connections between interests and career pathways. For some families traveling for assistance isn’t possible and the community foundation grant allows ICAN to continue serving these families where they live.”

In an effort to empower students with the understanding that higher education is accessible to everyone, the Linn County Initiative is part of a wider effort by ICAN to reach every middle- and high school and every student in Iowa to better prepare students for college and the workforce. According to Complete College America, more than 60 percent of Iowa jobs will require a college education by 2020.

“Education and training beyond high school is necessity for long-term success in the ever-changing job market,” explained Miller. “This grant enables ICAN to continue meeting the needs of Iowa students.”

ICAN, a nonprofit organization providing career and college readiness planning to students and parents in Iowa, has been educating and empowering Iowa’s future workforce since 1998.

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About ICAN

The Iowa College Access Network is a nonprofit, educational organization. ICAN is the College Access Network for Iowa, and a member of the National College Access Network (NCAN). ICAN has eight locations in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Orange City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo, which provide information and support to students and their families as they plan their postsecondary education and apply for financial aid. All ICAN programs and services are provided without charge. For more information about ICAN, call (877) 272-4692 or visit www.ICANsucceed.org

About the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation was originally established in 1949 as the Community Welfare Foundation of Cedar Rapids. In 1992, it became a public organization and changed its name to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. For more information visit www.gcrcf.org.