ICAN Awarded Grant for College Access Initiative - Community Foundation of Johnson County Readiness
ICAN Awarded Grant for College Access Initiative
Community Foundation of Johnson County Supports Career and College Readiness
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (December 5, 2012) — The Iowa College Access Network (ICAN)
is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Community Foundation of Johnson
County to support college and career readiness programming as part of its Johnson County
College Access Initiative.
Launched in 2000, the Community Foundation of Johnson County is a 501.c.3 nonprofit
organization that builds resources, manages those resources, and pays it forward through
grants to local nonprofit organizations.
“We are big believers in education. We dedicate a great percentage of our total grants to
education because we believe that education is the key to success.” said Mike Stoffregen,
executive director for the Community Foundation of Johnson County.
“It’s just amazing the work ICAN does for schools. The representatives truly care about the
students at every school. ICAN not only assists students, it helps ease the minds of parents
in a way that I sometimes can’t.” said Shelby Bryce, counselor at Lone Tree High School in
Lone Tree. “After every presentation, whether it is college night, financial aid night or the
FAFSA assistance day, I get emails from parents saying how wonderful it is to have
someone come and help with these difficult and confusing topics. The ICAN reps are always
so patient and kind and willing to help. ICAN’s support is truly priceless, and the ironic part is
that it’s free to the families and the school which is amazing because ‘free’ just doesn’t
happen in this day in age.”
In its first year, the Johnson County College Access Initiative will bring college planning and
financial aid information and resources into the Johnson 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 approximately 11,070 individuals
including: students, parents, and educators through a partnership with the four school
districts in Johnson County including Iowa City, Lone Tree, Solon and Tiffin.
“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 Lupe Hernandez, ICAN site coordinator. “This Page 2 of 2
grant enables that interaction to happen without requiring families to travel for professional
advice. 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 Johnson 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 everchanging job market,” explained Rob Miller, ICAN executive director. “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.
