Enhance Hamilton County Foundation Supports Career and College Readiness

ANKENY, IOWA (April 1, 2016) — The Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation to support college and career readiness programming as part of its Future Ready Iowa - Hamilton County Initiative.

The main focus of the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation is to improve the quality of life throughout Hamilton County by serving as a liaison between donor-driven charitable giving using endowment funds as the primary vehicle to establish and build a permanent source of assets to meet the needs of the county.

In its first year, the Future Ready Iowa - Hamilton County Initiative will bring college planning and financial aid information and resources into the Hamilton 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 hopes to serve more than 1,600 individuals including: students, parents, and educators through a partnership with the high schools in Hamilton County including South Hamilton High School, and Webster City High 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 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 Hamilton 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 10 locations in Ankeny, Cedar Rapids/Hiawatha, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Orange City, 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 Enhance Hamilton County Foundation
The main focus of the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation is to improve the quality of life throughout Hamilton County by serving as a liaison between donor-driven charitable giving using endowment funds as the primary vehicle to establish and build a permanent source of assets to meet the needs of the county.

The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation was formed in 2005 as an affiliate of the Greater Des Moines Foundation. The founding members of the organization had a vision to ensure that our communities’ charitable programs were supported now and in the future. We work together with many individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to establish endowment funds that improve the quality of life throughout Hamilton County and that will provide grant awards for years to come.

The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors who are active in our local communities.