Warren County Philanthropic Partnership Supports Career and College Readiness

ANKENY CITY, IOWA (May 15, 2023) — The Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Warren County Philanthropic Partnership to provide support for students and families to make informed decisions about post high school education and training through school-based and virtual seminars and advising.

Warren County Philanthropic Partnership was formed as a community foundation to distribute Iowa’s County Endowment Fund money and support charitable giving in Warren County, Iowa. For more than a decade, the foundation has responsibly distributed charitable dollars through grants to community nonprofit organizations. Since our inception, we have awarded more than $1 million into the community for beneficial projects.

The Warren County Initiative will work to elevate FAFSA completion rates and expand understanding of post-high school career options for both college and career training students and families. The grant will support virtual and in-person seminars and advising as society emerges from an altered and interrupted planning schedule.

The growing economy and high need for a skilled and educated workforce mark and even greater need for students to graduate high school fully informed and ready to move forward into an education or training program. This project serves to address these challenges and help families overcome barriers to success.

“There is a lot of focus on expanding education and training beyond high school to meet the needs of today’s economy. A large part of gaining education and training after high school is having the ability to pay for that credential or degree. ICAN programs are unique in the respect that they are brought into individual communities and provide students with face-to-face assistance with the complex and often-times overwhelming financial aid process in the communities in which they reside,” explained Rob Miller, ICAN president. “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.”

This project will bring resources to school communities that help students connect with in-demand careers through assessments and connections with work-based learning opportunities, as well as exploring the education and training credentials needed for success.

The state of Iowa has set a goal for each senior class to reach a 60% completion rate for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.) As a key indicator for success post-graduation, FAFSA completion will be a key component as well. According to Complete College America, more than 60 percent of Iowa jobs currently require a degree or credential beyond high school.

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 locations in Ankeny, Cedar Rapids/Hiawatha, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, 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 Warren County Philanthropic Partnership

Warren County Philanthropic Partnership was formed as a community foundation to distribute Iowa’s County Endowment Fund money and support charitable giving in Warren County, Iowa. For more than a decade, the foundation has responsibly distributed charitable dollars through grants to community nonprofit organizations. Since our inception, we have awarded more than $1 million into the community for beneficial projects.