Grants Ensure Lavender Fund Continues

A-B Tech Community College has received $110,200 in grants and private gifts to continue funding for the Lavender Fund Project at the College.

The Lavender Fund was established at A-B Tech in 2008 through the generosity of an anonymous donor and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. The program is managed by the A-B Tech Foundation, and provides scholarship opportunities to support low- to moderate-income single parents to help them gain the education and confidence necessary to obtain a living-wage job and achieve financial stability. A-B Tech currently serves more than 40 students a year through this program.

Grants were received from TD Bank, First Citizens Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Trinity Episcopal Church and the Tabitha Foundation—totaling $42,200. Private gifts totaling $65,000 were provided by generous donors.

Lavender provides a tuition scholarship to qualified applicants: single parents with primary custody of children under 18 years of age. More importantly, Lavender participants are provided a Lavender-dedicated support advisor who serves as an academic and life coach, utilizing a case management approach.

The Lavender Fund has a retention/completion rate of almost 90% compared to the average national community college retention/completion rate of 56%. Only 33% of all student parents obtain a certificate or degree within six years of enrollment, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research’s 2014 report.

Jaherya Figueroa
Jaherya Figueroa

Jaherya Figueroa started attending classes at A-B Tech in 2009, but had to have major surgery causing her to drop out of school. After the surgeries, Jaherya saw how hard it was to live in poverty. “I have a daughter. I said, whoa, this is not going to work when you go on disability; I just wanted to give myself the chance to make it,” she said.

As soon as she was able, she re-entered A-B Tech and started studying the Digital Media Technology program, with help from a Lavender Fund Scholarship.

“A-B Tech has a great digital media program where you can pretty much be your own boss. I’m trying to give my daughter and myself a chance. I am almost done and really excited. Looking to go ahead and start working and get off of disability,” Jaherya said.

After graduating Jaherya plans to transfer to UNC Asheville, to continue in their new media program.

If you’re interested in learning how you can help support the Lavender Fund Project or know someone who could benefit from the Project, please contact the A-B Tech Foundation, or visit www.abtech.edu.