Lavender Fund Acheives Goal
The Lavender Fund at A-B Tech was in jeopardy of ending unless matching funds of $125,000 were raised. Thanks to donors, and the generosity of an area couple the Lavender Fund will continue to offer scholarships and support to single parents enrolled.
The Lavender Fund was established in 2008 through the generosity of an anonymous donor and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. The program, managed by the A-B Tech Foundation provides scholarship opportunities to support single parents with children who want to go back to school to achieve the education needed to change their current economic situation.
In 2012, a donor stepped forward and pledged $125,000 to continue the program if The Foundation could raise $125,000 in matching funds. In spite of raising a significant amount from more than 100 individuals, including A-B Tech employees, the Wells Fargo Foundation, SSC Service Solutions, and United Way, the Lavender Fund found itself short of the amount needed. Donors Ken and Ida Brown pledge the remaining amount needed for the Lavender Match ensuring more students will continue to have access to opportunities provided by A-B Tech.
“The fund was started by a donor who recognized non-traditional students have needs other than tuition. The A-B Tech Foundation set up a case management model with funds to help with students’ emergency needs such as rent, utilities, or something basic as food,” said Sue Olesiuk, Interim Executive Director of College Advancement at A-B Tech. “Meeting our goal was due to the efforts of the Foundation Staff, and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.”
“Lavender has served 147 single parents with this scholarship, and the fall-to-fall retention/completion rate has remained between 88 and 93 percent since the program began,” said Liz Atkinson, A-B Tech’s Lavender Fund Advisor. The current national average rate for community colleges is 56 percent.
Another component of the grant supports the A-B Tech Student Business Incubator program for student entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. The fund provides $500 a month for students in the incubator program to offset business costs, and supports the Young Entrepreneurial Scholars summer day camp for middle and high school students; and entrepreneurial education opportunities for middle and high school students throughout the year.
Anyone interested the A-B Tech Foundation’s programs may contact Olesiuk at the A-B Tech Foundation at 398-7176 or [email protected]
