For Immediate Release
Contact: Kim Schmelz, Foundation Director
Phone: 608.822.2379
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: January 23, 2017
Southwest Tech Foundation Receives Gift from Grant County EDC
Fennimore, Wisconsin 1/23/2017 -The Southwest Tech Foundation received a $750 donation from the Grant County Economic Development Corp. to support the Charger Dream Fund. The Charger Dream Fund is a grant program to help low-income students weather financial emergencies. Students can apply for small grants to help cover expenses just beyond their means, which allows them to quickly return focus to their academic pursuits.
The Charger Dream Fund started was established by a grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. “The emergency grants we give are vital to keeping our most at-risk students enrolled during a time of crisis,” said Barb Tucker, Southwest Tech Director of College Effectiveness. “As a small, rural college, reliable transportation is critical to our students’ success. More than 63 percent of the grants awarded allowed students to make essential car repairs and receive transportation assistance. If our college hadn’t been able to meet the immediate needs of these students, I have no doubt that many of them would have dropped out.”
“We are proud to support the students, particularly those who sometime struggle with circumstances beyond their control,” said Ron Brisbois, Executive Director of Grant County Economic Development.
Grant County is home to 38% of Southwest Tech students and 60% are employed in the 5-county district upon graduation. The vision of the college is to be a preferred provider of education, source of talent and provider of employment in the region.
“We appreciate the strong support of the Grant County EDC and are grateful for the gift that will provide funding for students to remain in school and have a greater impact on the economic development in this area,” stated Holly Clendenen, Executive Director of the Southwest Tech Foundation.
For more information on how to support the Charger Dream Fund or other support funds and scholarship, contact the Southwest Tech Foundation at 608.822.2379.
