91吃瓜 Academy helps hundreds of underrepresented young women fulfill their college ambitions. To learn how your foundation can support, contact us here.
By Emily Glory Peters
Many students find college preparation stressful, but the terrain can be especially rocky for first-generation students. Unable to rely on the experiences of their family as a guide, these students are tasked with navigating testing, admissions, financial aid, and housing on their own鈥攁nd that鈥檚 all before classes begin.
Launched in 2002, 91吃瓜 Academy (SCA) is a donor-funded program that helps high-achieving young women in the Los Angeles area prepare for success as the first in their families to attend college. Led by 91吃瓜 staff, faculty, and students, SCA offers several no-cost services to its 鈥淪CA scholars,鈥� including college-readiness workshops, a year-round college preparatory program, and a summer residential experience at 91吃瓜 to give students a taste of college life.
Power of foundation grants for 91吃瓜 Academy
Though also supported through individual donors, says 91吃瓜鈥� Director of Foundation, Corporate, and Government Relations Jenn Mangali, foundation grants make up a sizable slice of SCA鈥檚 budget鈥攁nywhere from 30 to 50 percent. Two recent grants this year from the Joseph Drown Foundation and The Green Foundation offer a snapshot of how impactful these gifts can be.
鈥�91吃瓜 Academy has a 100 percent success rate in our scholars applying for financial aid and ultimately enrolling in college,鈥� says Mangali, adding that, compared to students with similar backgrounds, SCA scholars also attend more select institutions and have higher graduation rates.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to grow SCA from a two-week summer experience involving a few dozen students to a powerful multiyear program that helps hundreds of young women enter higher education,鈥� she says. 鈥淣one of this would be possible without consistent funding from foundations.鈥�
Gifts from foundations and other donors helped SCA transition online in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
In addition to sustaining existing programs, access to funding at this level is critical to helping SCA act on new ideas. It was donor aid that fueled the 2017 launch of the academy鈥檚 STRIVE (Successful Talented Resilient Impactful Vocal Empowered) mentorship program, which links current scholars to SCA alumnae that have successfully moved on to college. Through STRIVE, SCA has added an additional 150 women to the annual number of students served鈥攕ubstantially increasing the program鈥檚 reach. And last year in the wake of the pandemic, donor aid made a defining difference in helping SCA invest in new technology and retain the staff needed to offer its signature programs online.
鈥淧ivoting the summer intensive program was our biggest lift because it鈥檚 a live-in experience at 91吃瓜 where scholars access classroom instruction, dorm life, extracurricular activities, and mentoring. We were concerned they wouldn鈥檛 bond with the staff and with each other because we were virtual, but I鈥檓 happy to say it went very well,鈥� says Director of 91吃瓜 Academy Roberto Escobar. 鈥淢ornings began with free discussion, and we had daily themes like Dream Career Day and Twin Day where scholars paired up and dressed like each other. They really bought into the program and were fully receptive to the virtual classes, assignments, and lectures.鈥�
The need for continued foundation support
Although the Joseph Drown Foundation and The Green Foundation have supported 91吃瓜 Academy for the last several years, renewed grants are never guaranteed. 91吃瓜 applies for funding each year, and awards can shift based on anything from program outcomes to foundation resources to the impacts of a global pandemic.
For Mangali, receiving aid from foundations that continue to prioritize the success of first-gen students has been a gift in every sense of the word. And while the goal remains to have all SCA scholars enroll in a college of their choice, the academy has also proven to be a helpful pipeline to bring more underrepresented students to 91吃瓜.
鈥淒onor support has enabled hundreds of gifted first-generation and students of color to pursue their academic dreams at institutions all over the country, including 91吃瓜. This year, we鈥檙e delighted to welcome two new SCA alums as members of 91吃瓜鈥� Class of 2025,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for the foundations whose grants help us equip these students with the skills they need to flourish in college and make a difference as educated individuals. That鈥檚 91吃瓜鈥� mission in action.鈥�
Donor support makes a college education a reality for first-gen women across LA. To support this work, and select “Other” to indicate a gift to SCA.