Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) has awarded $7.5 million in grants to eight organizations supporting local education and workforce innovation, furthering efforts to help Texas students thrive in school, in a career, and in life.
The following organizations received grant awards: Aspire to Learn, AT LAST!, Café Momentum, The Commit Partnership – Dallas County Promise, Paul Quinn College, Texas Woman’s University, University of Texas at Arlington, and Year Up United. Funding will help these institutions implement or strengthen learning environments, programs, and/or student outcomes.
CFT is dedicated to building thriving communities, inspiring philanthropy, and fostering impactful giving. CFT believes that a healthy, vibrant community is one in which every individual feels valued and cared for, with access to education and meaningful workforce opportunities playing a critical role in our region’s growth and prosperity.
“Two out of three young adults in Dallas County don’t currently earn a living wage. The local nonprofits we’re funding are going above and beyond in innovative and new ways to equip students for success, ensuring the individuals they serve become strong competitors in a variety of job markets,” said Wayne White, CFT’s President & CEO. “Each grantee works to make higher education and workforce training accessible, helping more students secure in-demand careers and financial independence.”
CFT is committed to solving some of the biggest challenges in education through its statewide Educate Texas (EDTX) initiative. The EDTX team is uniquely positioned to recognize where vital support is needed in real-time to scale solutions within school districts, colleges, and universities that have the potential to accelerate a strong economic workforce across the state of Texas.
“Our vision is for all Texans to have the education they need to find a purposeful career and realize the big dreams they have for themselves, their families, and their communities. Partnering with these outstanding organizations furthers our mission to solve the biggest challenges facing our great state of Texas,” said Kerri Briggs, CFT’s nationally recognized education expert and Executive Director of Educate Texas. “Educate Texas originated from the mission of CFT to ensure communities thrive, and there is no better path to opportunity than a quality education that prepares you for life,” said Briggs.
The grantees serve students across North Texas and offer a variety of innovative learning opportunities. Aspire to Learn provides learning programs for students of all ages – from early childhood to adults pursuing careers. AT LAST! immerses impoverished elementary school-aged kids in educational resources during the home life hours with its “scholar-in-residence” program. Serving justice-involved youth, Café Momentum fosters hands-on opportunities to learn life and industry skills.
CFT’s grant to The Commit Partnership supports expansion of the Dallas County Promise, a coalition that helps individuals complete college and begin their careers. As the nation’s first and only Urban Work College, Paul Quinn College’s mission is to eradicate intergenerational poverty, reduce student debt, and ensure career readiness through its Corporate Work Program. Year Up United empowers young people to reach their full potential by offering a rigorous career and workplace readiness program that includes classroom instruction and access to an internship, with students earning a stipend throughout the program.
Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest public university primarily for women and is renowned for its contributions in the fields of healthcare, liberal arts, education, and more. University of Texas at Arlington is known as a comprehensive research, teaching, and public service institution, and CFT’s grant is supporting students who have been part of the foster care system or who have experienced homelessness, to help UTA increase retention for this student population.
