ATLANTA & PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and University of Phoenix believe education is the foundation for building stronger families and communities. Their partnership provides programs to prepare America’s youth for college in order to create positive futures. Many adults also pursue higher education goals to provide for their family and their future, and today thirty-one BGCA staff, parents and alumni are receiving this chance.
Thirty-one recipients nationwide received full-tuition scholarships from BGCA and University of Phoenix to complete an undergraduate or master’s degree. Chosen from a pool of 200 applicants, this year’s class joins 146 recipients awarded over the past five years.
“Thanks to University of Phoenix, we are pleased to once again have this wonderful opportunity to reward alumni, parents and staff—who devote so much time and effort to helping our young people with their education goals—with the chance to pursue their career goals and continue to be strong, educational role models for our Club kids and teens,” said Dr. Damon Williams, chief educational and youth development officer for BGCA.
University of Phoenix is dedicated to increasing access to education for low-income and underrepresented students who may not have a pathway in traditional educational structures. By addressing education and workforce needs in the communities it serves, University of Phoenix prepares its graduates for professional growth.
“For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America have built a virtuous community of service, and it is a high honor to welcome working adults from this community to career-relevant degree programs at University of Phoenix,” said Timothy P. Slottow, president of University of Phoenix. “As we fulfill our mission at the University, our alumni, staff and faculty prize the special opportunities to serve and make possible the Clubs’ youth programs across the country.”
“During my four years as a member of the board of governors of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, I have seen the impact BGCA has had on millions of young people,” said Greg Cappelli, chief executive officer of Apollo Education Group. “The dedication the Clubs have to helping boys and girls prepare for college is amazing. I am honored that Apollo Education Group through the University of Phoenix Foundation supports the hard working staff, parents and alumni of BGCA as they pursue their academic careers."
In addition to the scholarship program with University of Phoenix, BGCA partners with University of Phoenix Foundation to provide BE GREAT: Graduate. Aimed at reducing college dropout rates, this program identifies at-risk youth through early warning signs and increases their engagement at Boys & Girls Clubs. Now in its fifth year, the partnership helps young people at 10 Clubs around the nation develop the academic, behavioral and social skills needed to be successful.
For more information about University of Phoenix scholarship opportunities, including scholarship terms and conditions, visit www.phoenix.edu/scholarships. For more information on Boys & Girls Clubs of America and their programs and impact on young lives across the country, visit GreatFutures.org.
Apollo Education Group, parent company of University of Phoenix, is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen by serving communities and individuals across the country. Through its corporate social responsibility efforts, Apollo Education Group focuses on giving in the areas of education, workforce readiness and sustainability. To learn more about the impact of these efforts, please visit http://csrreport.apollo.edu/.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,000 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native American lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.
