SPOKANE, Wash. — Thousands of low-income students and families in Eastern Washington are losing access to a vital college support program. The College Success Foundation will close its Spokane office due to budget cuts from Olympia.
“Very devastating that we are taking a huge portion of the services in our schools out of this community,” said Dr. Lori Hunt, Chair for the College Success Foundation.
The organization is rooted in helping low-income and first-generation students get a college education.
“Every student, regardless of income, regardless of race, ethnicity, first generation, every student deserves to reach their full potential,” said Shannon Demant, Executive Director of the College Success Foundation.
The statewide program has lost 80% of its funding, forcing the closure of its Spokane office. This news came as a shock to those who work there.
“To say that it’s not hard would be an understatement. It’s very challenging,” Demant said.
The foundation’s work begins in middle school and continues through college, providing support many students thought they could never access.
“It’s those personal connections with the staff that make a huge difference for our students,” Hunt explained.
More than 10,000 students have been helped through the direct services offered at the CSF Spokane office, not including workshops or outreach programs.
“To have that pulled from our schools, it’s an additional resource that we were able to build within the system to help our students be successful and see the just the beauty and the benefit that each of them has to bring into our community. So it’s a huge loss,” Dr. Hunt said.
Dr. Hunt warns this could impact not just students but also the local economy and Washington’s future workforce: “Every dollar invested in a case of student, the yield is 1,500% a return through reduced incarceration, social services demand and increased tax income.”
The organization is working with private donors and philanthropic organizations to find a way to continue its work in Spokane.
“It’s very challenging. But we remain hopeful that there’s more to come,” Demant said.
The organization, located at Spokane Falls Community College, will shut its doors on July 9.
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