Today the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) Future Fund announces its inaugural grant award of $30,000 to the Charlottesville City Schools WALK Program.
Started in 2009, the Future Fund is a giving circle in CACF that allows people in their twenties, thirties and forties to leverage their charitable contribution to support Charlottesville non-profits. The Fund engages members in philanthropy, educates them with the work of local community organizations, and provides an opportunity to meet new people. In its first year, 96 members of the Future Fund contributed a total of $30,000, which constitutes the first grant award.
Through an online voting process the Future Fund chose Education as their grantmaking theme and received 24 proposals from nonprofit organizations in Charlottesville and Albemarle.
After a thorough review process by the Grants Committee, the membership voted online and chose the Charlottesville City Schools WALK program to receive the full reward. “The WALK program is an innovative solution to a complex and serious problem in our community,” said Jake Zarnegar, Co-Chair of the Future Fund Grants Committee.
According to the Charlottesville Daily Progress, Charlottesville High School’s dropout rate was higher than the state average in 2008. Last year, the graduation rate improved, thanks to the WALK program and the collaborative efforts of CHS staff.
WALK (Work Achieves Lasting Knowledge) began two years ago to provide ongoing assistance for students who are failing classes, missing credits for graduation, in danger of dropping out, or who may benefit from a more personalized learning environment.
Many students who may not succeed in a traditional classroom are transformed in this alternative setting. WALK offers an online, self-paced learning program combined with one-on-one support and flexible scheduling. This adaptive, effective approach makes it possible for students to WALK across the stage at graduation.
A grant from the CACF Future Fund will help fund additional services to prevent students from dropping out or delaying their graduation year. As Dr. Rosa Atkins, Superintendent of Charlottesville City Schools stated, "We are very grateful to receive this generous grant award and to partner with the members of the Future Fund in supporting our high school students. WALK has already made an important difference for students and their families, and we look forward to even more success in the years to come."
Recruitment for the second year of the Future Fund will begin on May 20 and will be open until August 25. Interested individuals can learn more at www.cacfonline.org or at www.facebook.com/futurefund.