Media Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Glenda Price, PHD, President
Email: gprice@dpsfdn.org
Phone: (313) 873-3348
Website: www.dpsfdn.org
Detroit, MI., September 15, 2015 – Effective today the Detroit College Promise becomes a program of the Detroit Public Schools Foundation. The consolidation of the efforts of both organizations to strengthen the schools, and thus the community, will increase efficiency and effectiveness. Through this collaborative effort, Detroit Public Schools students will have an opportunity to receive support for their education from pre-K through college.
Since its inception the Detroit College Promise has awarded in excess of $250,000 in scholarships to 648 graduates. The Detroit Promise is modeled on the successful Kalamazoo Promise in which every DPS graduate, who attends a Michigan public College or University, is eligible for some level of scholarship support. As with the Kalamazoo Promise, the Detroit College Promise’s mission is to motivate students to make education a priority. Additionally, the program is designed to help people believe in the public schools, and to see a brighter future for the city.
Dr. Nat Pernick, Founder of the Detroit College Promise, states that he began the program because he saw a need, and no one else was fulfilling that need. In making the decision to join the DPS Foundation, Dr. Pernick notes “We wanted a group that was focused on strengthening the Detroit Public Schools directly, and was sustainable. We found that in the Foundation.” He further noted, “Our ultimate goal is to restore the historic greatness of the Detroit Public Schools.”
The mission of the Detroit Public Schools Foundation is to create and enhance educational opportunities for DPS students. Dr. Glenda Price, President of the Foundation, states that one of the Foundation’s goals is to provide the resources to support the delivery of a holistic education to every student. “Joining with the Detroit College Promise offers an additional opportunity to achieve this goal”, says Dr. Price. “We look forward to ensuring that the mission of the Detroit College Promise, as well as that of the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, is fulfilled. We feel certain that the public will join us in helping to make it so.”
The Detroit Public Schools Foundation is an independent 501©3 organization working to improve public education in the city of Detroit. Additional information about the Foundation may be found at the website, www.dpsfdn.org. Additional information about the Detroit College promise can be found at www.DetroitCollegePromise.org