Lumina Foundation for Education has awarded Project GRAD USA a $385,000 grant to develop a national Parent Engagement and Constituency Development Model in support of college access for low-income and traditionally underserved students across the country.

This grant will support the development and implementation of a national, scalable parent and community engagement model that addresses K-12 academic success, college preparation, and college access at the school, community, and national levels.  With support from the Lumina Foundation, Project GRAD strongly believes that parent and community involvement can grow from parent education and organizing community members into developing parent leaders who become powerful advocates in their children’s lives and in the community.

Both Project GRAD and Lumina Foundation share a deep commitment to expanding access to higher education nationwide.

Through this initiative, Project GRAD USA aims to impact approximately 100,000 parents and 132,000 students from economically disadvantaged and traditionally underrepresented communities across the country.

“Project GRAD is building on considerable experience in effectively engaging low-income parents,” said Martha D. Lamkin, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation.  “This grant will help parents reconnect with schools and learn the skills to be actively involved in encouraging and facilitating their children’s transition to postsecondary education.”

Project GRAD USA is a holistic, nonprofit education reform program that began in Houston in 1992 and currently serves 132,000 students in 211 of the nation’s most disadvantaged schools.  GRAD is the only Kindergarten through college program that is delivering research-based results on a significant, national scale.

Lumina Foundation for Education is a private, independent foundation and strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access and success in education beyond high school.