$25,000 Community Scholarship for Fifth Graders in Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Astoria, and Woodside Houses

Community togetherness is the theme of Family Day, and the residents of Queensbridge Houses had a special announcement at their August 20 Family Day that furthered the sense of unity: Rise Light & Power announced a new community college savings scholarship for NYC Kids Rise fifth grade students who live in Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Astoria, and Woodside Houses. 

Thanks to the community scholarship, the 198 fifth graders have an additional $126 in their NYC Scholarship Accounts – a total of $25,000 invested in their educational future.  

The fifth graders were part of the pilot class in the Save for College Program, which began in 2017 at 39 schools in Community School District 30. The students received $100 in a NY 529 plan, with opportunities to earn more money for their college funds and for their parents to contribute. There are nearly 1,000 students at the participating Queens developments with an NYC Scholarship Account and nearly $400,000 in financial assets have been accumulated in their college and career accounts to date. 

As of the 2021-2022 school year, the Save for College Program expanded citywide to reach every public school kindergartener each year going forward. 

“For our children to achieve their full educational potential, they need to know that the people around them have their back,” said Corinne Woods-Haynes, President of the Queensbridge Houses Resident Association. “It’s been so rewarding to be part of building the Save for College Program at Queensbridge Houses. I salute the 1,000 students across Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Astoria, and Woodside Houses that now have NYC Scholarship Accounts for their educational futures. Thank you to Rise Light & Power for their additional investment in the NYC Scholarship Accounts for our fifth graders across the four developments. Dollars add up and it takes all of us!” 

The Rise Light & Power Community Scholarship is the latest contribution to the NYC Scholarship Accounts of participating fifth graders. Community Scholarships allow local organizations, businesses, neighbors, and other institutions to add to the children’s educational savings, which can meaningfully reduce the amount of student debt families take on and increase long-term wealth building and combat trends that have contributed to wealth inequality and the racial wealth gap. 

Read more about the Rise Light & Power Community Scholarship and NYC Kids Rise at: https://nyckidsrise.org/news/rise-light-community-scholarship/. 

Caption for featured photo:
Pictured from left to right: Debra-Ellen Glickstein, Founding Executive Director, NYC Kids RISE; Corinne Woods-Haynes, President, Queensbridge Houses Resident Association; Eva Trimble, Chief Operating Officer, NYCHA; Dinneal Mcleod with her daughter Winfrey, a rising P.S. 111Q fifth grader; Wil Fisher, Manager of External Affairs at Rise Light & Power; Rachel Marcus, with her daughter Faith, a rising P.S. 111Q fifth grader; Ebony Young, Deputy Queens Borough President; and Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, Senior Pastor, Center of Hope International and co-founder and CEO of Urban Upbound 

Photo credit: Jonathan Patkowski for NYC Kids RISE