1. Helping You Get To College The ACCESS Program Helping You Get To College Since 1988

2. Helping You Get To College Need for College Access 2 yStudents from low-income families least likely to graduate from high school or pursue postsecondary education yStudents from families where no one has gone to college lack understanding about the college process and are overwhelmed by the amount of forms and paperwork z Need for College Access

3. Helping You Get To College ACCESS Mission 3 yinspiring the hope that a college education is attainable; ysupporting them in achieving the requirements for college acceptance; yguiding them through the college application process; and yassisting them in gaining the funds to attend college. z ACCESS Program helps public high school students go to college by:

4. Helping You Get To College Founding in 1988 4 zFounded by Frank Batten and Joshua P. Darden, Jr., two businessmen well- known for their civic and philanthrophic activities zCollaborated with the Norfolk Public Schools to open the program in the five high schools in this urban school division

5. Helping You Get To College Program Expansion 5 zIn 1990, expanded to the three high schools in Portsmouth Public Schools demographically, almost identical to Norfolk except a smaller school division and we served those eight urban high schools until 1999 zIn 1999, ACCESS expanded to two of the 11 high schools in Virginia Beach because of a challenge from an ACCESS donor. zWe were then serving 10 schools with programming for students in grades 9-12.

6. Helping You Get To College Program Expansion 6 zIn 1999, we were awarded a planning grant from TERI to study the feasibility of adopting the model of a centralized college access center as a means to serve students in the other 18 public high schools in South Hampton Roads. zResults concluded that a center approach would not work because of lack of mass transit system; therefore, we considered the option of a roving ACCESS advisor. zIn 2000, we deployed an expansion model to serve seniors only one day per week in two high schools in Chesapeake and the impact was tremendous. zResults from this model would fuel our method of expansion for the next few years.

7. Helping You Get To College Strategic Planning 7 zIn 2000, the Board realized that we had never properly planned for our future zCompleted a Strategic Plan 2001-2011 calling for the following five objectives: yInstill hope and motivation in public high school students of South Hampton Roads to attain a college education yOffer a quality college access advisory program to students of South Hampton Roads yProvide sufficient last-dollar awards and other support to ACCESS Scholars yExpand the ACCESS program to serve the entire South Hampton Roads region yAssure long-term financial health and sound governance of the Foundation

8. Helping You Get To College Program Expansion 8 zSuccess of Chesapeake pilot project of services one day per week for seniors only gave the Foundation a model that met our goal to dramatically impact the college-going rate while greatly reducing operating expenses. 80/20 rule zCommunity champion offered a $1:$2 match of every contribution to the campaign to permanently fund this expansion model for the six schools in Chesapeake. zFunding goal was met and we were then serving 14 schools by 2002

9. Helping You Get To College Program Expansion 9 zIn 2003, one of our founders donated $11.2 million to endow the one-day program in each of the unserved high schools. zIn 2005, we completed our 10 year plan six years early! zIn 2005, Old Dominion University conducted an evaluation of our program zIn September 2006, we adjusted our program based on evaluation results and now offer our program two days per week serving juniors and seniors in 14 schools and our program three days per week serving 9 – 12 graders in 14 schools.

10. Helping You Get To College Summary 10 zThere was a demonstrated need among the public high schools zThere was a champion of the cause in each expansion phase or city zThere were one or more financial champions to step up to the plate with funding zThe Board of Directors or Trustees had total buy in to the concept

11. Helping You Get To College Program Accomplishments 11 zOver 18 years: 1988 - 2006 y Number of students assisted 50,000 y Total financial aid for students $150 million y Last-dollar awards granted $ 3.4 million zLast school year: 2005 - 2006 y Number of students assisted 11,500 Total financial aid for students $ 22 million Last-dollar awards granted $ 265,000