50th Higher Education Institution Joins City Year's "Give a Year" Partnership Program

BOSTON, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, City Year announced a landmark partnership with the 50th higher education institution to join its successful "give a year" Partnership program. Colleges and universities participating in the program unite with City Year to invest in the next generation of civic leaders by providing scholarships to City Year alumni and staff – $2 million annually – and by making service integral to students' educational experience. 

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City Year is a national, education-focused nonprofit whose diverse teams of young adults commit a year of full-time service to keep public school students at high-need schools in school and on track to graduation.

With the announcement today that American University and Northeastern University College of Professional Studies have become "give a year" Partners, a total of 50 institutions are part of the first-of-its-kind program to encourage undergraduate students to give a year of full-time service, and in return, receive scholarship opportunities, among other benefits, at one of the "give a year" Partner schools.

"City Year and our 'give a year' Partners are committed to developing service-minded leaders who are prepared to act as change agents on pressing public issues," said Michael Brown, CEO and Co-Founder of City Year. "Our 50 partner schools not only recognize the importance of national service to our communities, but also know that young people who have committed a year or more to service will add tremendous value to their campuses and to their leadership development missions."

"The Bentley students who dedicate a year of service with City Year and earn a 'give a year' scholarship return transformed in important ways, adding valuable perspective to classroom and dormitory conversations and serving as leaders on the Bentley campus," said Gloria Larson, President of Bentley University, which launched the first "give a year" Partnership with City Year in 2008.  "We're proud to have helped found this program and pleased that so many other institutions have joined."

More than half of City Year alumni begin or return to graduate studies or college immediately after their year of service. The "give a year" Partnership program is designed to accelerate the careers of City Year alumni, help them enroll at their top-choice universities, and put them on a path to land the job they are seeking.

"Partnering with City Year is exactly the right way to advance our mission and dedication to educational equity for students in Washington, DC," says Sarah Irvine Belson, Dean of American University's School of Education, Teaching & Health.  "Our school is committed to working collaboratively with local schools, government agencies and community organizations to provide equitable access to a high quality education for children and families in Washington, DC's most high-need communities. Over the past 10 years, with internal grants, private donations, and federal funding from the US Department of Education and the National Science Foundation, SETH has worked with new and experienced teachers to increase the educational outcomes for DC students.  City Year@AU is a perfect conduit to strengthen our work in the city."

The "give a year" Partnership program is composed of a diverse group of colleges and universities throughout the United States, including Bentley University, The Heller School at Brandeis University, Boston University, Duke University, Louisiana State University, New York University, and Washington University in St. Louis. For a complete list of "give a year" Partner schools, visit City Year's alumni website.

"My City Year experience fueled my desire to continue my education and pursue a Masters in Social Work," said Maddie Carson, City Year alum '09 & '10, who served the students of the Lucy Stone School and Young Achievers Science and Mathematics School during her two years in Boston.  "City Year has given me access to an exclusive scholarship at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work in St. Louis and now I get to apply my hands-on experience with the theoretical and psychological approach of social work."

About City Year

City Year is an education-focused, nonprofit organization founded in 1988 that partners with public schools to provide full-time targeted intervention for students most at risk of dropping out.  In more than 20 communities across the United States and through two international affiliates, our teams of young AmeriCorps leaders support students by focusing on attendance, behavior, and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring, and after school programs that keep kids in school and on track to graduate.

SOURCE City Year