These scholarships will help ensure more students in Arizona have the opportunity to pursue and complete a postsecondary degree, including Latino and first-generation students.”

Paul J. Luna, Helios Education Foundation president and CEO

The Helios Education Foundation has awarded a grant to the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation to fulfill a dollar-for-dollar U.S. Department of Education Title V Endowment Match Challenge, resulting in $1.2 million in newly endowed scholarships funds.

The effort began with three Maricopa Community Colleges — Estrella Mountain Community College, 3000 N. Dysart Road in Avondale, Glendale Community College, 6000 W. Olive Ave. in Glendale and GateWay Community College in Phoenix.

The three participated in an endowment challenge in their DOE Title V grants with the goal of raising the maximum match before the five-year Title V grant programs ended.

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The Helios Foundation stepped in with a matching grant to help achieve the DOE match.

“Helios Education Foundation is excited to partner with the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation to establish the Hispanic Serving Institutions Scholarship Fund,” President and CEO Paul J. Luna stated in a news release. “These scholarships will help ensure more students in Arizona have the opportunity to pursue and complete a postsecondary degree, including Latino and first-generation students.”

Between the Helios grant and local fundraising, the Title V Endowment Challenge successfully achieved a match of $640,000, resulting in endowed funds totaling more than $1.2 million.

Revenue generated by the endowments will provide annual support for scholarships and programs targeting low-income and underserved students.

“More than 115 students will benefit each year directly as a result of these endowed funds,” Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation interim president and CEO Brian Spicker stated. “It’s exciting to see how our longstanding partnership with Helios has grown over the years from a $15,000 Heroes of Education sponsorship in 2007 to an investment of nearly $5.8 million throughout multiple scholarships and programs. Their generous dollar-for-dollar match marks a new chapter in their relationship with both the Foundation and the Maricopa County Community College District, and builds a lasting legacy creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education.”

For more information, email judy.sanchez@domail.maricopa.edu or call 480-731-8739.