Posted February 16, 2017 in Articles
CSU has earned national recognition for its pioneering efforts to improve educational opportunity for foster care youth – one of the least likely populations to attend college. Those efforts received a significant boost with a $1 million gift by local philanthropists Barbara and Frank Sullivan.
The funds are being used to create The Pratt Center – Fostering Success and Leadership, which will provide greatly expanded academic support services and personal and professional development activities for the more than 70 CSU students who have exited foster care.
The center builds on the highly successful Sullivan/Deckard Scholars Opportunity program which provides scholarships for tuition and year-round living expenses for foster care students, guides them through the college application process, helps them transition to CSU, and provides comprehensive mentoring and support services as well as opportunities to participate in civic engagement/Engaged Learning experiences.
The Scholars Opportunity program was created in 2015 through a $2.3 million gift from the Sullivans and local philanthropists Jenniffer and Daryl Deckard. This additional $1 million from the Sullivans will enhance CSU’s ability to reach and support foster youth.
Barbara Sullivan serves on the board of directors for Fill This House, an organization that provides household goods to newly emancipated young adults. Frank Sullivan is chairman and chief executive officer of RPM International, Inc., a Medina-based holdings company for manufacturers of industrial and consumer building materials.