A pair of area nonprofits have earned $100,000 Good Neighbor Grants from Madison nonprofit Ascendium Education Group. Literacy Network and Operation Fresh Start (OFS) both received $100,000 to increase education and workforce training outcomes for learners from low-income backgrounds. In addition to these local organizations, Ascendium awarded grants totaling $1 million.
Literacy Network will use the funds to expand its student services department to enroll learners and provide mentorship and assistance in overcoming program participation barriers, including transportation, child care, and housing. OFS will use the funding to expand education, mentoring, and employment training for people ages 16–24. OFS programs help young adults overcome barriers, earn a high school diploma and driver’s license, and achieve living-wage, career-track employment.
Ascendium, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the nation’s largest federal student loan guarantor, a postsecondary education philanthropy, and a provider of solutions to support academic achievement, long-term financial wellness, and student loan repayment success.
