$250,000 Awarded to Be A Leader Foundation; the single largest one-year unrestricted grant that Be A Leader has received in its history.
BE A LEADER FOUNDATION SHOCKED AND HONORED TO BE A RECIPIENT OF THE “NOW IS THE MOMENT” GRANT COMMEMORATION FROM VIRGINIA G. PIPER CHARITABLE TRUST
Phoenix, Arizona (September 14, 2021) – The Be A Leader Foundation was invited to a “meet and greet” of the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Trustees on Monday, September 13th, 2021. When President and CEO of Be A Leader Foundation, Melissa Trujillo arrived, she was greeted not only by a Trustee of the organization, but was shocked and speechless to be presented with a $250,000.00 check. “We are extremely grateful and honored to have been selected. This is a true testament to the hard work and perseverance of the Be A Leader staff and volunteers, past and present, that are supporting our student’s educational dreams,” says Melissa Trujillo. “This investment in our work will have a long-term impact in the lives of our students.”
Yesterday, Be A Leader Foundation was just one of the 71 Arizona nonprofit recipients to be awarded a total of $123 million dollars in the largest single-day grant initiative in Arizona history.
The past 15 months of this pandemic has been challenging, yet Be A Leader has continued to work towards breaking down the barriers for students to pursue a postsecondary education. Giving trends shifted away from our organization to meet the immediate needs of the during this crisis. The “Now is the Moment” grant a much needed investment in Be A Leader’s work and was welcomed and appreciated by the organization.
About Be A Leader Foundation
The Be A Leader Foundation’s (BALF) mission is to increase the number of students who are prepared for and succeed in higher education by empowering them with tools, leadership skills and consistent support, transforming lives and creating life-long opportunities. Be A Leader started in 2008 with an 8th grade program serving only 32 students. Their PIPELINE of college-access programs grew alongside its students and now includes eight, college-access programs and a Network for School Improvement impacting well over 14,000 students each year from middle school through college. The programs provide students and families with critical information and support during the often daunting college and scholarship application process. Be A Leader’s goal is simple – every participant attains a college degree. As of November of 2020, 78% of all Be A Leader students have enrolled in college and for those who have enrolled 74% are persisting or have obtained a degree. Be A Leader students have enrolled in over 400 postsecondary institutions across the country.
