GIA & CSAC Partnership

GIA in partnership with the CSAC are hoping to expand regional Cash for College outreach through partnerships with local high schools and postsecondary institutions. Cash For College workshops and trainings are offered directly to students throughout the Inland Empire at various locations.

Additionally, GIA and CSAC support a train-the-trainer model where school counselors, students advocates, student outreach coordinators, and community partners who work directly with students can become certified Cash For College trainers at their institutions. This work empowers those working with or for students to help make an even greater impact in their educational journey.

The Inland Empire needs more students engaging in educational opportunities after high school. The benefits of postsecondary training for students are clear:

• More likely to be employed, even during economic downturns.
• Have greater earnings and disposable income.
• Have greater rates of home ownership.
• Be more civically engaged (voting, volunteering, and philanthropy).
• Provide greater tax contributions.
• Experience better physical and mental health outcomes.
• Boost the local economy with greater spending on local goods and services.
• Drive innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Rely less on social safety nets and subsidies.

High school students who complete a financial aid application are 84% more likely to enroll in postsecondary institutions upon graduation and students from low-income backgrounds are 127% more likely. It is a critical leading indicator of college enrollment and achievement and ultimately, a key driver of our Inland Empire economy.