American Dream Fund
Update, April 7, 2009
Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) has evaluated the feasibility of offering scholarships to new students through the American Dream Fund. Unfortunately, due to the current economic climate, we did not meet our fundraising goals and will not be able to award new scholarships for the academic year 2009-2010.
Current American Dream Fund awardees will be able to apply for renewal on a competitive basis and will be receiving the application via e-mail no later than April 15, 2009.
Background
Two years ago, Arizona voters approved Proposition 300. This legislation makes university students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or who do not have lawful immigration status, ineligible for state-funded or subsidized financial aid. It also requires them to pay out-of-state tuition, which is currently about $18,000 a year at Arizona State University (ASU). In-state tuition is about $5,500.
The passage of this proposition made it nearly impossible for some of Arizona’s brightest students to attend ASU.
Concerned about what this could mean for the state’s future, community and business leaders formed the American Dream Fund Coalition. The Coalition then established the American Dream Fund, which is administered through a partnership between Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. and Arizona College Scholarship Foundation. Since its inception, the American Dream Fund has garnered support from the philanthropic and business communities as well as concerned Arizona citizens who believe helping these students benefits all of us.
The goal of the fund is to provide sponsorships for undocumented Arizona graduates so they can continue their education at ASU. The idea is to bridge the gap while we wait for Congress to pass the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act, which would provide a path to legal residency for students who meet certain stringent criteria.
If you would like to make a tax deductable donation, you may mail a check payable to:
“American Dream Fund” c/o Arizona College Scholarship Foundation
1430 E. Missouri Ave., Suite B-205
Phoenix, AZ 85014
or to:
CPLC
1112 E. Buckeye Road
Phoenix, AZ 85034