WISH LIST $100: book scholarship for college-bound students; $500: 25 hours of financial aid counseling for low-income families; $1000: Super Saturday program for completion of financial aid forms

Now here’s an interesting fact: a child whose family makes less than $35,000 a year has a 1 in 17 chance of earning a BA. As College Access Fairfax knows, that’s because getting through the financial aid application process is daunting, and holding on to aid once in college can be just as difficult: complex federal forms present what seem like insurmountable barriers – especially to parents who speak English as a second language. CAF’s mission is to find the students who deserve to be found, and help them apply for and finance their college education by providing personalized advice, focused workshops, and informative clinics designed to clarify the process. While CAF’s Champions assist all students who walk through the door, their mission is to “drill down” to those most in need – identifying scholarship opportunities, assisting students in completing scholarship applications in a timely fashion, interpreting financial aid awards, and assisting with college applications. For some students it’s the difference between going to college and ... not. You can champion this cause too.

Christian N Braunlich, Executive Director 8115 Gatehouse Road, Suite 1512 Falls Church, VA 22042 703-922-6768 collegeaccessfairfax.org