What is an example of a recent grant awarded through the Wal-Mart Foundation National Giving Program?
The Gateway to College program serves at-risk youth, 16 to 20 years old, who have dropped out of high school. The program gives students the opportunity to simultaneously accumulate high school and college credits, earning their high school diploma while progressing toward an associate degree or certificate. Gateway to College students are young people who do not fit well in a traditional high school setting and are a diverse group facing many challenges. Some are teen parents, foster youth, or students who have struggled with substance abuse. Gateway to College was originally developed in 2000 at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon and currently operates in 24 colleges and 14 states. The Foundation recently awarded Gateway to College a grant of $2,542,500 to support the replication of the Gateway to College program at four community colleges around the country. The Wal-Mart Foundation grant will also support three Peer Learning Conferences, which are three-day gatherings of
