WHY GIVE?

Your donation empowers the next generation of leaders by supporting programs that bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement. With your help, students gain access to resources, mentorship, and life-changing experiences, like the Jump Start College Experience, that prepare them for a brighter future.

HOW YOUR GIFT HELPS

Every dollar you give directly impacts our mission to prepare students for college and beyond. Here's what your donation supports:

• College Readiness Programs: Workshops and resources that equip students with the tools they need to succeed in higher education.
• Jump Start College Experience: Transformative college tours to inspire and inform students about their future opportunities.
• Mentorship and Guidance: Personalized support to help students and families navigate the college application process.

Looking ahead

The Willie and Vivian Gaddis Foundation is excited to announce our Jump Start College Experience 2025 program expansion. We've intentionally and strategically added at least two campus tours of primarily Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We've moved to a 10-month college preparedness programming model. Our format will continue to include college navigation and leadership development workshops, personal enrichment opportunities, and exposure to historical sites. Our model is designed to provide youth with the tools and experiences to navigate their post-secondary journey successfully. We partner with professional subject matter experts, businesses, and community organizations to connect students to valuable networks that will help them thrive in college and beyond.

In 2024, we awarded over $10,000 in college scholarships to 12 students. We provided 89 youth with the opportunity to travel over 1,800 miles to visit nine HBCUs and explore important civil rights monuments and landmarks. These experiences helped broaden their perspectives and inspired them to pursue higher education and other vocational choices.

In 2025, we propose awarding $12,000 in college scholarships to 10 students. We plan to offer up to three to four to 5-day college tours, visiting up to 13 colleges and universities, ten monthly 90-minute college navigation workshops, and quarterly Teen Socratic Exploration Circles. In total, we plan to serve 380 youth.

Access to post-secondary education and vocational exploration is a critical step toward securing a brighter future, and your support will directly benefit the next generation of leaders and scholars. Our vision is simple: to position young people to live productive lives and make positive contributions to society.

2024 Community Partners