News

Funding is part of CYC’s $10 million capacity-building campaign

CHARLOTTE, NC, May 19, 2023 – Carolina Youth Coalition (CYC), a local education nonprofit, and Albemarle Foundation today announced a $3 million pledge as part of CYC’s new $10 million capacity-building campaign that will support high-achieving, under-resourced students to and through four-year colleges and universities.

In addition to Albemarle Foundation, early participants in the campaign include Honeywell and a number of generous individuals. The campaign is being co-chaired by Netha Johnson, President of Albemarle’s Specialties division, Kieth Cockrell, President of Bank of America Charlotte, David Dooley, Chief Strategy Officer of CBI Workplace Solutions, and Kathryn and Luke Kissam. Kathryn Kissam is the co-founder of CYC and Luke Kissam is Albemarle Corporation’s former CEO.

A formal announcement about the pledge will be made tonight during CYC’s 5th Annual Torch Awards ceremony sponsored by Bank of America. This event celebrates participating high school seniors, called Fellows, and the various colleges and universities they will attend this fall. This year’s Torch Awards also will honor CYC’s first cohort of graduating college students.

“We believe that higher education is creating lasting, generational change for our Fellows and their families,” said CYC Executive Director and Co-Founder Aaron Randolph. “Supporting organizations, including Albemarle Foundation, have fueled this transformation with the same vigor with which our Fellows, often the first of their generation to go to college, are working to improve their futures.”

“We are committed to strengthening the communities where we live and work, and believe that education can change people’s lives,” said Carrie Reeder, Executive Director of Albemarle Foundation. “That’s why Albemarle Foundation helped found CYC in 2018 and why it’s our honor to continue supporting CYC and the exceptional outcomes they provide for our local students.”

Since its founding in 2018, CYC has helped nearly 200 participants secure over $55 million in scholarships and grants. CYC serves Fellows from 30 high schools who are nearly 90% Black or Latino. The program follows its Fellows throughout their time in college to ensure they successfully transition to and thrive in college, and graduate ready to launch their career or postgraduate studies. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of CYC Fellows who have enrolled, even during the pandemic, remained enrolled or have completed a degree program. Sixty-three percent of all Fellows who are attending four-year universities are attending debt-free.

CYC Fellows are currently attending 39 higher-education institutions across 17 states, including Berea College, Brown University, Columbia University, Furman University, Georgetown University, Howard University, North Carolina A&T, University of Miami, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, University of Pennsylvania, Queens University, Rice University, Spelman College, Wake Forest University, Wofford College, and Yale University.

For more information about the Carolina Youth Coalition, visit: www.carolinayouth.org.

About Carolina Youth Coalition

Carolina Youth Coalition (CYC) is a college-access nonprofit organization that nurtures and propels high-achieving, under-resourced students to and through college. Founded in January 2018, through a generous donation from the Albemarle Foundation, CYC offers free out-of-school-time programming featuring personalized college application support, standardized test prep, writing coaching, college tours, 1:1 mentoring, connection to career exploration and scholarship opportunities, and social justice-based dialogue. The program begins with students as early as 9th grade and provides support to students throughout their time in college.

About Albemarle Foundation

Founded in 2007, Albemarle Foundation is a U.S.-based, private, endowed 501c3 entity focused on building the strength and resiliency of the communities where Albemarle employees live and work. Since its inception, Albemarle Foundation has distributed more than $58 million globally. Visit www.albemarle.com/about/albemarle-foundation.

Media Contacts:

Aaron Randolph, +1 (386) 288-8865, [email protected]

Hailey Quinn, +1 (980)-299-5640, [email protected]

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