Ensuring Every Student’s Future: EEF, Alachua County Public Schools, and FCAN Unite for FAFSA Success #dothefafsa #hazlafafsa

GAINESVILLE, FL (EEF News) The Education Equalizer Foundation (EEF) is thrilled to announce our partnership with Alachua County Public Schools and the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) to assist college-bound students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This collaboration is a vital step in our mission to empower students from underserved communities and ensure they have the financial support needed to pursue higher education.

EEF FAFSA Coaches Will Be Emailing, Calling, and Texting Alachua County College-Going Students to Help Them with the FAFSA now through August 31!

“I’m serving with EEF’s FAFSA initiative because I know how important getting the right aid can be on a student’s path to higher education. Many students rely heavily on the aid they receive through the FAFSA, whether in loans or grants. We have the opportunity to help some students who could not complete the FAFSA this past year because of all its complications, so we must! Even if they do not claim this aid, every student needs to consider all the options before them,” remarked Juan Osorio, Program Coordinator and FAFSA Coach.

Recent data from the National College Attainment Network reveals a concerning trend: a noticeable decline in FAFSA completion rates among high school seniors, with only 43.3% completion as of May 31, 2024, compared to 51.2% the previous year. This downturn could restrict access to crucial college funding for many students. Completing the FAFSA is a critical milestone for students planning to attend college, as it unlocks federal, state, and institutional financial aid.

EEF offers a range of resources to support students and their families in completing the FAFSA:

• Online FAFSA Coaches: We provide bilingual (Spanish and English) FAFSA coaches available online to guide students through the application process.
• FAFSA Completion Clinics: Throughout the month, EEF will host FAFSA completion clinics at various locations, including the Alachua County Public Library, alongside Bill Goodman of the Education Foundation of Alachua County.
• Verification Support: After submitting the FAFSA, students can contact EEF to verify that their application was completed correctly.
• FAFSA Text Hotline: Text us at 352-363-1197 to schedule an appointment and get help from a FAFSA Coach to complete or verify that your FAFSA has been completed.

Join us! We’re on a mission to help 1000 students complete the FAFSA by August 31!

What’s Happening at the Clinics?

Our FAFSA completion and verification clinics will be available online and in-person at various locations through August 31. Here are the first few:

• Virtual Clinics: Available in June, July, and August, these sessions provide flexible, expert guidance on completing your FAFSA from anywhere.
• In-Person Clinics: Join us on-site for hands-on assistance. The first sessions are scheduled for:
  • Fridays, July 12, 19, and 26 from 12 PM to 2 PM at Santa Fe College Blount Center
  • Saturday, July 20, from 1 PM to 4 PM during the Gainesville Black Professionals Expo at Santa Fe College, 3000 NW 83rd Street

And there’s more—attendees at our in-person clinics will enjoy not only invaluable FAFSA help but also some exciting perks:

• Exclusive FAFSA T-shirts
• Swag items
• Gift card giveaways

Our current list of partners is comprised of local organizations such as Santa Fe Achieve, UF Bridges, Greater Bethel AME Church, Caring and Sharing Learning School, and many others; here are just a few:

100 Black Men of Greater Florida and Wishful Thinking
Aces in Motion
Akwaaba Freedom School
Alachua County Public Schools and The Parent Academy
Caring and Sharing Learning School
City of Gainesville
Children’s Trust of Alachua County
Education Foundation of Alachua County
FAMU Alumni Alachua County
Gainesville Black Professionals with Carolyn’s Heart
Greater Bethel AME Church
Junior League of Gainesville
NAACP Alachua County
Santa Fe College Blount Center with SF Achieve
University of Florida Student Government Bridges
University of Florida Active Learning Program
United Way of North Central Florida
YMCA of North Central Florida with MOTIV8U

How You Can Participate

Ready to get started? Visit our dedicated FAFSA Clinic Page for detailed information on clinic dates, locations, and how to register for a session. We also invite local organizations interested in hosting an in-person clinic to partner with us in this impactful campaign.

Spread the Word

Help us ensure that no student misses out on college funding due to a lack of information or guidance. Share this post and encourage students and families to #DoTheFAFSA #HazlaFAFSA this summer. Let’s work together to turn educational aspirations into reality!

About The Education Equalizer Foundation

The Education Equalizer Foundation empowers middle—through high school students and their families on the path to higher education. We understand that the college admittance process can be daunting and complex, particularly for scholars from underserved backgrounds. Our mission is to demystify this process and provide students with the necessary tools to not only gain admission but also graduate successfully.

Thank you to the following organizations for sponsoring The Education Equalizer Foundation.