College savings program for elementary students in
western Queens public schools receives $70K donation
P.S. 92 families participating in NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program in 2019. Photo courtesy of NYC Kids RISE
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | APRIL 30-MAY 6, 2021 19
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
More than 1,900 students
in kindergarten, first, second
and third grade across
five public schools in Jackson
Heights, East Elmhurst and
Corona will receive a $70,000
investment in their educational
futures through a college
savings program.
NYC Kids RISE, a nonprofit
working to expand
economic opportunity and
equity through education
savings, and MetLife Foundation
announced the $70,000
investment for the western
Queens students enrolled in
the NYC Kids Rise Save for
College Program.
The college savings program
offers universal college
savings accounts for all students
from kindergarten to
third grade, regardless of immigration
status or income,
by giving parents the option
to create an NYC Scholarship
Account invested in a 529
college savings plan. A core
component of the program
is community scholarships,
which enables organizations,
businesses, neighbors and
other institutions to direct
funds and fundraise for students’
educational savings.
The students receiving the
investment attend P.S. 329
East Elmhurst Community
School, P.S. 92 The Harry T.
Stewart Sr. School, P.S. 148
The Ruby G. Allen School,
P.S. 149 The Christa McAuliffe
School and P.S. 280.
Margarita Garcia, a P.S. 92
parent with children participating
in the Save for College
Program, said she’s grateful
to be part of the program and
of a community that’s investing
in all children.
“Like any parent, I want
my child to know they have
the support behind them to
become whatever they want
to be when they grow up,”
Garcia said.
In addition to the financial
investment, third-grade
students will also receive
virtual college and career
sessions to help them discover
their own educational and
professional aspirations. The
sessions, led by MetLife employees,
will give students an
opportunity to increase their
awareness of the diverse career
pathways and possibilities
available to them.
More than 13,000 students
in School District 30 — which
encompasses the neighborhoods
of Astoria, Corona,
East Elmhurst, Jackson
Heights, Long Island City,
Sunnyside and Woodside —
are enrolled in the college
savings program, which represents
95 percent of eligible
students in the district.
To date, approximately $6
million has been accumulated
for those students’ college
savings fund.
P.S. 329 Principal Rachel
Staroba-Hallenbeck said
they’re proud to be one of the
first schools participating in
NYC Kids RISE Save for College
Program.
“Working together with
partners across the community,
we now have another
tool to help demonstrate to
our students the many possibilities
for their future,”
Staroba-Hallenbeck said.
“Far too many children in
our community grow up
thinking that college and
higher education just isn’t in
the cards for them. The NYC
Kids RISE community is doing
important work to change
that by helping to shift the
conversation around who is
able to save for college, excel
in school and become the
leaders of tomorrow.”
Councilman Daniel
Dromm lauded the program
for “breaking down systemic
barriers to educational and
economic attainment.”
“The financial contribution
from the MetLife Foundation,
coupled with their
participation in virtual college
and career sessions,
both help to demonstrate the
ways in which local institutions
can become part of an
ecosystem of support around
our students and their families,”
Dromm stated. “I urge
my colleagues at City Hall to
support the expansion of this
life-changing model across
the five boroughs.”
Councilman Francisco Moya
echoed Dromm’s statement.
“This financial investment
and these college and
career sessions will better
equip hundreds of families
to help their children realize
their full potential and chart
a path towards educational
and professional success,”
Moya said. “This is how we
support a community that
has been hard hit by COVID-
19.”
The college savings program
was created in 2017
and is managed by NYC Kids
RISE in partnership with
the NYC Department of Education
and the City of New
York, with funding support
from the Gray Foundation.
“MetLife’s recent investment
paired with college and
career sessions for thirdgraders
is just the latest example
of how we can show
kids that adults from every
corner of the community believe
in them and are invested
in their success,” said Debra-
Ellen Glickstein, executive
director of NYC Kids RISE.
Reach reporter Angélica
Acevedo by e-mail at aacevedo@
schnepsmedia.com
EDUCATION
Margarita Garcia and her two sons in P.S. 92.
Photo courtesy of NYC Kids RISE
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