Cleveland Scholarship Programs to rebrand itself as College Now Greater Cleveland

Cleveland Scholarship Programs to rebrand itself as College Now Greater Cleveland

By TIMOTHY MAGAW
8:47 am, February 10, 2011


A more than 40-year-old nonprofit that has steered a quarter-million Cleveland-area students toward higher education is re-branding itself to let the community know it does far more than provide scholarships to the city's poor.



Cleveland Scholarship Programs will unveil its new name — College Now Greater Cleveland — as well as a partnership with the Cleveland Clinic and PNC Bank at an event this afternoon at Cleveland State University. The new name, the nonprofit's leaders say, is a better reflection of what the organization does and who it represents. And with new leadership in place, the group's leaders hope it can attract more fundraising dollars from corporations, foundations and individuals to expand services in the communities it serves.


“Nobody knew who we were,” said David Inglis, president of the nonprofit's board of directors. “We had a real awareness problem.”

College Now assists more than 20,000 students in 76 schools in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties each school year through a variety of programs aimed at increasing college attainment in the region. Aside from offering scholarships, the organization offers college advising assistance, financial aid help and ACT registration.

Last summer, the organization's board of directors named Lee Friedman, former president and CEO of the Cleveland Leadership Center, as its new CEO. Also, several new members have been named to the College Now board.

In a recent interview, Ms. Friedman stressed the importance of raising college attainment in the region. Increasing the number of graduates in Northeast Ohio, she said, would boost the region's economy and provide industries the educated workers they need.

“They can't grow here if they can't hire the work force they need,” Ms. Friedman said.

Several prominent officials are scheduled to attend today's event. Among them are Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, Cleveland City Council President Martin Sweeney, Cleveland Metropolitan School District interim CEO Peter Raskind and Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut.




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