The Saranac PromiseDear Friends:

One of the greatest challenges of our time is ensuring that all of our community’s children have access to a high quality education that goes beyond high school. Whether that means attending a community college, a four year institution or a vocational program, there is no doubt that today’s students need education beyond the secondary level to be successful in a highly competitive workplace.

Unfortunately, for many of our community’s children, post secondary education is simply a dream. Rising costs for college and vocational training programs have outstripped many family’s ability to afford education beyond high school. As a result, in recent years, a number of communities have launched “promise” scholarship programs that help guarantee that academically prepared students will have a shot at a college education or a vocational certificate. These programs show students that if they work hard and persevere, opportunity is within reach.

In Saranac, we now have an opportunity to help fund a similar program called the “Bridge to Success” campaign.

Led by community leaders in partnership with the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Saranac Community Schools, the “Bridge to Success” campaign is a $2 million fundraising effort that will begin to fund small scholarships for every qualified student in the Saranac Community Schools system.

More than a “promise” program, the “Bridge to Success” requires a family commitment to ensuring a student’s good grades, excellent attendance, and exemplary behavior in exchange for scholarship funding. In addition, the Sarananc Community Schools help provide academic tutoring, coaching and structural supports along the way to ensure that students are always striving to reach for education beyond their high school years.

We have agreed to chair this effort because we believe that the “Bridge to Success” campaign is one of the boldest investments that our community can make in support of our children. We hope you’ll take some time to learn more about this innovative approach to education funding and that you’ll join us in supporting this worthwhile endeavor.

Our success will demonstrate that with encouragement and support, our children can become one of our community’s greatest assets.

Sincerely,

Campaign ChairsBruce Chadwick, Jim McCarty, Virgil Biggs

Cabinet Chairs:Virgil BiggsBruce Chadwick Jim McCarty

Cabinet Members:Chris CoulsonSharon DarbyMaury GeigerRyan HescheWendy HeschePam HouttemanSteve HouttemanBob LakeShari LaWarre Steve LaWarre Becky Poor David Price Sandy Whorley

Endorsement Council:Connie BiggsGreg HerbruckJulie KlynstraAl MacDonaldMaureen MillerBarb PachulskiNora RuderTina Vroman

The Saranac PromiseA Promise - For Our Children’s Future

• The Promise concept started in 2013 when a leadership team began to meet and attended the Promise Net conference in Kalamazoo.

• An endowment was established with the Grand Rapids Community Foundation in 2015.• The primary goal of The Saranac Promise is to provide financial assistance for college or vocational

education to all eligible graduates of Saranac Community Schools.• Limited Promise scholarships are scheduled to begin with the class of 2016.

College Affordability—Increasingly Out of Reach for Many

• Education is the great equalizer in the United States. A college or vocational degree is the enabler of the American Dream, and is becoming essential for a successful career in today’s job market. o A person with a post-secondary education can earn more than a high school graduate in his/ her lifetime (Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, The College Payoff, Carnevale, Rose, & Cheah, 2009): • An associates degree will earn, on average, over $400,000 more. • A bachelor’s degree will earn, on average, over $1 million more.

• A college or vocational degree is becoming unaffordable for students in many families. (Fiscal Focus, State Appropriations, Tuition, and Public University Operating Costs, Kyle I. Jen, December 2013) o State funding for Michigan’s 15 public universities has gradually declined from 75% to 25% in 2014. o 75% of public university funding now comes from tuition, while average tuition at Michigan’s public universities has increased 120%, from $4,805 in 2000 to $10,571 in 2014. o The average cost of in-state tuition and fees, room and board, and books and supplies at Michigan colleges is $19,347.

• Only 14 out of 100 Ionia County high school graduates presently go to college and graduate with a bachelors degree or higher. (2010 US Census)

The Saranac Promise will leverage greater community support and engagement in student mentoring and other support programs and strengthen the overall bond between the community and the school.

The benefits of the Saranac Promise: • Strong communities: Higher education rates correlate to lower crime, expanded

community resources, and a more substantial tax base to pay for important local services • Earning power: A college graduate earns 1.8 times more than a high school graduate,

worth more than $1 million over a lifetime • Graduation rates: Reduced high school dropout and increased graduation rates • Savings: Freed-up savings for families • Property: Stronger housing market and rising property values • Business Viability: Population growth leading to greater business viability • Quality of Life: College graduates tend to have fulfilling jobs, better health, longer lives,

and less likely to be unemployed

The Saranac PromiseHow You Can Help

The “Bridge to Success” campaign is seeking $2 million in community philanthropy to provide funding for the initial phase of the Saranac Promise. You can help us achieve this important goal by supporting this campaign through:

• A one time cash gift • A multiple year pledge commitment (may be paid over a three year period) • A gift of appreciated assets (i.e. stock) • The donation of an asset that can be converted to cash (i.e. property, an automobile, collectibles, etc.…) • An estate gift

Funds for the Saranac Promise will be held at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, a qualified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Accordingly, your charitable gift is tax deductible to the full extent of state and federal law. Please check with your tax advisor to determine how your gift may affect your personal tax situation.

Donor Recognition

Legacy Level $100,000+

Leadership Level $50,000 to $99,999

Visionary Level $25,000 to $49,999

Pace Setter Level $15,000 to $24,999

Partner Level $10,000 to $14,999

Friend Level $5,000 to $9,999

Supporter Level $1,500 to $4,999

Contributor Level Less than $1500

Dr. Brandon Wojcik

Upon graduation, and with the first of four consecutive years of scholarships from both the Compagner Fund and the University of Michigan Scholarship Fund, Brandon was on his way to Ann Arbor to study medicine. He has since completed his under graduate and doctorate degree from U of M. Brandon is now a resident of General Surgery at the Harvard affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

“I just finished my third year of clinical rotations and now I'm conducting vascular and transplant surgery research.”

“I cannot express how grateful I was to have received this financial assistance toward my college tuition” said Brandon. “I later learned how rare it is for a school to provide such a substantial amount of funding to its graduates.”

Promise Funding Builds Futures

Emily Borup

“I was blessed to receive a scholarship from Saranac Community Schools each year that I attended Adrian College majoring in Athletic Training. Receiving those scholarships has allowed me the opportunity to attend college, graduate with my Bachelor’s Degree and now I am pursuing a Master’s Degree. Knowing that someone believed in me and my future enough to provide me with a scholarship, continues to help me push forward and chase after my dreams.”

The Saranac Promise

Contact informationSaranac Community Schools88 South Pleasant St.Saranac, MI 48881www.saranac.k12.mi.usMaury Geiger, 616-642-1400

Maury Geiger, Superintendent, Saranac Community Schools, geigermau@scs-staff.orgDavid Price, Leadership Committee, priced1@michigan.govSharon Darby, Leadership Committee, sharon.darby@cascadeng.comBruce Chadwick, Cabinet Chair, bg.chadwick@gmail.comVirgil Biggs, Cabinet Chair, virgilb@bhtdpc.comJim McCarty, Cabinet Chair, mccartyjim@sbcglobal.net

“Special thanks to Barb Pachulski, Signature Photography Studios, and Diana Smith for photo content.”