Henry County Schools is continuing the partnership with the Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Program to provide scholarship opportunities to economically disadvantaged, academically promising Henry County students. To help ensure a strong program, Henry County Schools and the REACH Georgia Foundation are seeking local philanthropic support of individuals, charitable foundations, and corporations in Henry County. 
 
REACH launched in 2012– as a two-year pilot program – and has grown exponentially in the last six years with 154 Georgia school systems and over 2,400 students participating. REACH Georgia’s mission is to ensure that Georgia’s low-income, academically promising students have the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school, access College and achieve postsecondary success. Henry County Schools is proud to partner with REACH and further this mission for the second year in Henry County.

REACH is a mentoring and scholarship program that begins in the 8th grade with the identification of low income, academically promising students. Selected students, known as “REACH Scholars,” in the REACH program, are paired with a volunteer “mentor” and an “academic coach” throughout their middle and high school years. REACH Scholars participate in special programs and events focused on preparing them for college completion and future careers. Upon graduation from high school, REACH Scholars are awarded up to a $10,000 scholarship to be used at any Georgia HOPE-eligible two- or four-year college. Additional program highlights can be located in the following publication: Click here or https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202001/index.php#/p/24.

The REACH Georgia Foundation fully funded the first eight (8) REACH Scholars selected in Henry County Schools during the 2019-2020 school year. In year two and beyond, we rely on the business and philanthropic community to donate a portion of each new selected student’s scholarship. Specifically, the Henry County Schools REACH Program seeks to raise $3,000 per REACH Scholar, with a maximum annual program intake of 8 scholars.  For every $3,000 donated locally, there is a $3,000 contribution made by the REACH Georgia Foundation to make up a student’s $10,000 scholarship.

I hope that you will consider donating to the Henry County Schools REACH Program. I would love to come and meet with you to answer any questions you might have on how we can partner to ensure students in Henry County Schools continue to realize their dreams and live fulfilled and meaningful lives. I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Sincerely,
Chon Hester, Ed. D.
HCS REACH Program Coordinator
470-585-6159