Partnership Results in New Community College Scholarships and Educational Advancement Programs

LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With the cost of a four-year degree program an insurmountable financial hurdle for many students and families, today nearly half of all undergraduates are enrolled at community colleges. For 15 years, Point Foundation (Point), the largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students, has helped young people complete four-year and advanced degree programs. With support from longtime partner Wells Fargo, Point has launched a pilot program to help students in their final year at a community college achieve their goal of transferring to a four-year college or university.

By investing in education via Point Foundation scholarships and leadership programs, Wells Fargo is helping to empower and enrich disenfranchised individuals and communities. Students accepted into Point's new Community College Program will receive up to a $3,700 tuition scholarship, professional coaching to apply to four-year institutions, opportunities to network with the Point community, and to attend local leadership conferences. Profiles of the 11 scholarship recipients are at www.pointfoundation.org/cc-scholarship.

"Wells Fargo is proud to support the Point Foundation in making access to four-year colleges and universities possible for talented students who may have experienced obstacles in their education as a result of their sexual identities," said Georgette "GiGi" Dixon, Wells Fargo's Director of Strategic Partnerships. "Together with the Point Foundation, we seek to promote diversity and inclusion while helping promising LGBTQ students obtain their higher education goals."

"We know from the experience of many of our scholarships applicants that community college was a crucial bridge for them between high school and advancing to a four-year degree," said Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Point Foundation. "We are grateful that Wells Fargo shares Point's commitment to expand access to higher education and is helping us reach LGBTQ students in need."

With the support of corporations such as Wells Fargo, Point organizes Leadership Education and Affinities Development (LEAD) consortiums around the country. Point Scholars and Alumni, along with invited high school students, join board members and mentors for skills-building and professional development workshops. The next LEAD will be in Washington D.C., July 20 – 21, focusing on policy and law. 

Point's 2016 National Leadership Conference (NLC) will also be in Washington, D.C., July 21 – 24.  Scholars and many alumni will gather for three days of workshops, panel discussions, and addresses by notable LGBTQ and allied elected officials, authors, business leaders, and artists. Conference topics include academic preparation, community service, strategic activism, and LGBTQ and civil rights history. Wells Fargo is a Contributing Sponsor of the 2016 NLC.

About Wells Fargo:  Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,800 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune's 2016 rankings of America's largest corporations. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially.

About Point Foundation: Point Foundation empowers promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society. Point Foundation promotes change through scholarship funding, mentorship, leadership development, and community service training. www.pointfoundation.org