After8toEducate announced that it has received a $500,000 grant in support of its mission from the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. The gift, the largest in the organization’s brief history, will match dollar for-dollar up to the half-million maximum commitment. These funds will be raised during the designated period that is now through November 30, 2018.
“We are extremely excited and grateful for the support by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation,” said Hillary Evans, After8toEducate’s executive director, in a release. “This gift, contingent on matching funds, makes a powerful statement that this collaboration is important. The planned programs are vital and valuable to the many homeless youth in Dallas who desperately need our help.”
After8toEducate previously reported raising over a half-million dollars towards a $2 million-dollar capital fundraising goal. With Rainwater’s $500,000 investment, plus matching funds, After8 will be three-quarters of the way closer to reaching this goal. After8 is seeking community support.
Last year, After8toEducate received unanimous support from the DISD school board to repurpose the former Fannie C. Harris Elementary School, an abandoned school building in South Dallas as the center for these services.
ABOUT AFTER8TOEDUCATE
After8toEducate is the first-of-its-kind, public-private collaborative to support and provide essential services to unsheltered Dallas ISD high school students and other homeless youth ages 14-21. Founded by Texas businessman and philanthropist Jorge Baldor in May 2017, the organization launched in response to the growing number of homeless students in the Dallas Independent School District, currently estimated to be more than 3,500, and alarmingly still increasing. Its mission is to create a comprehensive solution that assists DISD high school students and other homeless youth to develop academically, emotionally, and socially. Formed through the Social Venture Partners Dallas and harnessing the strengths of DISD and nonprofit agencies Promise House and CitySquare, the organization will open and operate an after-hours drop-in center this fall in South Dallas, where homeless youth can find refuge and a place to study, eat, shower, and access other immediate support services. The shelter component will open next providing sleeping rooms and other social services for DISD unsheltered high school youth. For more information or to donate, go to http://www.after8toeducate.com.
