For some back-to-school motivation: watch the inspiring new scholarships ceremony video, meet the Arlington high-schoolers on a mission, see a former STEAM Fellow and his students take center stage at a global conference, and learn why access to after-school activities is essential for all students.

The moment a scholarship recipient and a scholarship donor meet - as several did earlier this year - is something truly special. To see so many lives, passions, and dreams shared and reflected across generations and communities, is a constant wellspring of inspiration for us at the Community Foundation and for anyone involved in our scholarship program. 

In this new video recap of the 2024 Awards Ceremony, we invite you to join us in experiencing the joy felt by everyone involved in the scholarships program. From the students, to the donors, to the community volunteers who review scholarship applications, this program represents so much of who and what make Arlington spectacular.

If you know any Arlington high school seniors, be sure to sign up for scholarship reminders for the coming year. If you're interested in starting a scholarship fund, let us know. And if you would like to volunteer for the community review process, express your interest here.

The core of the Arlington Youth Philanthropy Initiative (AYPI) is a Youth Board of students from area high schools who are committed to making a difference in Arlington.

Every year, these teens recruit and mentor peers to develop sustainable ventures that make a positive impact. The AYPI Youth Board makes decisions on grants to fund these youth-initiated projects and works to preserve and grow the Fund for Youth Philanthropy (which you can support here!).

Recently, Sara Ahmad, the '23 - '24 AYPI Chair, wrote a year-in-review for the activities and impact of AYPI during her time as Chair. Read her review here or at the button below.

If you know any high schoolers who might be interested in participating in AYPI for the '24 - '25 school year, click this link to register for the virtual information sessions being held on September 3rd and September 18th.

The Arlington Community Foundation STEAM Workforce Development Teacher Fellowship provides Arlington Public Schools high school, middle school, and elementary school teachers with opportunities to learn about workplace needs in STEAM-related fields and for them to use the experience to enhance student learning to match workplace expectations in a selected industry. STEAM Fellows participate in a three-week summer fellowship, receiving a $4,000 stipend upon completion [sign up for future fellowship reminders here].

Over the summer, Ryan Miller, a 2021 STEAM Fellow and teacher at Washington-Liberty High School, joined his students in presenting their research at a global geo-mapping conference in San Diego. You can learn more about Ryan's research in his 2021 STEAM Fellowship recap video and see how far it has come in this ARLnow article about the 2024 conference presentation.

It is well-documented that students who participate in after-school activities have higher grades, are more engaged, and are better connected with both the school and the community.

Engaging kids early through after-school programming also keeps kids interested in school, allows for the development of mentorships, and helps build students’ self-confidence. These are some of the many reasons why Arlington Community Foundation and the Arlington Sports Foundation teamed up to create After School Enrishment Matters (ASEM) which raises funds to offset the cost of after-school programming in the eight Title 1 elementary schools in Arlington County: Abingdon, Barcroft, Barrett, Campbell, Carlin Springs, Drew, Hoffman-Boston, and Randolph.

Because after-school enrichment programming is fee-based, many families in Arlington County cannot afford to enroll their children in these beneficial learning experiences.

The fundraising partnership between Arlington Community Foundation and the Arlington Sports Foundation aims to provide equitable access to after-school programming for elementary school students across the county. Since its founding, ASEM has granted well over $80,000 in scholarships, providing over 4,500 students access to theater, dance, soccer, robotics, and field trips.

The start of the new school year is the perfect opportunity to support ASEM in order to help all Arlington students find their passion, confidence, and belonging.

Trouble seeing this email? View it as a webpage.