Educator & Community

COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY PROGRAM BEING IMPLEMENTED IN CONNECTICUT

Hartford, CT (Nov. 2007) — The CT Association of Professional Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA) and the CT Association of Educational Opportunities Programs (CAEOP) announce the approval of a three-year grant from the Lumina Foundation for Education. The grant, totaling $80,000, will fund the implementation of the College Goal Sunday^SM program in Connecticut.

College Goal Sunday^SM was created by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. and supplemental support from the Lumina Foundation for Education. The College Goal Sunday program was designed to assist prospective college students and their parents in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid administrators offer this service at no charge.

Connecticut’s first College Goal Sunday took place on Feb. 10, 2008, at six (6) sites throughout the state. The date and locations for 2009 will be announced in this website towards the end of 2008.

In addition to receiving assistance in filling out the FAFSA, participants will receive general information regarding state and federal financial aid programs. The Connecticut College Goal Sunday program is an effort by hundreds of volunteers from across Connecticut who will come together on a Sunday afternoon in February with the common goal of making sure that the process of applying for college financial aid does not become an obstacle that would keep any person from pursuing an education beyond high school. By attending a College Goal Sunday event, participants will receive free hands on assistance in completing the FAFSA, and will walk away from the event with a completed financial aid application and the satisfaction of knowing they have accomplished one of the biggest steps in getting ready to go to college.  Approximately 40 states nationwide hosted a College Goal Sunday event in 2008.

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