LANSING, Mich. — Michigan College Access Network has awarded $30,000 in Innovative Program Grants to three organizations to help fund college preparation programs. The Clingman Foundation, Embrace Sportz and Winning Futures each received a $10,000 grant.
“MCAN is proud to support these three outstanding organizations dedicated to enhancing college access and readiness for Michigan’s students, moving us closer to our Sixty by 30 goal,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, MCAN executive director. “These grants represent our ongoing investment in creating and sustaining pathways to higher education — particularly for low-income, first-generation college-going students and students of color — helping to ensure that all students have the tools and resources they need to succeed in their postsecondary journeys.”
The Clingman Foundation provides a free after school educational program that supports students in the Flint Community Schools district. The program aims to set students up for success by providing positive encouragement, mentoring and tutoring, college readiness testing, workshops and local college tours. This award will support the upcoming HBCU Clingman Foundation Tour, providing students with the opportunity to visit Historically Black Colleges and Universities during their spring and summer breaks.
“The Clingman Foundation is extremely grateful for being awarded an Innovative Program Grant. We cannot thank MCAN enough for supporting our organization to continue helping our students to dream and achieve college acceptance,” said Chane Clingman, the foundation’s founder and CEO. “The Clingman Foundation has provided opportunities for students from the Genesee County area to explore HBCUs in every part of the country. Over the years, we have served over 800 students by helping them apply to and tour HBCUs, providing them with rich cultural and historical experiences. We look forward to continuing the work of changing lives, fostering hope and making a difference in Flint area teens.”
The Embrace Sportz Pathways Program aims to increase college readiness, career exposure, academic engagement and economic mobility for Metro Detroit youth. Through sports-focused career training, internships and mentorship, the program prepares students for postsecondary education and workforce opportunities in sports-related fields.
“We are thrilled about the Innovative Program Grant awarded to Embrace Sportz and the opportunity it presents to support our Pathways Program,” said Menachem Dukes, co-founder of Embrace Sportz. “This grant allows us to deepen our commitment to preparing youth for college, equipping them with the tools and guidance they need to succeed in higher education and beyond. We are excited to collaborate and make a meaningful impact on their futures.”
Winning Futures is piloting select content for prospective and continuing students via an online learning management system supported by trained mentors. Implementing this system will allow the organization to spend more time engaging with students while providing personalized case management support — helping students navigate their financial aid packages, selection of courses and more.
"We’re incredibly grateful to MCAN for supporting us in building a learning management system for our mentors and students in our continuing education program. This investment allows us to create a more personalized and flexible experience for our students, giving them the power to choose the topics that matter most in their journey,” said Daniela Matthews, director of development at Winning Futures. “By moving our resources to a centralized online platform, mentors and staff can spend less time managing logistics and more time building relationships and supporting student growth. With this grant, we’re taking a big step forward in empowering tomorrow’s workforce."
MCAN’s Innovative Program Grants are used to fund programming that increases college readiness, enrollment and completion in local communities and across the state through grants of up to $10,000. These grants are available on a rolling basis until allocated funding is depleted within the fiscal year. To learn more about MCAN’s grant programs, visit micollegeaccess.org/grants.
The Clingman Foundation, Embrace Sportz, Winning Futures awarded grants to support college access and success