Toledo, Ohio, March 10, 2021— Students in the 2021 graduating class at Jesup W. Scott High School will have an opportunity to apply for a scholarship from HOPE Toledo, under the HOPE Toledo Promise program. This scholarship will fund their post-secondary education—community college, university or trade school — and will include funding for tuition, room and board, books and fees. The offer is also being extended to one parent or guardian of the student. The program also includes assignment of a HOPE Toledo Promise mentor to each family.

“HOPE Toledo Promise is thrilled to support the graduating Class of 2021,” said Rev. John C. Jones, HOPE Toledo President. “We know the future is bright and we have HOPE for these graduates as that future unfolds, as well as for ALL of our young people across the Toledo region.”

HOPE Toledo Promise is designed to remove barriers to affordability, while also serving as a vehicle to advance economic and workforce development opportunities. The program is modeled after H.O.P.E. Scott Promise, founded by Pete Kadens and The Kadens Family Foundation. Kadens’ idea for H.O.P.E., which stands for Helping Our Population Educate, arose from his desire to see all students, regardless of background, receive equitable access to quality education. He believes that education is the pathway out of systemic and generational poverty and leads to economic stability for communities and families.

On January 29, 2020, Kadens first announced to students and parents at Scott High School, that The Kadens Family Foundation—in partnership with the ProMedica Foundation—would help the Class of 2020 pursue post-secondary education. He also extended the offer to one parent or guardian.

Over the course of the first year of this program, H.O.P.E, now the HOPE Toledo Promise led by HOPE Toledo President Rev. John C. Jones, has touched more than 80 families from the Scott High School community. Currently, there are 66 Scholars who enrolled in the fall semester (2020) — 61 graduates of Scott and five parents of Scott graduates. The remainder have enrolled in the spring or will enroll in the fall of 2021. These numbers alone represent an increase in the post-secondary enrollment rate, from previous graduating classes, by over 80%.

HOPE Toledo Promise is funded in partnership with the ProMedica Ebeid Neighborhood Promise, The Kadens Family Foundation, and community and corporate donors. The program is unique in its broad support from community partners. Partners include: Toledo Public Schools, Bowling Green State University, The University of Toledo, Eastern Michigan University, Lourdes University, Owens Community College, The Ohio State University, ProMedica, Toledo Academy of Beauty and Culture, Central State University, Hocking College, Mercy College of Ohio, Pathway 4 Successful Leadership, ProMedica Financial Opportunity Center, Wright State University, College Promise Campaign, Paul Mitchell, Terra State Community College and Jesup Wakeman Scott High School.

“We are proud to have helped seed and launch HOPE Toledo, and thrilled to see the continued expansion of the scholarship and program,” said Kate Sommerfeld, ProMedica’s president of the Social Determinants of Health Institute. “This expanded resource will continue to be a game changer for so many individuals and families.”

HOPE Toledo is aggressively seeking funding to support this program and future scholarships. As funding for the HOPE Toledo Promise program increases, it is the goal of the organization to expand opportunities to other schools and students.

During the initial stages of HOPE Toledo’s development, the ProMedica Foundation has agreed to serve as the not-for-profit’s fundraising agent. The ProMedica Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations to the HOPE Toledo initiative through the ProMedica Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

About HOPE Toledo

HOPE Toledo is a 501(c) 3 organization and encompasses HOPE Toledo Pre-K and HOPE Toledo Promise. The mission of HOPE Toledo is to work with the Toledo community to support and ensure high-quality educational experiences for all of our youth, from preschool to post-secondary and trade school, with the goal of helping to create generational economic change for the betterment of our families and our community. Currently, 36% of the people in the TPS district are living below the poverty line and more than 80% of kids in Toledo enter kindergarten without the skills needed to learn.

This cradle to career to community approach will better serve our children and, in the long run, help our city progress towards a stronger, more educated workforce. To that end, HOPE Toledo is working with the Toledo community, through public/private partnerships and in tandem with Toledo Public Schools and Washington Local Schools, to develop a plan to deliver high-quality educational experiences for all of our youth. For more information or to donate, visit hope-toledo.org.