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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can I contact Chester County Futures?
How are students selected for the program?
How are new school districts selected?
What guidelines are used in selecting students?
How does the student application process work?
What is the application deadline for students who want
to enroll in the Futures program?
How much does Chester County Futures spend per student?
Where does Chester County Futures get its funds?
Is Chester County Futures tax exempt?
Tell me about your students
What is expected of students once they’re
accepted into the program?
How is Chester County Futures structured?
 How can I contact Chester County Futures?
You may contact us by phone, email, fax or in person using the
information available on our Contact
Us Page.
How are
students selected for the program?
Students from participating school districts are nominated
in their eighth grade year by their middle school guidance
counselors or teachers. Students may also nominate themselves
or their friends for the Futures program.
How are new school districts
selected?
School districts are selected for inclusion into the Futures
program based on their percentage of low-income students
or the total number of students that meet Futures’ low-income
guidelines.
Community support and funding opportunities are also considered.
Futures is already looking into possible expansion into a fifth and
perhaps sixth Chester County school district within the next
5 years. Generally it takes one year of planning and advance
fund acquisition to add a new school district to the Futures lineup.
What guidelines are used in selecting students?
- Academic
ability and motivation
- Desire to pursue post-secondary
education
- Financial need
- Grade reports and
school attendance records.
How does the student application
process work?
A student wishing to apply for entry into the Futures program
must complete the following steps:
- Student nominated through the
school guidance office
- Student fills out a Futures' Questionnaire.
- Parent or guardian completes and
signs a permission slip.
- Recommendations
obtained from two teachers.
- Recommendation obtained from a
school guidance counselor.
- Student submits copies of recent
grade reports and attendance records.
- Student is interviewed
by Futures program staff.
What is the application deadline for students who want to enroll
in the Futures program?
Applications are due in the spring of the student’s
eighth grade year. Final selection is complete by early June of
the student’s
eighth grade year.
How much does Chester County Futures spend per student?
Futures spends more than $23,000 on student services over the eight
years a student participates in the program from grade nine
through college graduation. In addition, Futures invests up to
$6,000 per student via scholarship assistance awarded to students
who go on to college or enroll in an alternate type of post-high
school certificate program.
Students who are awarded a Futures scholarship
may use the money for out-of-pocket expenses not covered
in a typical financial aid packages. This includes covering the
cost of textbooks, commuting to and from classes, college
fees, and living expenses while attending college.
| Going By The Numbers |
13 |
Years since Futures was launched |
100 |
% of Futures students who have graduated from
high school |
91 |
% of Futures students pursuing post-secondary
education right after high school |
180 |
high school students served by Futures during
the 2007-2008 school year |
215 |
total high school students expected to take part in
the program in the 2008-2009 school year |
23,000 |
Dollars invested in each student during
the 8 years Futures serves them |
5 |
School Districts currently being served
by Futures |
10,000 |
Volunteer hours donated by Futures students
by Community Service Projects |
80 |
New Futures students enrolled in a typical
year |
89 |
New students enrolled for 2008-2009 |
100 |
% of Futures funding that comes from donations,
grants and bequests |
7 |
Total Futures staff
who work directly with students |
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Where does Chester County Futures get its funds?
Futures’s
day-to-day operations are funded through grants and donations
from corporations and individuals, and from benefit events and
fundraisers.
Futures’s scholarships are funded through:
- Donations from
individuals, service clubs, and churches.
- Sponsorship pledges
- Fundraising events
- Mail solicitations
Our funding breaks down as follows:
Grant Funding (private and corporate foundations) 50%
Special Benefit Event Income 15%
Individual Contributions 30%
Corporate Contributions 5%
Is Chester County Futures tax exempt?
Yes. Futures is a 501 C (3) non-profit organization registered with
the IRS and with the Commonwealth of PA Bureau of Charitable
Organizations (registration # 31355). Contributions to Chester
County Futures are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the
law.
Tell me about your students:
Samples of student profiles:
What is expected of students once they’re
accepted into the program?
As a requirement of our program, our students agree to personal
responsibilities including attending school regularly, completing
assignments and maintaining a "C" or better average,
attending all Futures and mentor meetings, and involvement in extracurricular
activities and community service projects. Student
Responsibilities Handout (PDF file, 80K)
How is Chester County Futures structured?
Chester County Futures operates under the guidance of an elected
Board of Directors and has a staff of six full-time employees
and five part-time employee to handle day-to-day operations.
| FUTURES STAFF |
| Corporate Administrative Team |
| Catherine Mesaros |
Executive Director |
| Judy McGlew |
Development Director: Grants
Mentor Recruiter
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| Angela Greaser |
Office & Database Manager |
| Linda Vogler |
Accounting Manager |
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| Student Services Team |
Kathleen McLaughlin
|
Director of Program Operations |
Colleen Carney
|
Student Services Coordinator |
Patti Ciuffetelli
|
Student Services Coordinator |
| Pam Dunn |
Student Services Coordinator |
| Susan Katz |
Student Services Coordinator |
| Josephina Ramos |
Student Services Coordinator |
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| Student Technology Services |
| Amedeo DiDonato |
Director of Technology 2010 |
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Find Out More About Our Staff
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