The Evans Family Charitable Foundation has established a scholarship fund at Drake University for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa with an initial gift of $100,000. The Evans Family Charitable Foundation’s annual gifts to Drake University will be utilized to award scholarships to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa graduates attending Drake—including John Dee Bright College—beginning in the 2021–2022 academic year.
“We are thrilled to launch a program with Drake that will benefit the higher education of members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa. The scholarship program we are launching will help BGCCI members achieve advanced learning and all the commensurate opportunities they so deserve,” said Julie Evans, a BGCCI trustee and board member of the Evans Family Charitable Foundation that was created by John and Jane Evans. “Drake University and its Bright College deliver an excellent education and value and will deliver the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.”
Funding for the Evans Family Scholarship will be replenished by the Evans Family Charitable Foundation each year and will help enable Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa members who have graduated high school and qualify academically to attend Drake University. The scholarship is positioned to help expand access to higher education to Central Iowa students who may not have previously pursued a college degree without the additional assistance. This scholarship, along with other funding available to Drake students, makes a Drake degree more attainable.
“This generous gift from the Evans Family will make a significant impact in the lives of our members,” said Tony Timm, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa CEO. “Access to higher education is a key factor in ensuring our members have a chance to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.”
Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to pursue studies in any of the University’s more than 70 majors, minors, and concentrations through seven colleges and schools, including the newly created John Dee Bright College. Starting this fall, John Dee Bright College will offer central Iowa high school graduates the opportunity to earn two-year associate’s degrees from Drake in the integrated arts, sciences, and humanities, as well as in business, organization, and professional studies.