Since 2013, the Tilles Foundation has generously supported College Bound’s mission. Not only has the organization expanded its work and impact during this near-decade partnership, but the relationship established with the Tilles Foundation has allowed College Bound to seize opportunities and provide effective and necessary interventions—like developing an in-house mental health services team and offering emergency aid to students when problems arise.
From 2018–2020, the Tilles Foundation’s support allowed College Bound to enhance academic services for high school students. They have built out their Academic Development team, brought ACT instruction in-house, piloted a Stanford-designed summer math curriculum, and bolstered their college credit-bearing coursework offerings. College Bound’s Class of 2022 graduated with an average GPA of 3.4 and entered college in the fall of 2022 with an average of 4 pre-college credits—more prepared than ever before.
In 2021, the Tilles Foundation committed $300,000 of general operating support (payable over three years) to College Bound’s mission. Long-term, flexible funding like this allows the organization to allocate resources where they’re needed most.
One powerful example of the importance of College Bound’s ability to meet their students where they’re at is highlighted in Elyse’s story. When Elyse was in high school, her mother was diagnosed with a terminal degenerative disease. As an only child, Elyse found herself playing the role of daughter, full-time student, and caregiver—all while holding down a part-time job to help pay the bills. Elyse’s College Bound coach provided rides when her mother could no longer drive, showed genuine care and concern for her well-being, and encouraged her to keep her future in focus. When Elyse experienced the devastating loss of her mother at the beginning of her senior year of high school, her coach was by her side. He made sure she received counseling with a College Bound therapist, edited her college essay, helped her navigate the financial aid and scholarship landscape, and ensured she remained on track to a college degree.
In 2021, when Elyse lost her father, College Bound stepped in to help. In addition to the emotional devastation of such a loss, Elyse lost her health insurance and found herself managing probate—at the age of 21. College Bound helped Elyse navigate resources for health insurance, food, and rent assistance while also ensuring she had the emotional support she needed.
In May 2022, Elyse graduated Cum Laude from the University of Missouri–Columbia and recently began her career with a local advertising/marketing firm in St. Louis. Elyse’s success is due to her tenacity, persistence, drive, and unwillingness to give up in the face of heartache and struggle; College Bound’s role was to ensure she had the tools that she needed. Thanks to unrestricted funding provided by the Tilles Foundation, College Bound was able to do just that.
So much of College Bound’s success is due to the foundation of trust established with students and the community they serve. Over the past year, the Tilles Foundation has invested time and thoughtfulness in working with the College Bound team to learn about what kind of partnerships will propel College Bound into the future.
To learn more about College Bound, visit www.cbo4success.org.