Donors Reduce Financial Worries

The 1st Year of Tuition Gap Opportunity Awards, Fall 2023
Spring 2024 Semesters Has Invaluable Impact

“Thank you for investing in my future and allowing me to pursue my dreams.”  Melissa, DCI 2024 Grad
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ISABELLA:
Isabella attends UCLA and studying Life Sciences and Marine Biology. Donations have alleviated Isabella of the financial stresses caused by her tuition gap; keeping her enrolled and minimizing her debt and stress, and improving her academic performance…which is the case for all of these award recipients.​

Isabella, a DCI 2022 grad, a UCLA junior and a 2nd-year Tuition Gap Opportunity Awardee

Freshman Year Spring Semester survey response,“…I would come out short for each payment and my university would threaten to drop core classes I needed for my major that were extremely competitive. Being stressed about money during school would affect my performance in class because I was constantly stressed about how I would pay my next bill. My grades were not good and I was not as open to joining clubs because I was always thinking about tuition".

​Sophomore Year as a 1st year Award recipient, “Being stressed out over college tuition is not talked enough about as something that can seriously affect your mental health during your college experience. I am so grateful that All Out For Change is able to help me as much as they can during my college experience. They have made my sophomore year at UCLA a wonderful time and have allowed me the opportunity to attend school focusing primarily on classes and no extra worries."

Summer 2024 before Junior Year she wrote, “Last year my grades were the best I’ve gotten due to being stress free about my tuition gap, and without worrying about my classes being dropped and more. Thank you so much!” 

Beginning Junior Year: "Thank you so much once again for helping me with my tuition this quarter. I seriously appreciate all you guys do to help me complete my dreams in undergraduate pursuits! It would not be possible without you guys. Not stressing about my tuition has helped my grades and extracurriculars improve so much!"

Isabella writing her thank you note at the Awards event.

Amanuel, a 2023 DCI Grad and a sophomore at Marymount, career goal - Physical Therapist; 1st year Tuition Gap Opportunity Awardee

AMANUEL:
Freshman Year Spring Semester survey responses and our follow up conversations are helpful in adding to our understanding of what financial complications some students face and the consequences.
For Example:

• "My current annual debt is 18K with an interest ranging from 5-8%. The 12k has 8% interest while the remaining has 5.5% interest. 
•  Without receiving any more financial aid my debt would end up being approximately 75K. My tuition is not fully covered. 
• Last semester I was debating on dropping out or transferring due to my tuition gap. There was a scholarship I received that I expected to cover some of my tuition but the scholarship was not accepted by the school which took a long time to process. By the time they let me know a hold was placed on my account and I could not register for classes but I received some family support to remove the hold and finish the year…”

 He writes after learning of the tuition support we could provide: “Thank you so much! I’ve already said this but I really appreciate you all and words can’t describe how grateful I am for all your help!”

SKYLAR:
"This Tuition Gap Opportunity award helps take the pressure off of having to work so hard to afford school and will give me the break I need to maintain my mental health while striving to finish my bachelors and obtain my masters".
"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much I appreciate this. And it definitely does make focusing on class easier."

Skylar, 2021 DCI Grad at Old Dominion University, studying Speech-Language Pathology, 1st year Tuition Gap Opportunity Awardee

FRANKLIN:
Through Franklin, we conceived of the Tuition Gap Opportunity Award summer 2023 when learning in a conversation that throughout his freshman year he was working 30 hrs/wk. at Chipotle to cover his tuition gap. He’s a 2nd year awardee.

“ I can confidently say that if it hadn’t been for AOFC’s help I would have never left my old job, I would not be applying to internships and developing my career this early. I cannot stress how lifesaving All Out for Change has been when I most needed help.”

Franklin, 2022 DCI grad, junior at The Catholic University, career goal - Foreign Service, pictured hosting Global Fest

And Thanks from the All Out For Change Team

Making our student gratitude and achievement possible are individual donors (Student Debt Busters), and organizations (Onward & Upward Funding partners), who have pitched in each year for the last 3 years: Dupont Circle Pharmacy; The Lido Civic Club; James W. Cocco, CPA; Dupont Building Services & Epic Consolidated Services; Infinity Design Solutions;  The Donohoe Companies, Inc.
Investment in our ambitious goal-oriented scholars’ present ensures their future success. Wait till you hear what Anthony, our opera grad, has been up to, and where Luz and Damaris are going after getting their degrees in 2025. 
Our select group of grads from DCI have achieved completion of a rigorous, bi-lingual college prep International Baccalaureate program for all, and received college scholarships and partial financial aid packages; however they don’t have the funds to cover the shortfall and other college related expenses.
Donations assist them with essentials like laptops, textbooks, local transportation & travel, dorm & school supplies, tuition gaps, food, housing, and more to reduce crippling debt & keep them in college.

​Become a Student Debt Buster

DONATE FOR SPRING SEMESTER SUPPORT

​Inspiring, Eye-Opening & Informative Videos

Our event videographer has captured the essence of  DC International Charter School grads’ Supplemental Scholarship support in a 1 minute video, How Does All Out for Change® Make a Difference. You’ll find illuminating content on our private YouTube page. ​