DENVER, Colo., September 22, 2015 - The Community College of Denver (CCD) Foundation is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaborative relationship with The Western Union Foundation, which includes a grant of $100,000 in scholarship funding and Western Union employee volunteerism.

Many CCD students pursuing an associate degree or certificate must work while going to college in order to support themselves and their families. The grant funding from the Western Union Foundation will provide a $2,000 scholarship to 50 hardworking students who are first in their family to attend college and have unmet financial needs. The majority of these scholarships will go to qualified female candidates, part of the Western Union Foundation’s larger efforts to support educational opportunities for women and girls.

“Education plays a powerful role in changing people’s lives for better—translating into stronger, more resilient communities and economies worldwide,” said Patrick Gaston, president, The Western Union Foundation. “Our cooperation with the CCD Foundation enforces our mission to support educational programs not only around the world but also in our local Denver community."

According to Colorado Succeeds[*], 74 percent of Colorado’s workforce needs forecasted for 2020 will require a post-secondary education. Community colleges will continue to be an important source of education and workforce training to ensure Colorado’s education system meets the workforce demands of the future. The Western Union Foundation is proud to provide scholarships to help many first-generation college students in Denver get the education to help them build better futures and contribute positively to Colorado economy.

“This grant addresses an important segment of CCD’s student population, Denver Public School graduates who are the first in their family to attend college and need financial assistance to attend college,” said Everette Freeman, president of CCD. “Thanks to The Western Union Foundation, 50 students who could not otherwise afford to attend college will be able to do so.”

While CCD manages the selection process, more than 70 Western Union employees in Englewood’s global headquarters have volunteered to help review scholarship applications. This speaks to the commitment of Western Union employees in donating their time to support CCD and their students.

For more information about CCD scholarships, visit CCD.edu/Scholarships.

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About CCD

With more than 10,000 students, Community College of Denver (CCD) is the third-largest community college in Colorado and a leading point of entry to higher education for the city and county of Denver. CCD provides a cost-effective, high-quality college education to nontraditional students, along with access and opportunity, workforce development, training resources for local organizations and community partnerships. CCD is a federally funded Hispanic Serving Institution (HIS) and is one of 13 community colleges in the Colorado Community College System (CCCS).

About CCD Foundation

The Community College of Denver Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on engaging individuals, foundations, and corporations in supporting CCD in its commitment to be the most welcoming, diverse, and excellent community college in the metro-Denver area. Through scholarships to students, programmatic and faculty support, and capital enhancements, the Foundation invests in deserving CCD students—ensuring they have access to a high quality, relevant education. Learn more at CCD-Foundation.org.

About The Western Union Foundation

The Western Union Foundation is dedicated to creating a better world, where the ability to realize dreams through economic opportunity is not just a privilege for the few but a right for all.  Through its signature program, Education for Better, and with the support of The Western Union Company, its employees, Agents, and business partners, The Western Union Foundation works to realize this vision by supporting education and disaster relief efforts as pathways toward a better future.  Our combined social ventures efforts make life better for individuals, families and communities around the world.  Since its inception, The Western Union Foundation has paid more than $103 million in grants and other giving.  These funds have been pledged to more than 2,760 nongovernmental organizations in more than 136 countries and territories. The Western Union Foundation, is a separate §501(c)(3) recognized United States charity.  To learn more, visit WesternUnionFoundation.org, or Follow us on Twitter @TheWUFoundation.