Every Child Deserves Exceptional Learning Opportunities
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation believes that every child deserves exceptional learning opportunities in order to unlock their full potential and achieve their educational aspirations.
The Foundation strives to create a community where young minds are nurtured and supported throughout their educational journey, from early childhood to career readiness. We envision a future where all children have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten education, families can choose to attend a school that will help their children achieve educational gains, and simplify pathways to high-demand jobs after graduation.
Through varied civic initiatives, the Foundation has been at the forefront of projects aimed at empowering individuals and our community.
Historical projects furthering educational excellence include:
Scholarships
The Foundation manages over 20 scholarship funds on behalf of our donors. These scholarships provide students with financial assistance for their higher education endeavors and range from one-time awards of $500 to four-year scholarships totaling as much as $12,000. To date, we have issued more than $250,000 of scholarships funding to students.
New Schools for Baton Rouge
In 2013, the Foundation, alongside our generous donors, established New Schools for Baton Rouge. Now an independent nonprofit, New Schools is dedicated to identifying and supporting prospective charter school operators with the goal of enhancing educational opportunities in our community. Now, more than 10,000 students in East Baton Rouge Parish are enrolled in schools that were recruited and are held accountable by New Schools for Baton Rouge.
Non-collegiate Pathways
Not all students pursue a 4-year degree after high-school graduation, but that does not make them less deserving of a meaningful career that pays a living wage. We have led initiatives focused on providing essential career-centered training opportunities to students. One such project is the Automotive Training Center (ATC), which equips students with the necessary skills and certifications for various sectors of the automotive industry. In addition, we were involved in planning the EBR Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) to ensure that high school students have access to high-quality, industry-aligned training, leading to valuable credentials and dual enrollment opportunities.
Education Impact Fund
To further expand our impact, we’ve launched the Education Impact Fund. This fund brings together resources from partners and stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes for every child in Baton Rouge. By pooling resources and expertise, we seek to address systemic challenges and implement sustainable solutions that benefit every child in our community.
Community Level Data
Moving forward, the Foundation is exploring community-level data through our Opportunity Data Project to understand how future civic initiatives can best meet the needs of students in our region. These education-specific briefings are expected to be released in 2024.
For More Information
Contact us for more information or to get involved.
Eric Dexter
Vice President of Civic Leadership Initiatives