- Worcester State University News - https://news.worcester.edu -

DCU and Reach Out for Schools Establish Textbook Fund

Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) and Reach Out for Schools have pledged $50,000 to establish a textbook fund for Worcester State students.

“I applaud DCU and Reach Out for Schools for helping our students with this academic necessity and their leadership support,” said WSC President Janelle C. Ashley. “Together, these organizations have created Worcester State Foundation’s largest textbook fund.”

DCU and Reach Out for Schools established the textbook fund to support the ongoing efforts of both organizations to further advocate the importance of a continuing education at Worcester State. In the next five years, the fund will provide approximately 200 students with $250 towards the purchase of textbooks.

“DCU’s support of the book fund to benefit Worcester State students is an investment in tomorrow’s future by taking proactive steps today to ensure that every student has the means necessary to pursue a higher education and achieve their financial goals tomorrow,” said Tim Garner, DCU’s senior vice president of marketing and strategic planning.

“The organizers of Reach Out for Schools believe that the future health and economic strength of our communities and our country depend on the successful education of our children,” said Michael Caissey, Reach Out for Schools’ board director and chairperson. “The groundwork is laid in our schools, but because schools are often lacking in resources they need to achieve or students do not have the necessary financial support to further their education, Reach Out for Schools provides support in both areas.”

The U.S. Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance’s “Turn the Page: Making College Textbooks More Affordable” report estimates that college textbooks currently cost between $700 and $1,000 per year. The report states that textbook expenses rose far more rapidly than the prices of other commodities nationwide from 1987 to 2004: 109% at four-year public colleges compared to 65% for the Consumer Price Index. The report also found that fewer financial aid packages cover textbook costs, forcing students or their parents to pay out of pocket for them.

DCU is a full-service, not for profit financial institution cooperatively owned by and operated for its members. Since being chartered in October 1979, DCU has been selected as the credit union for employees and members of more than 800 companies and organizations along with their families. With nearly $4 billion in assets, DCU is the largest credit union in New England and among the top 20 nationwide, serving over 350,000 members worldwide. DCU has 14 full-service branch offices in Massachusetts and 3 full-service branches in New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.dcu.org [1].

Founded in 2005, Reach Out for Schools is a non-profit membership organization that raises money to donate to primary and secondary schools in communities where their members reside. Members join on an annual basis or for three years. Through the use of volunteers and donated services, they are able to direct almost 100% of the money raised back to local educational programs. Funds that have been raised have been used to “adopt” local classrooms through the Adopt-A-Classroom program as well as support the DCU/Reach Out for Schools Book Fund to benefit Worcester State Students. As of December 2009, Reach Out for Schools has “adopted” 126 classrooms throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.reachoutforschools.org [2].