The Idaho Community Foundation has announced $222,750 in grants to nine Idaho colleges and universities, including the College of Southern Idaho, to help low-income students and those who are the first in their family to attend college.

The College of Southern Idaho, which offers classes in the Wood River Valley although it is based in Twin Falls, received $17,000 for aid for first-generation students, including unexpected needs beyond tuition.

This fund is endowed with a $1.4 million gift from the Idaho Education Access Association, Inc. The Northwest Area Foundation Fund in ICF also contributed, providing $154,500 of the total.

This is the second year of grants under the Idaho Education Access Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation.

This year's grants were announced last week on the University of Idaho campus in Moscow in a ceremony that included remarks by University President Timothy White and Idaho Community Foundation President and CEO Cathy Silak.

"Access to quality education is critical to provide students with choices to improve their lives," White said. "I applaud the Idaho Community Foundation for providing this opportunity to first generation and other students."

"The Idaho Community Foundation is honored to provide funding to Idaho's higher education institutions to help our promising students achieve their dreams," Silak said. "Partnerships such as this are important in helping us to fulfill our mission of enriching the quality of life in Idaho."

Other grants are as follows:

• Boise State University, Boise - $23,600 to continue funding for scholarships for students from historically defined diverse ethnic groups.

• Brigham Young University - Idaho, Rexburg - $25,000 for scholarships for students who have demonstrated leadership and determination in overcoming disadvantaged backgrounds.

• College of Idaho, Caldwell - $25,000 for scholarships for Hispanic/Latino students.

• Eastern Idaho Technical College, Idaho Falls - $12,000 for the Pathways to Success Program that provides special support services to low-income students.

• Idaho State University, Pocatello - $35,900 for scholarships for non-traditional students and students in the Native American Business Administration Program.

• North Idaho College, Coeur d'Alene - $15,000 for workforce training and the professional-technical scholarship fund.

• Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa - $16,750 for scholarships for low-income and first-generation students.

• University of Idaho, $52,500 for need-based scholarships and the Student Academic Success Program, which helps students who are struggling academically.

The Idaho Community Foundation attracts assets from a wide range of donors within and outside the state of Idaho. It manages and invests its assets primarily as permanent endowment. Return from the endowment is distrib-uted to charitable organizations as grants aimed at enriching the quality of life throughout Idaho. The Idaho Community Foundation encourages citizens to join as members to help support the statewide philanthropic outreach mission. To learn more about the Foundation or join as a member, visit ICF's Web site at www.idcomfdn.org, or call 1-800-657-5357.

Posted 04/15/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Posting of press releases is done as a service to Members and does not imply endorsement or support by NASFAA. NASFAA does not review this information for content or accuracy.