Grants & Scholarships
Kalamazoo Communities In Schools administers a limited number of small grants and scholarships. Grants are given to encourage and support projects that directly involve students or provide professional development and training opportunities for staff involved in a project's implementation. Most of our scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors of the Kalamazoo Public Schools. The 2009-10 Grants Guide is now available. Please click here to access it. If you would like to complete a typewritten grant application, you may download a version of the Grants Guide that will allow you to type your answers directly into the application before printing and submitting it. Please click here to access this version.
Kalamazoo Area Academic Achievement Program (KAAAP) Scholarship
In 1991 the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce implemented the Kalamazoo Area Academic Achievement Program (KAAAP), a mentoring program that connected adult mentors from the community with area school children. KAAAP also developed incentives to encourage students to graduate from high school with the education, knowledge, work habits and motivations to realize their potential.
Students were selected in the fourth grade and, upon graduation, were eligible for scholarship money toward college costs based on their attendance, conduct, standardized test scores and academic achievement. Since the consolidation of KAAAP, KPEF, and Healthy Futures/Communities In Schools in 2003, the program has stopped accepting new students. However, KCIS continues to administer the scholarships to students who were enrolled in the program prior to the merger.
You may download information related to eligibility and scholarship renewal by clicking here.
Please contact the scholarship coordinator at (269) 337-1601, x205 or by email if you have questions about your eligibility or scholarship renewal.
Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run® is a non-profit prevention program that encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. Our curriculum addresses all aspects of girls' development - their physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well-being.
Girls on the Run® is delivered to girls in 3rd through 5th grade each spring in many schools and community organizations throught the Greater Kalamazoo area and combines self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts with training for a 5k run/walk celebration event.
Kalamazoo Communities In Schools is the fiduciary for the Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run® (GKGOTR). For more information on Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run®, visit their website.
Children's Defense Fund Freedom School
The Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools program is a literacy-rich summer program designed to serve children in communities where quality academic enrichment programming is rare, cost-prohibitive or non-existent. CDF Freedom Schools programs feature a model curriculum for reading enrichment, youth leadership development, cultural enrichment, parent empowerment, civic engagement, and social action. In partnership with schools, churches, community-based organizations, and colleges and universities, through Freedom Schools, the Children's Defense Fund boosts children's motivation to read and generates positive attitudes towards learning, while connecting the needs of children and families to the resources of the community. A key goal of the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools program is leadership development: identifying, training, linking, and nurturing the next generation of servant-leaders. CDF Freedom Schools programs are staffed primarily by college-aged young adults who are committed to active lives of leadership and service for children.
We are proud to announce that a CDF Freedom School program will be in the Kalamazoo community this summer! This program is sponsored by Kalamazoo Communities In Schools and will be hosted at New Life Fellowship Church, located at 1912 Birch Street off of Mt. Olivet. We will be serving 80 scholars in K-12th grade, from June 29-July 31st, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday-Friday. Priority will be given to children attending Kalamazoo Public Schools residing in the Eastside neighborhood. Second priority will be given to Edison neighborhood youth. Please contact Demarra Gardner, Executive/Program Director if you are interested in enrolling your child, would like to make a donation, or would like to volunteer, at change.agent.consulting@gmail.com or 337-1601 x210. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis until April 15th.
To learn more, please visit www.freedomschools.org.