October 14, 2022 – Macy’s has been a supporter of the Opportunity Rising Foundation since 2011, having invested a total of $92,600 in North Texas students through scholarship grants, supply donations, and Macy’s gift cards for scholarship winners. This year, Macy’s is continuing their generosity with a $7,600 donation, with $5,500 for scholarship grants and $2,100 in gift cards.
Over the last 25 years, the Opportunity Rising Foundation, an initiative of DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas, has helped 1,173 scholars living in low-income housing pursue their collegiate goals and attend the colleges of their choice with over $1.7 million in scholarship funds awarded.
Yearly donations from donors like Macy’s are critical to ensuring scholars from low-income households have access to continuing education.
“We are honored that Macy’s continues to partner with the Opportunity Rising Foundation and invest in our scholars,” says Troy Broussard, DHA’s president and chief executive officer. “Scholarships like this help students break the cycle of poverty and achieve their dreams. Corporate partners like Macy’s directly help us award scholarships for as many as 50 to 60 scholars each year.”
More than 71% of the previous Opportunity Rising Foundation scholars were first-generation college students and 76% were able to move on to employment and no longer receive or need government assistance.
2021 scholarship recipient Ktor Johnson was able to begin attending Texas Southern University in pursuit of a degree in computer science thanks to funding from the Opportunity Rising Foundation. There, he hopes to follow his dreams of combining his love of sports with programming by pursuing a career in esports games development as a software developer.
He is grateful for donors like Macy’s. “Thank you for this opportunity,” he says. “It is helping me take care of paying for school and will help me take the classes I need to become a software developer.”
Chyrel Roseborough, DHA’s education coordinator, each year supports seniors and their parents in the scholarship application process. She urges any company or individual looking to support education and low-income families to consider donating to Opportunity Rising and help more students like Ktor pursue their dreams without the added stress of financing their education.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Macy’s for their continued dedication to helping these scholars,” said Roseborough, who has hosted the Macy’s team in Dallas in years past. “They are really making a difference in the lives of students by empowering them to make decisions about their futures without the burden of financial stress.”
Donate to the Opportunity Rising Foundation today.