The Friedman Fund For new New Yorkers Invites LaGuardia Students of any Citizenship Status to Apply for Assistance
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY—(October 16, 2024) – LaGuardia Community College/CUNY is providing access to higher education to new New Yorkers who dream of earning a college degree or workforce training to secure good jobs.
In recent years, the LaGuardia Community College Foundation has given financial support exceeding $4 million to 3,000 students each year. With the Friedman Fund for new New Yorkers, LaGuardia will now be able to commit a larger sum to students of any U.S. non-citizen status.
The Friedman Fund for new New Yorkers is generously funded with a $1,500,000 commitment from the Friedman Family. The Friedman Family is headed by a vibrant couple who carved out significant New York careers. They are familiar with the diverse mosaic of New York City and understand the connections between education, aspiration, achievement and a stronger city and region.
“When we stepped back from our professional careers,” the Friedmans said, “We were interested in giving back to New York City. Our interests led us to CUNY and to LaGuardia Community College for its diversity and critical role in working with immigrants, old and new, in degree, literacy and career-building initiatives. We were gratified to find partners at LaGuardia who shared our vision for a great city.”
President Kenneth Adams said the college is grateful to The Friedman Family for their commitment and support of LaGuardia’s mission to offer access to a quality education to students of any citizenship status.
“Our conversations with the Friedmans were fascinating,” President Adams said. “This family has a passion for helping in ways that feel right to them, and this led them to focus on new New Yorkers and their needs. They, like all of us at LaGuardia, believe that it is possible for New York to address the challenges of integrating all kinds of aspiring New Yorkers by public education and workforce development. What LaGuardia’s donors add is invaluable privately funded quality-of-life student aid.”
Through the Friedman Fund for new New Yorkers, students of any non-citizen status at LaGuardia will receive support through scholarships, experiential learning stipends, and emergency aid through LaGuardia CARES (College Access for Retention and Economic Success) which connects students with resources, referrals and local community services to overcome financial barriers, stay in school and graduate. Students can apply for financial program that is appropriate for their interest and need through https://www.laguardia.edu/scholarships/.
Jay Golan, Executive Director of the LaGuardia Foundation says the generous support from the Friedman Family will offer opportunities for LaGuardia to offer more support to all students.
“The Friedmans understand that a true commitment to new New Yorkers at LaGuardia extends to all of our major areas of support,” Golan said. “They agreed also to help establish the Friedman Fellows, a kind of Peace Corps within LaGuardia, for new New Yorkers who will be trained to help their fellow students in critical offices such as LaGuardia CARES and The Center for Career and Professional Development.”
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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