Today's dreams are tomorrow's reality. The Troy City School District in Troy, Ohio is helping students of all ages learn that fundamental truth through The Future Begins Today.

The Future Begins Today is more than a college access program. It is a warm smile, a helping hand, a lunch partner. It is a friend.

"The Future Begins Today is community at its very best," said Cheryl B. Cotner, Executive Director of the organization. "It demonstrates how caring and commitment can change the world, one child at a time."

The Future Begins Today launched as a lunch buddy program in 1993. In 2000, the organization expanded to include Lunch Buddy programs for students at risk of not being successful in school as well as Homework Helpers four days a week in seven public elementary schools; College Day for all 6^th graders, and college visits to area campuses; career planning and Leadership Clubs for students in junior high school; and Last-Dollar Grants and financial aid counseling for students entering college or already there. The Future Begins Today also funds an after-school Leadership Club program in seven schools and hosts several family fun nights.

The Future Begins Today created the FORMS Program to assist high school seniors and parents in Filling Out Required Materials for Students.  Three separate financial aid nights are held at the high school each year directed by a college financial aid officer.

"The Future Begins Today works to build good study skills and good life skills," Cotner said. "We focus on everything from career counseling to family connections. And we do it through the generous support of the entire community. The delicious Strawberry Salsa we created for the Strawberry Festival is sold year round at area businesses as well as on our web site. (www.TheFutureBeginsToday.org). It provides funds for our college grants."

Donations of time, talent and treasure make the program work, with dozens of volunteers committed to the community's kids.

"The future of Troy's educational success is just beginning," Cotner said. "By reaching kids at a tender age, we're opening their eyes to life choices they never even imagined. If they grow up hearing about college, learning about college and thinking about college, there's no question that college will be in their future. They'll have the confidence to proceed, and the skills to succeed.

"This is a program that gets results," Cotner continued. "We know this is worthwhile when we get a call from a kid in college telling us he couldn't have been there without us. We know it when we see an eighth-grader asking questions about colleges and career choices. We know it when a shy little lunch buddy sits across the table from us, and he smiles."

For more information on The Future Begins Today, write to:

Cheryl B. Cotner
Executive Director
 P. O. Box 511
Troy, OH 45373

Phone: (937) 332-0467
Fax: (937) 335-7757
E-mail: ccotner@thefuturebeginstoday.org

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