Our Impact
Closing the Gap Closing the Gap was founded on the principle of helping youth between the seventh grade and beyond reach their highest potential through preparation, education, and vocation. We identify and support local, innovative programs that are working towards to eliminate the achievement and career gaps in our schools. Throughout the past 11 years CTG has supported programs that serve under-served high school students with tutoring, SAT prep, and college admission coaching, and creating career goals that lead them to becoming successful in their life goals.
For the past 11 years, Closing the Gap has distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to innovative programs that help students overcome the achievement gap. Together with and through the programs that have been funded, Closing the Gap is proud of the fact that:
For the past 11 years, Closing the Gap has distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to innovative programs that help students overcome the achievement gap. Together with and through the programs that have been funded, Closing the Gap is proud of the fact that:
- 1,700+ students have received college readiness counseling
- 1,800+ students received scholarships a financial aid tutoring
- Nearly 1,000 students participated in college tours
- Nearly 1,000 received SAT preparation
- 500+ received academic tutoring
When a program applies to Closing the Gap for funding, our evaluation team vets the program’s impact, reviews its fiscal stability, and then makes a recommendation on whether to award a grant. Local programs that receive funding are often partnered with other funded programs to yield the biggest bang for every dollar Closing the Gap raises. Each year our reach to local students has increased to where are funded programs collectively touch thousands of students with tutoring, SAT prep, college admission coaching, and in-home counseling.
We live, work and serve in and around the Sacramento region. These are our children, in our own backyard, in our community, and we are committed to helping them achieve their academic and career goals and dreams. In order to do this we believe that we must work towards eliminating the academic achievement gap.
We live, work and serve in and around the Sacramento region. These are our children, in our own backyard, in our community, and we are committed to helping them achieve their academic and career goals and dreams. In order to do this we believe that we must work towards eliminating the academic achievement gap.
OUR STUDENTS
Learn how Closing the Gap has impacted the lives of students in the Sacramento region.
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Herman Tillman
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Grecia Frias
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Angela Teurn
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Jorge DeLuna
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FUNDED PROGRAMS
Closing the Gap funds programs that provide tutoring, college counseling, career guidance, and real world experience to students in the Sacramento region.
For the 2020-2021 school year, Closing the Gap funded the following programs:
For the 2020-2021 school year, Closing the Gap funded the following programs:
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Improve Your Tomorrow
This is the 10th consecutive year that Closing the Gap has funded the Improve Your Tomorrow programs Once again, Closing the Gap awarded Improve Your Tomorrow $10,000 to pay for transportation associated with college tours during the 2020-2021 academic year. The tours provide students with an opportunity to participate in student panel discussions, admission and financial aid sessions, sports activities and attend an actual college class. Michael Lynch (Co-Founder, CEO) and Michael Casper (Co-Founder, COO) grew up in South Sacramento, graduated from Valley High School, earned four year college degrees, and then launched successful careers in California’s legislature and in banking. They returned to their neighborhood to help the thousands of students facing challenging environments, achieve their fullest potential. Closing the Gap is proud to support the work that Michael L. and Michael C. started nine years ago. Through their vision and the efforts of the Improve Your Tomorrow team, has worked to "break the school to prison pipeline by helping young men of color get to and through college." (improveyourtomorrow.org) |
Sacramento Police Foundation Criminal Justice Academy
The Sacramento Police Foundation’s Criminal Justice Academy program was awarded $10,000 by Closing the Gap for the 2020-2021 academic year to continue providing SAT Preparation. Additionally, the Sacramento Police Foundation intends to use the funds to provide college preparatory mentoring and a financial literacy course for all junior-year Criminal Justice Academy students. This is the 12th year that the Sacramento Police Foundation has been selected for a grant. It has used the funds to put students on track for attending four year universities through SAT preparation and through counseling that assures students have completed high school courses necessary for college admission. Criminal Justice and Law Academies operate at four Sacramento-area high schools: CK McClatchy Grant Union Hiram Johnson John F. Kennedy |
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EagleForce Robotics
Inspiring students to achieve in areas of science and math is a common goal of Closing the Gap and EagleForce Robotics. Closing the Gap awarded $7,000 grant during 2020-2021 to EagleForce Robotics to purchase essential tools and equipment allowing students participating in the program to create and develop robots for competition. |
College Track Sacramento
College Track Sacramento’s College Completion Program assists students as they navigate the college access, enrollment and completion processes. The program provides students with college exposure opportunities, best-fit college application support, and financial aid application assistance. During the 2017-18 school year, College Track Sacramento’s founding class submitted their college applications. Of the students who submitted applications, 100 percent are attending college this school year, including three students on full-ride scholarships. Closing the Gap is awarded College Track Sacramento $10,000 for the 2020-2021 school year to continue serving students through its College Completion Program. |