Bottom Line Massachusetts Announces Milestones

Boston, Mass. (February 18, 2014) – Bottom Line Massachusetts, the local site and headquarters of a national nonprofit organization helping low-income and first-generation students get in to college and graduate, has announced several major achievement and fundraising milestones.

For the 2013-2014 school year, Bottom Line Massachusetts is working with more than 2,300 students from Worcester and the Greater Boston area – the highest-ever participation in its 17-year history. Other program milestones include:

• College Graduates: 166 Bottom Line Massachusetts students graduated from college in 2013, bringing the total to more than 900 in its 17-year history
• Retention: 87 percent of the high school class of 2007 graduated within six years, double the rate of low-income Boston-area students
• Career Opportunities: In 2013, 78 percent of Bottom Line college students in Massachusetts  had career-relevant opportunities, such as a job, fellowship or advanced degree program, upon graduation – about 25 percent higher than the national average
• Events: Go Far Forums in Boston and Worcester, Bottom Line’s biggest career events, drew record attendance of more than 600 students, graduates and local professionals. Lead corporate sponsors included Liberty Mutual, Sun Life Financial, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Boston Children’s Hospital and iRobot

“We are grateful that we can play a role in the success of thousands of dedicated students,” said Mike Wasserman, Executive Director of Bottom Line Massachusetts. “Our students are ambitious and hardworking, and we are proud to support them. Our dedicated team of counselors plays a crucial role in our students’ success, and I’m equally proud of what they’ve accomplished. “

“I think it’s important that our community knows that hardworking students in any financial or family situation are able to succeed with the right support and guidance,” said Wasserman.

Bottom Line has also hit important fundraising milestones with key grants. In August of 2012, The Lewis Family Foundation made a $2.5 million commitment.

In April of 2013, the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation pledged $1 million over five years, and last fall the State Street Foundation donated $100,000.

These crucial grants, and smaller donations from individuals and other organizations, allow Bottom Line Massachusetts to expand its impact in the local community. Nearly half of Boston’s low-income students who go to a four-year college will work with Bottom Line.

Bottom Line helps high school students through every aspect of the college application process, and provides one-on-one ongoing support for up to six years of college. Its program is divided into two basic parts.

The “Access Program” provides one-on-one guidance and support to high school juniors and seniors throughout the college application process. Bottom Line counselors help students research schools, create a final list of colleges, write essays, complete applications, apply for financial aid and scholarships, and finally make a decision about where to attend.

The “Success Program” begins when students enroll in college. Bottom Line counselors provide transitional programming during the summer before freshman year and then six years of one-on-one, in-person support once students arrive on campus. Bottom Line supports students across four areas: academics, financial aid, life issues, and career development. Counselors and students will work together on everything from choosing a major to renewing financial aid to searching for an internship.

This April, Bottom Line will celebrate its 1,000th college graduate and outline the vision for community impact and workforce development at its annual “Get In, Graduate, and Go Far Dinner” in Boston. The event will highlight students and their success stories, as well as feature a live and silent auction. More information is available at bottomline.org.

About Bottom Line – Massachusetts

Bottom Line was founded in Boston in 1997 to help disadvantaged students get in to college, graduate from college, and go far in life. What started as an organization supporting 25 Boston high school seniors has grown to support more than 2,300 high school seniors and college students from Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts. Today, Bottom Line is a national nonprofit that serves thousands of college students through its full-scale college retention program for low-income and first-generation urban students. With Bottom Line’s support, students across the country are earning college degrees, beginning successful careers, and raising themselves and their families out of poverty.

Learn more at www.bottomline.org, @BottomLineMA and at facebook.com/bottomlineinc.