CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County Community College announced it has received a $500,000 gift from Sam and Anne-Marie Petros to help students overcome any financial hardships during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“It’s easy for one lost paycheck or sudden expense to interrupt someone’s education and become a barrier,” said Sam Petros, CEO of Petros Homes and president of Petros Development Group. “When we learned how Tri-C students were struggling during the pandemic, we wanted to do something that would have immediate impact. We believe in helping people who are trying to help themselves.”
The Petros Family Student Relief Fund will offer emergency aid and tuition assistance for students enrolled in academic and workforce training programs, which will help fill a gap by providing support to students who do not qualify for federal funding.
“Even the most resilient and determined individual needs help at times,” said Anne-Marie Petros in a news release. “Investing in each other is the foundation of a strong community. It is our privilege to help Tri-C students achieve and show them the community believes in their potential.”
The program will be available during the upcoming summer session. One goal of the program is to help low-income women with children, a population hit particularly hard by the crisis.
The average scholarship award from the Tri-C Foundation is around $1,000 per student, after they take advantage of other financial aid incentives.
“This could help up to 500 individuals come in and access education and training they need to really get back on their feet after this terrible crisis," said Megan O’Bryan, president, Tri-C Foundation.
Students can apply here.
