Free event informs families about financial aid opportunities and helps them apply

DC College Goal Sunday will help students and families apply college financial aid on Feb. 8 from 2 p.m. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Library and THEARC.  During these tough economic times, students and families need all the financial assistance they can get and completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the key to getting some of the more than $100 billion in college aid awarded every year.

Unfortunately, many students don’t complete the FAFSA and miss out on financial aid because they don’t think they will qualify for aid or because the application is too complex and time-consuming. 

DC College Goal Sunday works to get these students and families financial aid by providing accurate information and making the aid application process easy.  Expert counselors will provide one-on-one counseling to students and parents and help them through each step of the application process.

In addition, counselors at DC College Goal Sunday will help attendees complete the DC OneApp - the only application a college-bound DC resident needs to complete to apply for four grants and up to $10,000 per year.

In addition, DC College Goal Sunday attendees will be given accurate information about the all the financial aid available to them.  DC College Goal Sunday will be held at the Martin Luther King Library in Chinatown and at THEARC (1901 Mississippi Ave, SE - near the Southern Avenue Metro Station on the Green Line).

Where and When

DC College Goal Sunday will be held on Sunday Feb. 8, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time at two locations.

1.      The Martin Luther King Library in Chinatown  901 G St, NW - Near the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro Station on the Green, Yellow and Red lines

2.      THEARC - 1901 Mississippi Ave Near the Southern Avenue Metro Station on the Green Line

Who Should Attend

Anyone considering attending college in 2009 should attend DC College Goal Sunday. This includes high school seniors, returning college students, and any adult returning to college to gain additional working skills. Parents and family of college-bound individuals are also encouraged to come.

Attendees should bring the following material to ensure their financial aid applications are completed accurately and on-time:

·        Social Security Number

·        Driver's license

·        2008 Federal Tax Return

·        FAFSA PIN

·        2008 W-2 Forms or year-end pay stubs

·        2008 untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits

·        2008 bank statement

·        2008 business and investment records

·        Alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

Note: Attendees should bring 2007 forms if they can’t bring 2008 versions.

Help DC CGS Help Students

DC College Goal Sunday relies on local volunteers and the community to succeed in its mission. Please help us by get the word out so students and families can take advantage of this year’s DC College Goal Sunday events. Please consider using the following methods to get the word out:

• Posting CGS information around neighborhood or office
• Telling friends, family and colleagues about CGS and how it can help them
• Notifying community leaders about CGS and encouraging them to spread the word
• Announcing the CGS events at PTA meetings

More information about DC College Goal Sunday is online at: http://collegegoalsundayusa.org/locations/dc.asp.

To request CGS promotional materials, or to volunteer to help us get the word out, contact Shelly Saunders at ssaunders@amsa.com or call 1.800.999.9080 ext. 6028

###

About College Goal Sunday

College Goal Sunday (http://www.collegegoalsundayusa.org/) is a statewide volunteer-run program that provides information and assistance, free of charge, to students and families from underserved populations who are applying for financial aid for post secondary education. College Goal Sunday brings together representatives from the financial aid community, college access programs such as TRIO, GEAR UP, and adult education, and other state and community-based organizations to help college-bound students and their families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

This form is required for any student seeking federal and state financial aid, including grants and loans at all colleges in the country. 

 Funded by Lumina Foundation for Education, College Goal Sunday is offered in 37 states plus the District of Columbia. Two additional states will be implementing in 2010.