Leah Cronn and Marathon Match Scholars and Sponsors

With the cost of getting a college education steadily rising, even promising students are having to forgo the dream of an advanced degree. It's not a new story, but one which Leah Cronn and her partners wanted to rewrite with a happy ending, which is why they started Marathon Education Partners. The program is simple in its brilliance and wise in its execution. The idea is to match promising students with willing sponsors who agree to pledge $100/month toward the students future college education. The students are chosen in the fourth grade when they are matched with their sponsors and a savings and investment fund is set up, but the relationship is more than just financial. The program also includes mentoring in the form of encouragement and guidance as well as a social component. The students and their sponsors participate regularly in local community events that give back to the individuals, families and businesses that contribute on many levels to support Marathon's mission of "providing encouragement, guidance, and a higher education sponsorship opportunity to children with financial need." It's a model worth taking a look at, considering their success rate. Since starting in 2002, they have helped more than 70 children realize their dream of a higher education. Does your community have a program that sponsors education for local students?