FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2009            

CONTACT: Emily Jacobs or Natalie Rule 651.917.3525               

President Obama Praises Admission Possible

as a Program Making a Difference

Washington, D.C. –President Barack Obama praised the work of Admission Possible at a White House event today highlighting innovative programs making a difference in communities across the country.  President Obama discussed the importance of searching outside Washington to find and expand successful community solutions, and challenged foundations and philanthropists to join in this effort.

President Obama singled out Admission Possible at the event, saying, “We’ve got Jim McCorkell here from Admission Possible, a group that helps promising young people from low-income families attend college.  Ninety-nine percent of the Admission Possible class of 2008 got into college – 99 percent.  The vast majority of students stay in college and earn their degrees.  Admission Possible operates in just two states now, so imagine if it were ten or 20 or 50.”

Event photo featuring President Obama and CEO Jim McCorkell

is below.  For a full transcript of the event, click here.

McCorkell joined other social innovators invited by the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation at the event held in the East Room of The White House. President Obama said the programs featured at today’s event and other programs like them have the potential to make progress in education, training, health care, and other areas in more communities across the country.

Jim McCorkell said after the event, “There are amazing results-oriented and innovative nonprofits working across the nation that – with the support needed – could grow to scale and create life-changing outcomes for individuals, communities and our nation.  Admission Possible is ready to take on this challenge and we applaud President Obama and this Congress in taking on this initiative.” 

The President announced that he is asking Melody Barnes, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and her innovation team to search outside of Washington for the programs that can most effectively transform communities and change lives.

The Office of Social Innovation will count among its resources the Social Innovation Fund, authorized at $50 million in its first year by the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.  Through this fund, federal dollars will be invested in ideas from the social sector that are proven to improve outcomes in solving some of the nation’s most challenging domestic issues.

The President also called on foundations, philanthropists, and others in the private sector to partner with the government to find and invest in these innovative, high-impact solutions.  Now more than ever, the President stressed the need to build cross-sector partnerships to transform our schools, improve the health of Americans, and employ more people in clean energy and other emerging industries.  He pointed to community solutions as key to helping to build the new foundation for the economy and the nation. 

To read more about today’s events, the Social Innovation Fund, or view photos, videos and transcripts from the event, go to www.WhiteHouse.gov.  Photos, video and transcripts should be available within 24 hours of the event.

ABOUT ADMISSION POSSIBLE

Admission Possible is a nonprofit organization founded in Minnesota in 2000 and dedicated to helping promising low-income high school students prepare for and earn admission to college by providing ACT/SAT test preparation, admissions and financial aid consulting and guidance in the transition to college.  Admission Possible serves 1,400 students at 19 high schools in the Greater Twin Cities, more than 100 students in three high schools Greater Milwaukee, and 2,200 program graduates in achieving college completion.  Since 2000, 98 percent of Admission Possible students have been admitted to college.  www.AdmissionPossible.org

# # # #

Image Gallery: White House
In remarks at a White House event on social innovation, President Obama praised Admission Possible's work. Photo: Jim McCorkell (center), Admission Possible founder & CEO speaks with the President. L-R: Admission Possible co-founder Chris Greenhow and Steve Goldsmith, Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).