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Press Release
May 30, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Giles Li, 202-223-5500
Organization of Chinese Americans
OCA
INTRODUCES VERIZON FOUNDATION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
Washington, DC - The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), a national Asian
Pacific American (APA) civil rights organization with over 80 chapters and
affiliates, is teaming up with Verizon to introduce the 2002 OCA/Verizon
Foundation Scholarship Program. Twenty-five scholarships of $2,000 each will be
awarded to APA students who are planning to enter their first year of college
this fall.
Scholarships and financial aid are critical in helping students from lower
income families attain a college education. The APA population is nearly 11
million with a poverty rate of nearly 11 percent, compared with eight percent
for non-Hispanic Whites in 1999, according top the U.S. Census Bureau. Although
APAs are often made victims of the model minority myth, and thus lack access to
additonal financial resources to pay for college, most APAs do not fit into the
highly educated and wealthy category dictated by this stereotype. The
scholarship will provide opportunities to APA students who wish to pursue higher
education while facing financial difficulties.
"OCA and Verizon are dedicated to education in the APA community," commented OCA
National President George M. Ong. "It is fortunate that Verizon recognizes the
need to provide opportunities to APA students who do not have access to the
financial resources necessary to pursue higher education."
Within the last eight years, OCA has awarded over 1300 scholarships to
financially disadvantaged students through its various scholarship programs.
"Education has always been a high priority in the Asian Pacific American
community." noted Christine Chen, OCA Executive Director. "Although the average
level of education for APAs is high, the statistics are misleading. Although
there are many members of our community who have advanced degrees, there are
countless APAs who are unable to attend college because of financial
difficulties. Through our many scholarships - including the newly created
Verizon Foundation Scholarship - OCA is committed to granting deserving APA
students a chance they otherwise would not get."
Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports a
variety of programs that focus on improving basic and computer literacy,
bridging the digital divide, enriching communities through technology and
creating a skilled work force. The foundation promotes partnerships in
technology with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people
with disabilities, and the economically and socially disadvantaged. For more
information on the foundation, visit
www.verizon.com/foundation.
***
The Organization of Chinese Americans, a national civil rights organization with
82 chapters and affiliates across the country, was founded in 1973 to ensure the
civil rights of the Asian Pacific American community. It maintains its
headquarters in Washington, D.C.
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