The San Diego Foundation (SDF) has announced a four-year, $4 million commitment in support of its college access program for local high school students experiencing homelessness and related challenges.

The funds directed to the Community Scholars Initiative will bolster efforts by the foundation’s nonprofit partners providing services to high school students who are without a permanent home, in the foster care system, or learning English and help them prepare for, pay for, and graduate from college. The initiative also provides student scholarships. According to SDF, among San Diego County high school students only 8 percent of youth in foster care or without a permanent home—and just 4 percent of students learning English—graduate from high school.

In addition to the latest commitment, the foundation announced gifts to the program, including a $1 million anonymous gift and a $500,000 matching gift from SDF’s Barbara Monroe Scholarship Fund.

“We are grateful to our donors for these significant gifts that will help local young people pursue a quality education and grow our region’s future leaders,” said SDF president and CEO Mark Stuart. “The success of our region depends on local students, especially those furthest from opportunity.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Feverpitched)