The Education Foundation of Sarasota County has received a grant of $10,000 from Bank of America to support PLANit Sarasota’s work to create more opportunities for underserved youth to pursue education after high school. PLANit Sarasota is the local college access network (LCAN) of Sarasota County. With the Education Foundation serving as the convening organization, PLANit Sarasota comprises over 40 education, community, philanthropic, and business partners that work collectively to increase its impact and help more students complete education after high school. Its long-term goal is to increase the percentage of working-age adults in Sarasota County with a college degree or a high-value certificate to 60% by 2030. Through this funding from Bank of America, PLANit Sarasota will host career explorations, where students can engage directly with local businesses to learn about career opportunities and find out how they can prepare for higher-skilled, higher-wage, and in-demand jobs. At previous career exploration events, students have met with representatives from Bank of America, Florida Power and Light (FPL), PGT Industries, and Coke Florida. This grant will support PLANit Sarasota’s outreach efforts in low-income communities to reach those students most in need of extra support to plan and prepare for life after high school. PLANit Sarasota will connect with students, who can receive free comprehensive support at the Education Foundation’s community resource center, LaunchPad4U, conveniently located in the Rosemary District near downtown Sarasota. This grant from Bank of America will also help PLANit Sarasota host more Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) open houses across the county as well as virtually. These open houses are free to students and families, who can work one on one with an expert financial aid advisor to complete this vital step in the college-application process. The Education Foundation is grateful to Bank of America for its long-standing support of its work to open pathways for students, especially underserved students, to graduate high school more equipped to thrive.