We’re excited to announce the success of our recent College Savings Workshop, held in partnership with CalKIDS and Semillitas on September 25th! During the event, local families claimed 140 college savings accounts, totaling an impressive $46,500.
At the workshop, families learned how CalKIDS provides newborns and eligible low-income public school students with an initial deposit toward college savings. They also discovered how Semillitas offers up to $50 for all newborns in Santa Cruz County. With hands-on assistance, attendees verified their eligibility and successfully claimed their accounts.
Held at Sequoia High School, the event was accessible in Spanish, with Mixteco and English interpretation. It was made even more impactful through the support of our amazing community partners, including Salud Para La Gente, First 5 Santa Cruz – Triple P – Positive Parenting, Dientes, Central California Alliance for Health, and PVUSD’s Family Engagement and Wellness Center. Many of these organizations help families earn additional deposits into their Semillitas accounts by attending parenting classes, well-child visits, and more!
The Power of College Savings
Research shows that children with college savings accounts of up to $500 are three times more likely to enroll in college and nearly four times more likely to graduate. In Santa Cruz County, families are fortunate to have access to two outstanding programs providing free funds for college and career training:
- Semillitas, a local program funded by Santa Cruz Community Ventures and partners, offers free college savings for all children born to Santa Cruz County parents after December 31, 2020.
- CalKIDS, a state-funded program administered by the State Treasurer’s Office, is available to all California children born after July 1, 2022, and to students in grades 1-12 who qualify as low-income, are foster youth, or are experiencing homelessness.
Both programs are inclusive, available to youth regardless of citizenship or documentation status, and together can provide up to $2,000 per student. These free funds grow over time, come with tax advantages, and can be used for college or career training by the time the student turns 25 — no strings attached!
Through programs like Semillitas and CalKIDS, every child in Santa Cruz County has the opportunity to build a strong foundation for their future. We encourage schools and families to learn more about these initiatives, enabling more families to access their college savings accounts and secure a bright future for their children.
🌱 Learn more about Semillitas: https://www.semillitas.org/
🎓 Learn more about CalKIDS:https://calkids.org/get-started/
