As we all know, Election Day is quickly approaching. Early voting and voting-by-mail has already started, with in-person voting happening on Tuesday, November 3. This year, residents who live and vote in the City of Cleveland will have an important issue to vote on at the end of their ballots: Issue 68, an imperative school levy for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Issue 68 is a renewal of a levy originally passed by voters in 2012 and renewed in the November 2016 election, plus a slight increase. The increase is minimal and will add only $7 a month to the median Cleveland home value. However, the cost to CMSD and so many of its community partners, like College Now, will be staggering if this issue does not pass.

Without Issue 68, CMSD will lose $66 million per year and will face immediate cuts. It is critical that Issue 68 pass to continue the great work being done in CMSD and to ensure students are able to continue receiving the services and supports they need to succeed in school and graduate prepared for college and a career.

A vote FOR Issue 68 is a vote for the future of Cleveland's students. We urge Cleveland voters to vote FOR Issue 68 and to spread the word to all those you know who live in Cleveland to do the same. This will be the very last issue on the ballot - make sure you fill out your ballot completely and don't miss it!

For more information on Issue 68, please visit the campaign website, where you will also find links to Issue 68's social media pages.

On Tuesday, October 27, College Now CEO Lee Friedman was recognized with a group of other local leaders as a recipient of the 2020 Corporate College Smart 50 Awards, presented by Smart Business.

The 2020 Corporate College Smart 50 Awards celebrates Northeast Ohio's top executives and recognizes their talent to effectively build and lead innovative and "smart" organizations. Lee and College Now were recognized for the impact that College Now has in giving back to the community, through advising services, scholarships, mentoring, and the creation of a culture of "college knowledge" that College Now helps promote with students across Northeast Ohio. College Now and all other 2020 Corporate College Smart 50 Award recipients were recognized at a virtual event.

College Now is honored to receive such recognition and congratulates the entire class of 2020 Corporate College Smart 50 Award recipients!

As we all continue to navigate COVID and the devastating implications of the pandemic, College Now is so grateful to all our philanthropic supporters – from recent alumni seeking to pay it forward to hundreds of individual donors to longstanding foundation funders to local, regional, and national corporations. We would neither have been able to pivot so quickly nor proactively to effectively adapt our work providing virtual services through a variety of technological platforms to individuals across our community without each one of our supporters!

Union Home Mortgage is one such critical partner through its Union Home Mortgage Foundation. Created in 2015, the Foundation’s focus has been to equip families with the tools and resources necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency through its focus on four areas: financial literacy, career readiness, education, and housing. With College Now, Union Home Mortgage Foundation has generously supported our high school advising program, which helps students identify and then get to and through their postsecondary education by providing in-depth, best-in-class, career and college exploration, college access services, and financial aid counseling. 

Since Union Home’s inception in 1970 as a licensed independent mortgage banker, it has continued to expanded, with activity in 44 states and Washington, D.C. Headquartered in Strongsville, today Union Home has over 1,300 employees and loan production over $6 billion. In addition to its philanthropy, Union Home is committed to growing its talent through its innovative, paid internship program for college students. Since 2012, the program, which has involved almost 400 students representing more than 40 colleges and universities, has resulted in 67 new employees. Union Home Mortgage makes this opportunity available to College Now’s scholarship recipients, and ten of its employees also serve as mentors to our scholarship recipients.

College Now is grateful for our deepening partnership with Union Home Mortgage, for its commitment to our work, and its support of the college to career pathway. Thank you, Union Home!

Did you know that November 8th is the National First-Generation College Celebration? College Now and Team Mentor congratulate all of our colleagues, clients, and mentors who are/were the first in their families to attend college. Your trailblazing has made a real difference! Make sure to follow College Now’s social media accounts – particularly Instagram (@college_nowgc) and Facebook (@collegenow) – to engage with first-generation-specific content the second week of November. If you are a first-generation student, we’d love to hear from you!

College Now is ready to help students and their families have a strong school year by offering free virtual Key Events! These events will give students and families a chance to hear from College Now advisors on everything from how to have a strong senior year to college admissions during COVID-19 and more.

Virtual events will continue throughout the school year and are open to students and families in all districts. To review College Now's upcoming virtual events and register for sessions, visit College Now's website. Events are listed on the calendar at the bottom of the page.

You can get started on your FAFSA by visiting the Federal Student Aid website. If you need help completing your form, students and families can contact their College Now advisor or the College Now Resource Center for assistance.