Ramiro Salgado didn't know where to turn. He wanted to graduate high school but did not have the money it takes to participate in the normal activities Santa Maria High School had to offer.

"There are many things I couldn't achieve, couldn't get," said Salgado, an SMHS senior. "This brought the solution to many of my problems. There was a lot of mental anxiety. Now, I will get to those goals that I've wanted to achieve. One of those is graduating high school."

Without help, Salgado said he's not sure if would be graduating this June.

Public schools may be tuition-free, but there are many expenses associated with the typical year in high school, such as yearbooks, P.E. uniforms, class pictures, field trip fees, classroom/lab fees and graduation cap and gown.

These are just part of the additional costs of going to high school. But the above list alone totals more than $200 - something many students just can't afford.

Not all of the above are necessities, but going without them can lead to low self-esteem and a low level of dignity - something Ed Albright thinks are correlated to graduating.

"I was one of those kids. I'm very, very grateful to community people who helped me be a part of a regular high school," said Albright, founder and executive director of the American Dream Foundation and teacher at Cabrillo High School.

Advertisement

Recognized by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell as well as other state and national educators, the foundation has given more than $240,000 to Santa Barbara County comprehensive high schools over the past six years. But, so far, the money has all come from Santa Barbara businesses.

"I want to get Santa Maria businesses involved," Albright said. "I want to eliminate the can'ts."

After receiving grants from donors, Albright doles out money to each area high school - including Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Santa Maria, New Cuyama and Santa Ynez. High school counselors then use the funds to pay for certain expenses - no cash is ever given directly to students.

Connie McGuire, SMHS senior school community liaison, has distributed American Dream Foundation money since the program started.

"I use the money to remove barriers so students can achieve academic success," she said. "Some of these are basic needs, necessities. Now, they can move forward with their education."

McGuire recalls a student who graduated last year. Her parents wanted to pull her out of school because they just couldn't afford school clothes and her lunch. Money from the American Dream Foundation covered her school-related expenses, she graduated and is now going into the police academy, McGuire said.

Although most recipients are near poverty levels, not all are children of field workers. Some have dysfunctional parents or come from single-parent households, Albright said.

Righetti High School officials are holding a luncheon Monday to award foundation money to students. McGuire said she's able to help 800 students a year with American Dream Foundation money.

SMHS junior Anais Diaz has utilized foundation funding since her freshman year. She said it's definitely helped her self-esteem while lifting the burden of figuring out how to pay for things.

"The foundation is great, not just because of the money. It helps yourself, you feel a lot better," she said. "It's one less struggle, so I can emphasize all the interest I have toward my education."

With the help of the American Dream Foundation, SMHS senior Sugey Sanchez doesn't have to work. Last year, she worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken to help her family pay their bills. She worked 3 to 9 p.m. six days a week.

"It was really hard for me to keep up my grades," Sanchez said.

Since both of Salgado's parents are field workers, they are focused on paying bills for survival. When he needed school supplies, he didn't know where to turn. The foundation has since furnished him with those supplies, P.E. clothes, class fees and his graduation cap and gown.

"It relieved a lot of pain for me," he said.

Now, Salgado is applying to college - another activity that is expensive. Students need to take SATs or ACTs - at a cost of $25 to $35 each - and pay fees for colleges to process applications - which can be $40 to $55 for each college.

"I'll be the first to graduate high school and go on to college," Salgado said.

While some of the expenses aren't necessary for survival, Albright said they are keys to fitting in.

"The goal is to improve attendance, achievement and behavior, the three cardinals that every school teacher and administrator wants schools to improve on," Albright said. "For the first time, these kids feel like they belong to a school."

For more information on the American Dream Foundation or to find out how to donate, call Albright at 733-2897 or visit www.gadf.org.

* Staff writer Michelle Hatfield can be reached at 739-2216 or mhatfield@pulitzer.net.

Jan. 30, 2005