<p>Hello my name is George L. Cook III. I am a councilman in Hillside NJ and also a trustee on the Union County College Foundation Board.</P>
<p>We have a program called Close the Gap that gives small scholarships to help students graduate on time.</P>
<p>Working with local governmental officials and community leadership they developed the Close The Gap Campaign to provide financial assistance to students approaching graduation as well as resources for other academic needs. This program has already had an impact on student success which has translated into nearly doubling the African American male graduation rate in one year.</P>
<p>A donation as small as $5 can help a student get a book or be able to pay for that last class they need to graduate and continue on to a career or further their education.</P>
<p>Thanks to the support of the Close the Gap fund, graduation rates for African American male students have more than doubled in the last two years.</P>
<p>I am asking for your help with small (or big) donations to the Close the Gap Fund to help these students and increase that graduation rate.</P>
