GOING TO COLLEGE? GOT FAFSA?

Senator Coons Sponsors Super Saturday at Sarah Pyle Academy in Wilmington

The clock is running out to get free assistance with FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and tax assistance

(Wilmington, DE ) - Students and their families looking for help navigating the world of financial aid now have access to volunteer coaches that will help them fill out FAFSA - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This event, sponsored by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and the Christina School District, will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at Sarah Pyle Academy, 501 N. Lombard Street, Wilmington.

"Planning for college can be daunting for many students and their families, but it's so important to a young person's future," Sen. Coons said. "Applying for federal student aid is an important first step in helping many secure the money they need to pay for college, so I hope all Delawareans who could benefit from talking to experts about student financial aid attend this free workshop at the Sarah Pyle Academy in Wilmington."

The volunteer coaches will be provided by $tand By Me, the Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership, a joint project of the State and the United Way of Delaware.

To reserve your spot, contact Andrea Collins at collinsa@christina.k12.de.us or (302) 631-2402.

The federal government gives out billions of dollars each year to help students pay for college. Don't assume you can't afford to go to college. The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid and most colleges and states also use this application to give out financial aid.

Financial aid is available, but students and their families must file the FAFSA. Volunteers from JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, TD Bank, as well as others from the community, will be on hand to help students and their families complete the forms. Since tax information is needed in order to complete the FAFSA, there will be help for individuals to file their taxes for free (income must be under $57,000 for 2011) using a web-based self-help tax program with on-site tax experts.

Christiana High School Evening FAFSA Session Also Scheduled In addition, stand By Me will sponsor a FAFSA event from 5-8 p.m. March 28 at Christiana High School, 190 Salem Church Road, Newark.

All those attending these events and who complete their FAFSA will have their names entered into a raffle to win a free laptop.

The Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership was formed to create and implement an innovative package of financial empowerment services called stand By Me. The goal is to increase the financial security of low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to the State and the United Way, the partnership includes nonprofit partners with expertise in asset-building to carry out program operations.

To learn more about $tand By Me, go to www.standbymede.org or call (302) 283-5562.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.