A foundation giving some Central Coast high school students the chance to get their first year of college for free got a major grant from a utility company.
The Allan Hancock Foundation received $50,000 from the PG&E Foundation.
The money is going to what’s known as the Hancock Promise endowment. Graduating high school students who live within the college district’s boundaries can get their first year of tuition, and fees covered by the program.
The idea is to remove barriers for young adults to continue their educations. The Santa Maria-based college's endowment has $6.5 million in gifts and pledges, and is working to build it to $10 million.