Posted on: 06/02/2025

Helios Education Foundation Awards Grants to Five Florida Organizations to Expand College Access and Completion

Partners were selected following a public request for proposals in January 2025

At Helios Education Foundation, we believe in the power of postsecondary education to transform lives and communities and are proud to announce a new round of investments. This funding supports Florida-based organizations working to increase college access, persistence, and completion for low-income and historically underrepresented students.

Through our Florida Student Postsecondary Success Request for Proposals (RFP), released earlier this year, five nonprofit organizations have been selected for their innovative and evidence-based strategies that help students chart a successful path to and through college.

“We’re proud to support these organizations as they work to advance educational success across Florida,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “They are on the frontlines of change—removing barriers to postsecondary attainment and creating new opportunities for students to thrive. We’re excited to partner with them on this important work.”

Meet the grantees:

The selected organizations represent a wide range of communities across Central Florida, South Florida, and the Tampa Bay region, each bringing a unique approach to advancing postsecondary outcomes:

Breakthrough Miami: Through its BreakthroughU program, this organization provides year-round academic enrichment, college coaching, and mentorship for motivated, under-resourced students in grades 5–12—ensuring they graduate high school well-prepared to enroll and excel in college.
Friends of AARLCC: (African American Research Library and Cultural Center): In Broward County, Friends of AARLCC is helping high school students in their surrounding community, where college enrollment numbers are low, increase their test scores, navigate college admissions, and compete for scholarships through the ASPIRE Academy, a college preparation program designed for first-generation and underserved learners.
GZL Educational Foundation: Through a fully volunteer driven model, GZL offers a comprehensive college readiness initiative for its high school students in Hillsborough County. The initiative helps to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and support to not only enroll in college but persist through to graduation.
The Able Trust: Through its High School High Tech (HSHT), The Able Trust is expanding postsecondary access for students with disabilities. The program includes FAFSA support, educator training, scholarship guidance, and student engagement strategies tailored to help students thrive. These organizations will implement projects that align with Helios’ strategic priorities, emphasizing data-driven solutions, student-centered support, and innovative programming that ensures more students have access to postsecondary education and the resources needed to succeed.
Heart of Florida United Way: Focused on eight low-income high schools with the lowest college-going rates in Osceola and Orange Counties, the Education United: Student Success HUB is working to raise FAFSA completion and college enrollment rates—two key indicators of long-term academic and career success.

Driving impact through partnership

Each of these initiatives aligns with Helios’ strategic priorities and vision for a Florida where every student—regardless of zip code—has the opportunity to earn a college degree. The projects emphasize data-informed decision-making, student-centered design, and culturally responsive practices that create meaningful, measurable impact. Together with our partners, we’re building a stronger pipeline to postsecondary success—one student, one school, and one community at a time.