The Scranton Area Foundation is proud to partner with Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) (www.pheaa.org/community/path.shtml) to provide additional funding sources for students pursuing post-secondary education. Committed to providing as many financial sources as possible, PHEAA developed the Partnership for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Program to offer qualifying students additional financial aid.

The Scranton Area Foundation serves as the PATH partner for students from Lackawanna County. Students throughout the County who are recipients of one of our scholarships may be eligible to receive this additional aid. In the fall semester, the Scranton Area Foundation submits the required student information to PHEAA. Students who are enrolled in a PHEAA approved Pennsylvania school, are state grant recipients, have a Federal Student Loan and demonstrate financial need qualify for a PATH Grant.

Although the PATH grants may not exceed the maximum amount of the student's State Grant for the year, PHEAA will match the level of existing need for each student. At the close of the first academic semester of the school year, each approved institution verifies that the student has, in fact, received the scholarship submitted and is then able to accept the PHEAA PATH aid on behalf of the student.

Working with PHEAA Scranton Area Foundation is able to leverage enhanced benefits for many Lackawanna County undergraduate students. In 2010 – 2011 school year this translated to additional aid for 19 Lackawanna County students in the total amount of $31,231!