Dear Save for College Program Family,

• NYC Scholarship Account – Your child has received a free NYC Scholarship Account with a $100 deposit from NYC Kids RISE. The money in this account can be used for tuition and other education-related expenses at two-year colleges, four-year colleges, and other career training programs across the country.

• An Opportunity to Open Your Own Dedicated College & Career Savings Account – Your family has the opportunity to open and connect your own college savings account and save for your child in the way that makes sense for you. There are two account options available through the Save for College Program and we can provide you with resources to help you make the right choice for your family.

• Scholarship Rewards and Matched Savings – Earn another $75 in rewards for your child’s NYC Scholarship Account by completing just three steps, called the “3 Building Blocks”.

• Virtual Events and Workshops – Throughout the spring, NYC Kids RISE is partnering with your child’s school to host a series of virtual workshops and events focused on helping families get the most out of the Save for College Program, and learn more about saving for college and career training. Visit nyckidsrise.org/events for a list of all workshop dates and to register.

• Community Scholarships – Your family is now part of the Save for College Community. That means your community and the entire city are working together to support your child’s NYC Scholarship Account by raising additional scholarship funds through Community Scholarship campaigns. Read about some previous Community Scholarships in the LIC Post, QNS.com, and the NYCHA Journal.

• Connected Community – Please join the Save for College Program community at monthly Town Halls on the third Thursday of each month. Virtually connect with other families across our community, and hear from other parents/guardians and experts on critical issues that are affecting all of us during these dynamic times. Save the date: our first Virtual Town Hall of the year will be on Thursday, January 21 at 6pm.

• The Save for College Program Journey Planner to help track your family’s progress in the program;
• A Frequently Asked Questions document with helpful information for any questions you may have; and
• A checklist of steps for Activating and Viewing Your NYC Scholarship Account , which you can do online to earn the first $25 reward.

Here’s How to Activate Your Child’s NYC Scholarship Account and Complete Building Block #1

To activate and view your NYC Scholarship account you do not need to make any deposits and you will not have to share a Social Security Number or ITIN. All you need is your child’s date of birth, home zip code, and student ID number.

Obtain your child’s student ID number from your school’s Parent Coordinator, or check your child’s last report card, and follow these instructions:

1. Click Here to Access the Savings Tracker
2. Enter the following information:
   • Your child’s Home Zip Code
   • Your child’s Date of Birth
   • Your child’s 9-digit Student ID Number
3. Enter your name and email address, and create a password. Check the box to accept the Terms of Service, then click on Create User Profile
4. Complete the survey (all questions are optional) and click Submit

That’s it! You have now activated your child’s NYC Scholarship Account and completed Building Block #1 of the Save for College Program.

Questions or Concerns

• Contact your school’s Parent Coordinator.
• Call the NYC Kids RISE hotline at (833) 543-7473 or email us at [email protected].
• Make an appointment with the NYC Kids RISE team for 1:1 support:
  • English / Bangla: Lamia Aesha
  • English / Spanish: Arli Cornejal

• Together with other parents, participate in a workshop – see the calendar of upcoming virtual workshops at nyckidsrise.org/events.
• Take a look at these materials:
  • Your Save for College Program Journey
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Ask someone who knows and wants to help you and your child succeed:
  • Contact your school’s Parent Coordinator.
  • Call the NYC Kids RISE hotline at (833) 543-7473 or email us at [email protected].