RENEE Foundation
Renee raised six kids and wanted every single one of them to go to college. Shareece made it to the NFL because education came first. Now we make college real and reachable for every young person in the Inland Empire.
The Challenge
The Inland Empire is home to UCR, CSUSB, Cal Poly Pomona, and a dozen community colleges. We have the schools. What too many of our young people are missing is the roadmap, the support, and someone telling them: you belong there.
San Bernardino County has one of the lowest college completion rates in California. Not because the kids are not smart enough. Not because they do not want it. But because no one showed them the door, helped them fill out the paperwork, or drove them to a campus visit.
Renee wanted better for all six of her children. She pushed every single one of them toward higher education. That belief, that expectation, changed the trajectory of an entire family. The RENEE Foundation College Access program is that belief, scaled across the entire IE.
Education was the first thing I chased. Football came because of the discipline school built in me. You cannot shortcut that foundation.
By the Numbers
Sources: Cal-SOAP CSUSB / SoCal CAN regional data / California Community Colleges Student Success Scorecard
WHAT WE OFFER
Every program is free. No income tests. No application fees. If you live in the Inland Empire and you want to go to college, we want to help you get there.
Program 01
Eight weeks in the summer, built specifically for high school juniors and seniors who are serious about college. No fluff, no busy work. Every session covers exactly what you need to apply, get in, and afford it.
This program is modeled on what Shareece wishes had existed when he was navigating the process the first time. Real prep. Real people. Real results.
Applications open each spring. Cohort size is limited to ensure every student gets individual attention from coaches and advisors.
Transportation provided by bus from the Inland Empire. Parents welcome on select tours.
Program 02
A lot of IE kids have never stepped foot on a college campus. Not because they do not care about college, but because no one ever took them. We fix that. Every month, we load a bus, drive to a real campus, and let students see for themselves that they belong there.
Research consistently shows that students who visit a campus before applying are far more likely to enroll and complete their degree. A campus visit makes college feel real. That matters more than most people think.
Program 03
Money is the reason most IE families think college is not possible. The FAFSA clinics exist to prove otherwise. Billions in federal aid go unclaimed every year because families did not fill out one form. We sit down with you and we fill it out together.
Bilingual staff available in English and Spanish. Every session is free. No appointment needed for drop-in hours. Bring your taxes, bring your questions, we handle the rest.
Program 04
Getting into college and staying in college are two different challenges. Free after-school tutoring at community centers across the Inland Empire gives students the support they need before they ever set foot on a campus.
We partner with local college students to serve as tutors. They get volunteer hours and real mentoring experience. The high schoolers get tutors who look like them, who grew up where they grew up, and who made it work.
Program 05
College is a path, not a destination. Before students commit to a major or a school, they need to understand what they are actually working toward. Career exploration connects the work of college prep to a real vision of the future.
And we want to be clear: college is not the only path. The trades matter. Vocational training builds great careers. We include pathways for every student, not just the four-year track.
We introduce students to real professionals, not just the ones who look like the careers they already know about.
Program 06
Renee was a single mother who pushed all six of her children toward college, even when she was navigating it without a roadmap herself. Most IE parents want the same thing. They just need the information. These workshops are for them.
All sessions offered in English and Spanish. No cost. No judgment. Just real information for families who care about their kids' futures.
Athletes get signing days. Our scholars deserve one too. Every May, we celebrate the students who committed to their college futures with a ceremony worthy of the moment.
Community Partners
Every program is built on partnerships with the organizations already in the Inland Empire, doing the work, who just needed more firepower.
Year 1 Goals
Renee kept score. So do we. These are not aspirational numbers. These are commitments that the foundation is accountable to, publicly, starting in Year 1.
Get Involved
Whether you are a student who wants to go to college, a parent who wants to understand the process, a volunteer who can tutor, or an organization that wants to partner, we want to hear from you.
Fill out this form and our team will follow up within three business days to connect you with the right program.