D.C. College Access Project convening more than 3,000 students at Capital One Arena today to recognize landmark investment and celebrate students’ post-secondary commitments
Washington, D.C. – April 11, 2025 – Thousands of D.C. students will gain expanded pathways to higher education through a historic $30 million investment in the D.C. College Access Program (DC CAP), announced today by The Leonsis Family in partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), along with the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation. The campaign marks the single largest known investment in D.C. students’ access to post-secondary opportunities to date.
The transformative initiative will include $10 million investments to DC CAP from both the Clark Foundation and Leonsis Family in partnership with MSE, as well as an additional $10 million matching fundraising campaign led by DC CAP, totaling $30 million. The funding will support DC CAP’s cohort-based scholarship model and provide sustained, personalized support to help more students complete their post-secondary education and succeed in today’s economy.
“Earning a college degree made a huge difference in my life, priming me for success through learning both inside and outside of the classroom and through engagement with my peers and community,” said Ted Leonsis, Board Chair of DC CAP and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “Our support of DC CAP fundamentally comes down to providing opportunities to thousands of DC students to pursue their dreams and become community and business leaders once they’ve graduated. We know that they will thrive with the right opportunities.”
The news precedes DC CAP’s annual “College Signing Day” held today, April 11, from 10 AM to 1 PM. at Capital One Arena. The event will gather approximately 3,000+ students from D.C. Public Schools and D.C. public charter schools to celebrate students’ decisions to pursue post-secondary education and training, whether it be four-year universities, two-year colleges, community colleges, certificate programs, military service, or other academic endeavors.
“My father, A. James Clark, believed deeply that every student should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams—especially in the city he helped build and that he loved so much,” said Clark Foundation Board Chair, Courtney Clark Pastrick.
Joe Del Guercio, President and CEO of the Clark Foundation, added, “DC CAP is providing students the resources and partnerships that will contribute to their goals and success. This long-term, comprehensive commitment is what every student in DC deserves.”
ABOUT THE INVESTMENT
The historic investment will directly benefit DC CAP’s 2050 Moonshot Goal to ensure 80 percent of DC CAP Scholars complete their post-secondary pathway within six years. With the additional funding, DC CAP can further expand its financial support, tailored university partnerships, and year-round coaching that helps D.C. students persist through challenges of college and career preparation.
“For too long, access alone has been the goal,” said Eric Waldo, President and CEO of DC CAP. “But access without completion is not enough. DC CAP is building a future where every DC student has what they need not only to pursue a college education—but to finish it with a pathway to a great job.”
ABOUT COLLEGE SIGNING DAY
DC CAP’s annual college signing day brings together students, educators and notable members of the community each year to celebrate D.C. high school seniors’ post-secondary education commitments and the promise of their transformative futures. Last year’s College Signing Day, also held at Capital One Arena, brought together over 2,500 D.C.-area students and featured a keynote from Former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Today’s 2025 DC CAP College Signing Day will feature remarks from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser along with keynote speaker, Michael Smith, former CEO of AmeriCorps. Additional components of the dynamic program include local talent and performances by the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Concert Choir, the iconic TOB Go-Go Band, cheer teams from Dunbar High School and Friendship Collegiate Academy, the Washington Wizards Dancers, and more.
ABOUT DC CAP
The DC College Access Program (DC CAP Scholars) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the higher education achievement gap for DC students by helping them access and attain meaningful college degrees with little to no debt. DC CAP believes that a student’s personal circumstances should never determine their ability to succeed. By leveraging dollars, connecting students to better match universities, and providing wraparound support, DC CAP works to ensure students graduate ready to compete in today’s economy.
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