Helios Education Foundation

About Helios

Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education. 

The Foundation believes in the transformational power of education and is strategically investing our knowledge, expertise and resources across the education continuum to advance student academic preparedness and to foster college-going cultures within Arizona and Florida. By fostering a college-going culture and advancing the academic preparedness of all students as they transition across the education continuum, the Foundation seeks to increase the number of young adults graduating high school prepared to succeed in college and career.

Helios was established in 2004 following the conversion and sale of Southwest Student Services Corporation, a full-service student loan products and services company with affiliates in Arizona and Florida. The net proceeds from that sale were used to fund the Foundation’s endowment. 

Community Investments 

Through a decade of strategic partnership and investment, Helios has identified Early Grade Success, College and Career Readiness and Postsecondary Completion as the three most critical reform priorities in achieving our long-term goal. 

• Early Grade Success — Partnering to ensure Arizona and Florida children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed and read at grade level by the end of third grade. 
• College and Career Readiness — Striving to ensure that all Arizona and Florida high school graduates are prepared to enter the workforce or begin earning credit-bearing college courses. 
• Postsecondary Completion — Helping more traditionally underserved students access and attain a high-quality postsecondary certificate or degree. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

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