The Elevation Foundation, the 501(c)3 public charity of Elevation Financial Group, is pleased to announce the acceptance of Elevation Scholars Award recipient, Giovanni Continanza, to Wake Forest University.

Giovanni (Gio), a senior at Oak Ridge High School in Orlando Florida, will graduate in the summer of 2016 with a 4.9 weighted GPA. As senior class president of the school’s magnet program, Gio only received the first B of his school career this year. His positive attitude, unwavering work ethic and perseverance led him to receive the Elevation Scholars Award in 2015. As award winner, Gio received college consulting, test preparation, a trip for him and his family to visit the college or university of his choice, and support and guidance throughout his senior year. Gio’s hard work and determination paid off as he received early acceptance to Wake Forest University along with a $220,000 financial package. In addition, he was accepted into the prestigious Google Summer of Code program where he will spend his summer before college working and studying with mentors from the organization. Also from Google, Gio received an impressive $10,000 in college tuition assistance.

“Gio’s clear college dream, amazing work ethic, and high level of demonstrated leadership impressed us from the beginning. This young man had it all except the knowledge to navigate the college admissions maze. With guidance from us and a tremendous amount of hard work from him, the outcome has been wonderful,” said Scott Lee, President, Elevation Foundation.

The Elevation Scholars Program focuses on educational inequality in the United States, primarily in Central Florida. The goal is to prepare high-achieving students from low-income families for acceptance into the nation’s most selective colleges and universities. Nominated by school administration, students from Elevation’s three partner Orange County schools join the Elevation Fellows program in their freshman year. The students receive guidance, training and the opportunity to participate in programs that will educate and prepare them for the college admissions process. During their junior year, the Elevation Fellows students can apply for the Elevation Scholars award where they will receive customized and private college consulting, test preparation, internships, a visit to the college or university of their choice, and support throughout their college career. The Elevation Scholars Program is made possible by the generosity of The Boghdan Group, The Glenda G. Morgan Foundation, The Allison Family and The Elevation Foundation.

“As an organization, we remain committed to helping our future leaders pursue their biggest dreams. It is disheartening that students with challenging backgrounds, who have demonstrated the merit to attend our nation’s best colleges and universities, are not finding the road to get to them there. Talent and merit deserve opportunity, and we will continue to work to foster the dreams of all of the wonderful students we serve,” said Chris King, CEO and President, Elevation Financial Group, LLC.

The Elevation Foundation
With a mission to transform distressed communities by elevating entrepreneurship globally and educational opportunity locally, the Elevation Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity, launched in 2014. Similar to Elevation Financial Group, The Elevation Foundation aims to transform distressed communities, locally in the Central Florida community and globally in Africa and Haiti. Focusing on development, rather than relief, the Foundation is passionate about helping others while making a positive impact in the world.

For more information about the Elevation Foundation or Elevation Scholars Program, contact Scott Lee at SLee@ElevationFinancialGroup.com or at 407-215-1350.