For Grantors & Funding Partners

Building bridges for higher education.

The Bridge: Kauai to College empowers underrepresented students from Kauai to pursue higher education by providing one-on-one mentorship, college application support, financial aid guidance, and long-term advocacy—ensuring no student walks the path to college alone.

CORE VALUES

Equity – Every scholar deserves access to postsecondary opportunities.
Commitment – We support students from exploration to enrollment—and beyond.
Community – Families, mentors, and partners are all part of our scholars’ success.
Empowerment – We equip students with tools to own their futures.
Accountability – We track our impact and continuously evolve to do better.

Our Impact as of early 2025

Since 2016, The Bridge has helped 48 scholars gain college admission, including to prestigious universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

28

total students are currently enrolled in the program.

18

active mentors support these students.

15

students are on track to graduate and enroll in college for the 2025–26 academic year

Future Goal: Increase active scholar enrollment.

ACCOUNTABILITY
IN
ACTION

We have achieved a 100% success rate in our two key outcome areas:

College Enrollment – 100% of Bridge Scholars go to college.
College Graduation – 100% of Bridge Scholars have graduated within 4–5 years.

Ongoing Mentorship-Based Evaluation:

Scholars and mentors are carefully matched based on shared interests (e.g., medicine, engineering, physics).

Mentors are guided by peer leads—experienced mentors who hold regular check-ins and offer support.

Lead mentors and the Board review scholar outcomes and progress regularly.

Scholars present highlights of their Angel Fund experiences at the annual fundraising gala, adding a personal and public record of their achievements.

Vision & Goals: The Next Chapter

Short-Term Goals (1–2 Years):

Expand scholar enrollment.
Continue offering Angel Fund support for enrichment and college preparation.
Increase access to competitive internships and college-readiness programs.

Mid-Term Goals (3–5 Years):

Launch an alumni mentoring network for college scholars.
Formalize tracking systems for postsecondary persistence and graduation.
Grow our mentor training program with peer support systems.

Long-Term Goals (5+ Years):

Sustain a 100% college enrollment and graduation rate.
Develop a physical and/or digital resource hub for Kauai students and families.
Expand program model to neighboring islands.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Aiden G., Bridge Alumni

Thanks to The Bridge and my mentor, Kevin McPhee, I was prepared for many of these difficulties and given the support I needed to keep up with the good work, both beforehand and throughout my time in college.

Bill D., Bridge Mentor

Working with Scholars at The Bridge had shown me that mentoring and tutoring are completely different. Mentoring is much more of a two-way street and should at some point be driven by the Scholar. The success of a Scholar is ultimately the result of the Scholar’s hard work and talent. The Mentor is only a guide. But as my life experience has shown me, guidance, in whatever form, can have a huge impact on a Scholar’s life.

Chelsea P., Executive Admin

I witnessed the incredible dedication poured into supporting our scholars—whether it was organizing application workshops, coordinating mentors, or helping prepare materials for FAFSA and Angel Fund assistance. The Bridge isn’t just a program—it’s a community of hope, hard work, and transformation.

Why mentorship matters

Our mentors are a vital source of real-time feedback and success tracking. Their ongoing contact with scholars informs:

Scholarship applications
College decisions
Angel Fund outcomes
Emotional and academic readiness for life beyond high school

This mentor-mentee relationship is at the heart of The Bridge model.

One scholar interned at UC Santa Cruz, choosing from over 30+ research topics. Despite a high cost ($8–10k), Angel Funds covered up to 50%, depending on financial need. The experience of living on-campus and participating in intense research proved transformative.

Another scholar earned a national internship at NASA in Houston, with 95% of costs covered. This opportunity helped build real-world experience and confidence.

Funded 50% AFS Summer Abroad Programs:

2024: JAPAN

2025: SPAIN

ANGEL FUNDS HIGHLIGHTS

Join us in changing the trajectory of scholars’ lives.

PO BOX 304, KOLOA, HI 96756

kauaitocollege@gmail.com