Elizabeth Wells heads Foundation for a College Education

Soon after InMenlo’s posted its list of local non-profits on Giving Tuesday, we heard from Elizabeth Wells, who heads Foundation for a College Education (FCE) — which will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year — and quickly added the Menlo Park-based non-profit to the list. We talked with Elizabeth about FCE.

“Our program starts with support through high school,” Elizabeth says. “We offer a wide range of program that insure students get into college and graduate.”

About 20% of FCE students attend Menlo-Atherton High School.

FCE offers workshops on good credit management and banking, including management of financial aid, along with how to write a resume and set up a LinkedIn profile.

“Through a variety of career panels at businesses across the Bay Area, we  expose students to white collar opportunities,” Elizabeth says. “They get to hear from folks who are doing those jobs and gain an understanding that there’s no one straight path to getting there. They’re able to see themselves in those places.”

Elizabeth explains she could have been an FCE student. “I come from a working class family and was the youngest of nine children.  I was raised in the Central Valley. I attended UC Berkeley and went to law school at Georgetown. I eventually made my way back to California.

“Most of my career has been focused on education. My goal is have an impact on a wider range of students and family.

“It’s not work for me — it’s doing what I love.”

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Wells