FORT WAYNE — To inspire over 900 families of elementary youth to start a college savings account in just a matter of weeks takes vision and effort. In six Northeast Indiana counties this fall, Parkview Health helped make college savings a reality for youth and families as they established CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings accounts during school registration.

Parkview Health, as northeast Indiana’s only not-for-profit health system, is committed to serving the people of the region and saw the potential to just do that through Promise Indiana. As the enrollment sponsor of the Promise, Parkview made an initial gift of $25 into new college savings accounts established in Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash and Whitley counties. The 932 new accounts bring the total in the region to over 4,600 youth with an account through the Promise initiative.

The Kosciusko County Promise is a community-wide initiative administered by the Kosciusko Community YMCA. The Promise supports all Kosciusko County students grades K-2 in the development of their college and career readiness through discovery, academic readiness and educational savings. Parents had the opportunity to open a College Choice 529 Direct Savings Plan at school registration this past year.

Of the total accounts there are 297 Promise accounts for Kosciusko County.

During the month of October, youth in all six counties invited champions — friends, family members, neighbors, coaches, and teachers — to invest in their college savings accounts. Eligible youth who raised $25 in contributions from their champions will receive a matching grant from a coalition of public and private partners in each community.

The accounts are part of efforts to create a college-going culture and provide a way for students and families to begin saving for college at an early age.

“Staying true to our mission of improving the health and well-being of our communities means making an investment in those factors that affect the long-term health of the region. In each of these counties, this is an investment in the education of local youth to ensure a qualified workforce for the future,” said Mike Packnett, chief executive officer of Parkview Health.

“With more than 9,700 co-workers, Parkview is the region’s largest employer. In recent years, we have supported economic development efforts to strengthen northeast Indiana and we believe the Promise is excellent contribution to the Big Goal,” said Packnett.

The Big Goal aims to increase the number of residents in Northeast Indiana with a high quality degree or credential to 60 percent by the year 2025. By the year 2018, over 60 percent of jobs in the U.S. will require post-secondary education in the form of a two- or four-year degree or credential. As of 2009, the percentage of the Northeast Indiana workforce (adults between the ages of 25-64) with a degree or credential was less than 35 percent.

The article was submitted by Summer Zimmer, director of communications and social responsibility, Kosciusko Community YMCA.