OUR MISSION
Our mission is to facilitate college readiness for economically disadvantaged student athletes through persistent mentoring and academic tutoring, to assist with all aspects of the college admissions and financial aid process, and to support our students towards a successful completion of college.
OUR VISION
Our vision is for our student athletes to become empowered and successful adults who engage with their communities and support and fortify the next generation of deserving young people.
OUR HISTORY
In 2006, a small group of volunteers ran a summer reading program for the Mount Vernon Boys Basketball team. The idea was simple: help the team become better students who might then be academically eligible for NCAA scholarships. Our volunteers quickly saw the students' potential and wanted to do more.
Over the past two decades, that simple idea has grown into Destination: College, a nonprofit organization supporting student-athletes from a variety of teams across Mount Vernon’s three high schools. What began with one team and 12 volunteers now serves 154 high school students across 15 teams while continuing to support 141 alumni in college, powered by a dedicated team of three staff members and 74 volunteers. Our programs have expanded to include weekly reading groups, academic tutoring, SAT preparation, college and financial aid application assistance, college retention support, mentoring, and scholarships for students and alumni. Since 2013, more than $300,000 has been awarded through the Cooney Scholarship Program, helping students pursue and persist in higher education, and over the past four years, $30,000 has been awarded to DC alumni through the Suzanne McCann Go the Distance Scholarship Program to support their pursuits of higher education.
In 2026, Destination: College proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary, a milestone made possible by the coaches, volunteers, school and district leaders, guidance counselors, supporters, and students who have shaped our organization along the way. While much has changed since 2006, our mission remains the same: to ensure that every student-athlete has the guidance, support, and opportunities needed to thrive in college, career, and beyond.