Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 5.djvu/556

 108 STAT. 4046 PUBLIC LAW 103-382—OCT. 20, 1994 (D) is broadly representative of the local community in the structures of its volunteer-operated organization and has a board of directors that includes leaders from local neighborhood organizations and neighborhood residents, such as school or college personnel, parents, students, community agency representatives, and representatives of the business community; (E) awards scholarships without regard to age, sex, marital status, race, creed, color, religion, national origin or disability; and (F) gives priority in awarding scholarships to students from low-income families in the local community. (3) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.— The term "national organization" means an organization that— (A) has the capacity to create, develop and sustain local affiliated chapters; (B) has the capacity to sustain newly created local affiliated chapters in towns, cities, and neighborhoods through ongoing training and support programs; (C) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; (D) is a publicly supported organization within the meaning of section 170(b)(l)(A)(vi) of such Code; (E) ensures that each of its local affiliated chapters meet the criteria described in subparagraphs (C) and (D); and (F) has a program for or experience in cooperating with secondary and postsecondary institutions in carrying out its scholarship and academic support activities. (4) HIGH-POVERTY AREA.— The term "high-poverty area" means a community with a higher percentage of children in poverty than the national average of such percentage. (5) STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMiLiES.The term "students from low-income families" means students determined, pursuant to part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, to be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1ofpartAoftitleIVofsuchAct. SEC. 624. PURPOSE; ENDOWMENT GRANT AUTHORnY. (a) PURPOSE.— It is the purpose of this part to establish and support area program centers to enable such centers to foster the development of local affiliated chapters in high-poverty areas that promote higher education goals for students from low-income families by— (1) providing academic support, including guidance, counseling, mentoring, tutoring, and recognition; and (2) providing scholarship assistance for the pursuit of postsecondary education. (b) ENDOWMENT GRANT AUTHORITY.— From the funds appropriated pursuant to the authority of section 527, the Secretary shall award an endowment grant, on a competitive basis, to a national organization to enable such organization to support the establishment or ongoing work of area program centers that foster the development of local affiliated chapters in high-poverty areas to improve high school graduation rates and postsecondary attend-

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