The Eden Prairie A Better Chance Foundation is a community organization which brings qualified, highly motivated minority students from all over the United States to Eden Prairie High School for their freshman through senior years. It provides an opportunity for deserving students who may not otherwise reach their potential to have a better chance.

Eden Prairie ABC is one of twenty-eight public school ABC programs in the country. Applications are processed through the national ABC Foundation in New York. Qualified students are placed in public or private schools throughout the nation. The Eden Prairie ABC Foundation began in 1995.

Currently there are 7 students, "15 capacity," in the Eden Prairie ABC program. The students are black, Asian, and hispanic. They come from California, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Georgia.

Edina has two ABC programs, one for boys and one for girls. The boys and girls live in separate residences in Edina. The Edina program has been in existence since 1969. There is also a Rochester, MN program and the cities of Burnsville and Northfield are in the beginning stages of forming an ABC Chapter.

ABC transports, houses, and feeds the students while providing a caring support system as they grow and prosper during their four years here. It costs approximately $270,000 annually to run this program. The Eden Prairie ABC program is financially dependent upon individual, church, service organizations, business, and corporate donations. It neither seeks nor receives taxpayer money.

A Better Chance operates on a modest budget - small when compared to the benefits it produces each year. It provides deserving kids with a real chance for a better life built on their own abilities and skills.

The funds are vital - the benefits long-lasting. We depend on the community to keep the program prospering. As we watch our students struggle, mature, and finally graduate, full of enthusiasm and expectancy as they anticipate college life, we know this program can help - successful young people are our proof and reward!

You can help maintain the viability of our program by sending your tax deductible donation to the Eden Prairie ABC Foundation, 8761 Preserve Boulevard, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.