On a spring evening in Okeechobee County, families filled the cafeteria for FAFSA Family Night. Over plates of spaghetti, parents and students leaned over laptops, learning how one application could unlock scholarships and change the course of their futures. It was just one of dozens of moments across Florida where the Lighting the Way to a Brighter Future initiative turned opportunity into action.
Funded by the Florida Lottery in partnership with the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, this statewide effort reached more than 11,000 students and 6,000 families in 2024–25. Local education foundations led innovative projects that helped students navigate financial aid, earn scholarship eligibility, and see postsecondary pathways within reach.
The Hillsborough Education Foundation’s Student Center for Postsecondary Exploration, known as SCOPE, established college and career centers on four high school campuses. Students received individualized coaching, FAFSA and Bright Futures guidance, and workshops on applications and career readiness—helping boost FAFSA completion by an impressive 224%.
In Alachua County, the Education Foundation helped more than 2,200 students and families through Cash for College nights, scholarship workshops, and a middle school field trip introducing career academies and Gold Seal scholarships. FAFSA completion rose more than 3%, outpacing the state average.
“We’ve seen what happens when students get the right help—they stay in school and start planning for college. That’s the change we’re seeing thanks to the Florida Lottery Lighting the Way program,” said an Eastside High School counselor.
Broward Education Foundation’s Bright Lights Big Futures campaign drew more than 2,000 families to FAFSA workshops and test-prep events, lifting completion rates by 7.1%. In Orange County, every senior in the Aspire to Excellence program—serving high-achieving, first-generation students—was accepted into a best-fit college, from Stanford to the University of Florida.
From rural classrooms to urban campuses, the Florida Lottery’s investment is sparking real change. Through the Consortium’s statewide network, local education foundations are ensuring that every student, no matter their ZIP code, can see a clear path to college, career, and a brighter future.
