Who We Are

First Generation College Bound has helped more than 1,200 students attend college - students like Enite Uviovo, a graduate of Laurel High School who attends Howard Community College.

First Generation College Bound (FGCB) is a grassroots organization based in Prince George’s County, Maryland, whose mission is to increase the participation of low- and moderate-income youth in higher education, particularly those whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree.

FGCB accomplishes this through an education-community support system that bridges the resources of the home, church, school and community. Emphasis is placed on early intervention through academic support, early identification of education and career goals, and sponsorship of individualized and personalized college access activities.

FGCB’s unique approach emphasizes frequent personal contact with participating students and their families to develop relationships, help them devise their own individualized college-application plan and then walk with them through the college access process.

FGCB doesn’t just help students apply to college; it also works with them to secure the financial aid they need to matriculate. The percentage of FGCB participants who enter college is 94%, compared to a national average of  63%. FGCB also continues to stay in touch with students after they enter college to offer the support and advice that may be needed to ensure the students’ progress toward a bachelor’s degree.

Here are some numbers that indicate FGCB’s record of success and vision for the future:

• Participants who have entered college: 1,262
• 2012 high school graduates entering college: 98
• 2012 college graduates: 33
• Participants in college during the 2011-2012 school year: 300
• Total known college graduates: 420

FGCB was founded in 1990 by Joseph Fisher,  a teacher and coach who resides in Laurel, Maryland.