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PRESS RELEASE

Homes and Scholarships for Community Champions

Rio Salado College and Berkana Homes have joined together to honor community champions. The program, Community Champions Homebuyer Incentive Program (CCHIP), is designed to make it easier for public servants to own their own homes and encourage them, a spouse or children to attain a college degree.

Wednesday, August 1 at 4 p.m. former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson of Berkana Homes will give Rio Salado College President Dr. Linda Thor a check for $5,000. The donation will be used for Berkana Homeowers to use to attend college at Rio Salado.

Cartwright Elementary School District teacher Patricia Bryant is one of Berkana’s first homebuyers purchasing a home at Berkana on Glenrosa. Already a supporter of Rio Salado’s online learning, Bryant just completed four education classes at Rio and plans to take more. She is thrilled with her new home as well as the neighborhood.

It’s tough to find a home near the downtown in her price range, said Bryant.

All Berkana locations are located “In the City” convenient to employers, entertainment venues and transit. To participate in the program, community champions must sign up for CCHIP at the time they purchase a Berkana Home and live in the community during the time they participate in the CCHIP grant program.

The mortgage grants includes six months of free principal and interest and a $2,500 education grant to pay for tuition, fees, and books at Rio Salado College. The grant may be used by the homebuyer, spouse, or dependent family members within two years after close of escrow.

Additional information:
www.riosalado.edu/berkana/
 Berkana Homes

Rio Salado College, Institutional Advancement

EJ Anderson
(480) 517-8472
ej.anderson@riomail.maricopa.edu

Linda Bird
(480) 517-8462
linda.bird@riomail.maricopa.edu