DES MOINES, Iowa — Students at Harding Middle School now have additional funds to go towards their higher education. The non-profit By Degrees Foundation received $140,000 from the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation to expand 529 savings account programs to Harding students.

Originally, enrollment with the By Degrees Foundations was only available to students who began their education at Findley Elementary, but with Mid-Iowa Health Foundation’s investment, eligibility is now expanded to all Harding students.

Now, these 529 accounts will be opened for all 640 kids at Harding, with an initial $200 investment in each account. Students will also be able to continue earning money for those accounts as they go through school, allowing students the opportunity to bank more than $1,000 before high school graduation.

“There is so much research that shows that these accounts are powerful, not so much because of how much money is in the accounts, they’re powerful because of the way students start identifying as “college going,” whatever that means [for them]. Especially when you put these accounts in the hands of elementary students, they identify as college going, whatever that means, at an early age,” said Emily Westergaard, CEO of the By Degrees Foundation.

“I think the idea that you have community investing in you gives a boost of understanding and your ability to be able to obtain something like that, a better grade or do better on that test, or apply to colleges that challenge you. So, it’s that idea that we can help spur folks wanting to thrive, wanting to succeed, wanting to challenge themselves. We absolutely want to be a part of those efforts,” said Nalo Johnson, President and CEO of Mid-Iowa Health Foundation.

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