The San Francisco 49ers and Chegg, Inc. (NYSE: CHGG), the leading student-first learning platform, today announced a partnership designed to fund as much as $100,000 in scholarship money this year to first generation college students living in the Bay Area. The multi-year partnership with the 49ers makes Chegg the presenting sponsor for all first downs by the 49ers at Levi's Stadium during the 2019 season, each one resulting in a $500 donation supported by Chegg into the First Down, College Bound Scholarship Fund.
The 49ers totaled 26 first downs in their home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 22nd, providing $13,000 to the scholarship fund benefiting first generation college applicants. The 49ers have seven more home games on their regular season schedule, beginning tonight against the Cleveland Browns in a nationally televised Monday Night Football game, during which each first down recorded by the 49ers will result in a scholarship fund donation.
"For nearly three decades, the primary community outreach initiative of the 49ers has been to increase educational empowerment and opportunity for underserved young people throughout the Bay Area and beyond," said Brent Schoeb, 49ers Chief Revenue Officer. "In Chegg, we have a partner whose principles and priorities align perfectly with those of our own and we are proud to formalize this partnership to raise awareness and funds for their Students First initiative."
The partnership between the 49ers and Chegg is a natural fit as the organizations share many core values. The 49ers Foundation's mission to educate and empower Bay Area youth aligns directly with Chegg's mission to address the issues facing the modern student. 49ers EDU, a direct program of the 49ers Foundation, brings in 60,000 kids to Levi's Stadium every year, free of cost, for its STEAM education field trip program.
At the end of the season, with the money raised at every home game, the 49ers and Chegg will select five first generation college students and award them up to $20,000 each. To be eligible to receive this scholarship, Bay Area students should visit 49ers.com/chegg to apply for the First Down, College Bound scholarship. Finalists will be selected in in April of 2020.
"We are honored to partner with the San Francisco 49ers to have a positive impact in our local community," said Heather Hatlo Porter, Chief Communications Officer at Chegg. "At Chegg, our mission has always been to increase access to education by removing the systemic barriers in place, and the 'First Down, College Bound' initiative will open doors and create new opportunities for students and their families. Through this partnership, as we cheer for the on-field success of the team, we are simultaneously cheering for student's personal success and empowering them for the years to come."
