The Hood River County School District (HRCSD) and the Hood River County Education Foundation (HRCEF) are celebrating the success of the recent "Little Steps, Big Dreams" virtual information sessions, which provided 18 kindergarten families with a $100 savings contribution and valuable financial guidance.

The sessions, held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, introduced families to two significant savings opportunities: a $100 contribution to an Embark college savings account (formerly Oregon College Savings Plan) for all kindergarten students, or a $100 contribution toward an Oregon ABLE Savings Plan for eligible students with disabilities. In addition, the Oregon Treasury Department will contribute an additional $100 for new Embark college savings accounts.

"We extend our sincere thanks to the 18 families who participated in the information sessions this week," said Bill Newton, HRCSD Superintendent. "Their commitment is a powerful first step in securing their children’s financial future. Thanks to the generosity of HRCEF donors, we are able to provide this meaningful incentive to encourage early savings."

For kindergarten families who were unable to attend the live events, HRCSD is pleased to announce that presentation recordings will be available. Viewing the recording provides the same opportunity to receive the unique custom promo code needed to claim the $100 contribution from HRCEF.

• How to Get the Code: Kindergarten families will receive a communication from HRCSD with links to the presentation recordings and instructions on how to request their promo code.
• The Opportunity: The $100 contribution helps eligible students in the Hood River County School District begin long-term, tax-advantaged savings through either an Embark account or an Oregon ABLE Savings Plan.

About the Savings Opportunities:

• Embark (College Savings Plan): Open to all kindergarten families, these accounts can be used for college, trade programs, apprenticeships, and more. Families opening new accounts for children ages 5–6 may also qualify for a second $100 bonus through Embark’s Kinder Grad program.
• Oregon ABLE Savings Plan: For students with disabilities (eligibility required), ABLE accounts allow families to save for disability-related expenses without affecting benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid.

The "Little Steps, Big Dreams" initiative underscores the commitment of HRCSD and HRCEF to building financial security for the district's students: Small savings today, boundless opportunities tomorrow.