Heela (heela.org) is a newly launched platform built to give first-generation students from refugee and immigrant families across the United States a clear, structured, and ethical path toward higher education.

For many of these students, the hardest part of getting to college isn't ambition, it's information. Parents who didn't go through the U.S. education system themselves, complicated financial aid processes, and a lack of trusted guidance can turn college applications into an overwhelming maze. Heela was built to change that, offering students and families the structure and support they need to navigate that path with confidence.

What makes this launch especially meaningful to us: Heela was created by the son of one of our own fellows — someone who grew up watching a parent invest in others' futures, and who has now built something to invest in the futures of students facing the very challenges their own family once navigated.

We're proud to share this milestone and even prouder of what it represents — the kind of generational impact that happens when someone turns their lived experience into a tool for others.

Learn more and explore the platform at https://heela.org/

If you know a first-generation student from a refugee or immigrant background who's thinking about college, share this with them.