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About Us
Our Story
The Next Step Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping career aspiring and goal oriented students-whose limited financial resources may otherwise prevent them from continuing education beyond high school- reach their full academic potential.
With this in mind, The Next Step Foundation is committed to improving and enhancing the quality of lives one student at a time, with a scholarship program designed to remove the financial barriers to higher education for Cowlitz County Students.
Our History
Founded in 2018 by Rick Arkell and funded through Rick Arkell Properties as a way to combine my commitment for helping my clients in real estate transactions, with my passion for giving back and making a difference. For many years, I’ve been interested in finding an impactful way to give back to the local community, so I formed The Next Step Foundation. With every home I sell, 25-50% of my real estate commissions will go towards funding scholarship programs for local area students. Arkell Properties and Next Step Foundation are dedicated to changing lives for the better.
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Our Mission
Our Mission is two-fold:
1) Give students an opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve their full potential in life.
2) Provide incentives for individuals & local business leaders to give back to the community indirectly- through their real estate purchases-while supporting the next generation of Cowlitz County leaders.
2019 Scholarships
2019 Scholarship information
R.A. Long High School- $5000 (2 x $2500)- Awarded 5/31/2019
Scholarship is an AVID program specific scholarship, and will be awarded to students best demonstrating
the principals & ideals of the AVID program.
Congratulations to Cas Girt & Brandee Strang for receiving the first two $2500 scholarships awarded to R.A. Long students.
Lower Columbia College- $5000 (2 x $2500) - Awarded 11/6/2019
The Rick Arkell Next Step Foundation Scholarship was established in 2019 with the intent of supporting a first year LCC student who resides in Cowlitz County, is a full time student, with a minimum 2.8 GPA, has financial or economic need, with first preference to a first generation college student, participated in a local high school AVID program, and preferably participates in community service activities. Scholarship is renewable for an additional year.
Congratulations to Danielle Kirk & Alex Brady for receiving the two $2500 scholarships for Lower Columbia College
Help Our Cause
Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you or anyone you know is interested in supporting the Foundation there are two ways in which you can support:
1) Engage with Rick Arkell with buying/selling a home, and Rick will donate 25-50% of his commission directly to The Next Step Foundation.
2) Provide an individual donation. Your generous gift will help provide additional scholarships to Cowlitz County Students.
