Overview of Our Service Model
We Seek to Eliminate Barriers to Students' Success
Portage Community has evolved over the years to better serve students and meet their needs. For many students, tuition costs are just the tip of the iceberg on the journey to becoming a medical professional. Each person served by Portage Community has access to a full team of individuals who are ready to encourage students to not give up on their dreams. Our proprietary program follows effective mentoring techniques and standards that are set by MENTOR National and strive to continue learning ways to better serve our students.
We have adapted our service model to meet these needs, making mentoring the primary requirement for entering Portage Community program. After mentorship, professional development and test preparation became the subsequent offerings. Then, for the students who need it, we offer technology and book scholarships.
On an international level, financial need is still the primary requirement for entering the program. Here, we seek to allow young men and women from the Dominican Republic enter a program at a premiere university to become a doctor. They too receive mentorship and professional development on top of the scholarship.
What Students Say
See how Portage Community Impacts Students!
"I don't have the words to explain how grateful I am for HFS. The scholarship funds were incredibly helpful and allowed me to purchase my school books and other school supplies, but the support system that came with it was invaluable."
"This program was very helpful in my nursing school journey. I thought at first a mentor would be too time consuming, but it was the best help I could ever ask for."
Overview of Our International Program
Portage Community expanded and adapted its programs to serve the people of the Dominican Republic. There, we focus on eliminating the financial barrier for students to attend a university and receive a degree in medicine. These students go on to serve their communities as doctors.
We accept one student each year into the program to fully fund their education for the duration of achieving their degree. This includes tuition, housing, food, and technology. We also provide mentorship and professional development from a Dominican doctor. This allows students who otherwise couldn't attend school to achieve their dreams.
Currently, we have four students in our program and will add more in the future.
Partner of Hope Medical Clinic
After going on a missions' trip to the Dominican Republic in 2018, Portage Community founder Steve Michalik saw a need for accessible medical care for the Dominican people. After several conversations with our partners at Hope for Hispaniola, we began construction on a private medical clinic to meet this need.
Located outside of Higuey, the clinic is built on a piece of land inside the Hope for Hispaniola Medical and Missions Center. It includes a waiting area, treatment rooms, a lab, and apartments on the second floor for our full time staff. The clinic will employ a full-time doctor and we hope to expand the staff as the clinic grows. Furthermore, students in our international program have the opportunity to come work there to gain experience as they pursue their education.
Construction began in 2020 and persisted through the shutdown of Covid-19. Now, the exterior of the building is complete and efforts have moved to the interior. Once finished, the people in Higuey and its surrounding area will have access to quality medical care. The clinic will be finished by the end of 2022.
Our Impact
Contact Us Today
2521 Darlington Road
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
(855) 896-8294