Harvard University, the University of Notre Dame, Northwestern University, Duke University and Georgetown University have joined 24 other private schools to offer tuition scholarships to eligible high school graduates from the 'Say Yes to Education program.'

"Say Yes is about hope," George Weiss, Say Yes to Education founder said. "When you have these five great universities say, 'We care about you, and we want to help you fulfill your dreams,' I think that's a great message to the kids."

Along with these prestigious institutions, 74 colleges and universities, a part of the SUNY and CUNY systems, have agreed to cover the tuition costs of all prospective students.

'Say Yes' chapters in Buffalo, Philadelphia, Hartford, Conn., and New York City's Harlem neighborhood, pay for the tuition of public and charter high school graduates through donations from businesses and individuals. The Say Yes Buffalo chapter was established last year.

"A school like Harvard is not an option for every kid right now, but what we're working on is providing students in every school the tools to be accepted and successful at schools like Harvard,"said David Rust, executive director of the Say Yes Buffalo chapter.

Unlike its fellow members, these five institutions haven't introduced an enrolment cap and will accept any number of students as long as they qualify the admission criteria.

"As many as can get accepted, they'd be delighted to receive," Weiss said.

To be eligible for the scholarship, Buffalo students must belong to families earning $75,000 or less and should have attended a Buffalo public or charter school since nursery school. The tuition scholarship coverage reduces for students who have attended Buffalo schools for fewer years, or enrolled as late as ninth grade.

On the other hand, students, whose family income is more than $75,000, would still be able to receive scholarships worth $5,000 per year provided they choose to enroll at one of the private schools associated with the program.

The list of participating colleges includes Canisius College, Medaille College, Niagara University, D'Youville College, Daemen College, Hilbert College, Houghton College, St. Bonaventure University, Trocaire College, Villa Maria College, Bryant & Stratton College, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard.

"Too many students of great ability, creativity and heart from families with no tradition of going to college are not looking at the top universities with a sense of possibility," said Donald C. Bishop, Notre Dame's associate vice president for undergraduate enrollment. "We want to reach out to these students earlier and provide the guidance and support to inspire them to match their talents with the right college choices."