The family of Jordan Grant is donating $50,000 to Cal Poly Associated Students, Inc., or ASI, to encourage civic engagement.
Cal Poly recently won the Secretary of State Ballot Bowl Competition for having the most registered student voters in the state.
The Grant family says this inspired them to support Cal Poly’s voter-registration efforts.
The Grants say Jordan was excited to vote for the first time in November of 2018, but he was killed in a motorcycle accident at the El Campo Road crossing on Highway 101 about a month before the election.
A project designed to prevent left-hand turns at the El Campo Road crossing and three other intersections just began Tuesday, after the Grant family heavily lobbied for changes.
The family recently connected with ASI President Jasmin Fashami and made a $50,000 donation to ASI.
“We realized that his passion to get others to go vote with him could still happen — that his friends and family could go vote in honor of Jordan,” said James Grant, Jordan’s father. “This was one way we could give back to Cal Poly, share Jordan’s story, ask people to register to vote, and then go vote in honor of Jordan. He can’t, but maybe his story will remind each of us to treasure the rights and responsibilities we have — to make a difference while we are here for the Cal Poly community. And when you vote, you make a difference.”
Student leaders say they’re already working on a plan to use the funds, which includes outreach for the Flex Your Right voter-registration campaign, voter education through the Know Your Vote campaign, and a partnership fund for civic engagement projects between the student body and the City of San Luis Obispo.
The plans are expected to be finalized this summer.
“ASI is incredibly grateful to be receiving this donation to further our civic engagement efforts for the campus, all of which will honor Jordan’s life,” said Fashami. “His legacy will continue to live on through this funding, especially as we emphasize the importance of registering to vote and participating in the democratic process. Jordan never had the opportunity to vote, so we hope students continue to seize this opportunity and realize how powerful their voices can truly be.”
