Scholarships - Education
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Because we want to be sure that our visitors find the most relevant resources, we've listed these organizations in order of relevancy from most specifically relevant to most generally relevant to the topic of this page.
2-1-1
Population served: Everyone in the United States (check the website for availability in your area)
2-1-1 is the telephone number of a call center that offers information and provides referrals to health and human services for every-day needs and in times of crisis. Services vary from community to community.
Examples of service referrals include:
- Basic human need resources: food banks, clothing, shelters, rent assistance and utility assistance
- Physical and mental health resources: medical information lines, crisis intervention services, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention
- Employment support: unemployment benefits, financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs
- Support for older Americans and persons with disabilities: home healthcare, adult daycare, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation and homemaker services
- Support for children, youth and families: childcare, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services
American Cancer Society (ACS)
Contact: (800) 227-2345
Population served: Students who are cancer survivors who plan to attend or already attend a two- or four-year college in the United States
ACS offers various education scholarships across the United States with varying eligibility criteria and application procedures.
- Scholarships are usually offered through state or regional chapters of ACS so it is best to contact ACS's toll-free number to investigate the specifics of these scholarships
National Collegiate Cancer Foundation (NCCF)
Contact: (240) 515-6262
Population served: Young adults in the United States, between the ages of 18-35, whose lives have been impacted by cancer and who have continued with their education throughout treatment or after their treatment
NCCF offers education scholarships that are in the amount of $1,000 per year. Applicants can reapply for more than one year by submitting a new application annually.
- Applicants must meet all of the requirements listed below:
- A person who is/has been diagnosed with cancer
- Must be between the ages of 18-35
- Seeking or receiving higher education
Friends of Scott Foundation (FSF)
Contact: (619) 223-7268
Population served: Individuals in the United States ages 17-22, diagnosed with a childhood cancer, currently in treatment or who are survivors
FSF offers an education scholarship program to provide funding to those individuals who want to continue their education through technical school, vocational school, junior college or a four-year college or university.
- To obtain more information and to apply for the FSF scholarship, please email aztec.graphics@yahoo.com, attention Barbara Bailey
FastWeb
Population served: U.S. students, parents, scholarship providers and educators seeking financial assistance for high school and beyond
FastWeb offers Web-based information and search tools for scholarship assistance for all high school, college and graduate students as well as adults seeking to return to school. Simply register via the website and explore the available information.
- Offers web-based searching assistance to help match users to scholarships based on individual qualifications
- Provides information and guidance as students find their college or first job
- Provides current news on financial aid, scholarships, college, jobs and internships and student life
- Offers a Discussion Board to post questions and share information
U.S. Department of Education (ED)
Contact: (800) 872-5327
Population served: Students, residing in the United States, in need of financial assistance to attend college
The U.S. Department of Education is the federal government agency that establishes policy and administers and coordinates most federal assistance to education. ED's mission is to serve America's students - to ensure that all have equal access to education and to promote excellence in the nation's schools.
The website offers a wide variety of information and Web tools to assist students and families seeking financial assistance for education and career purposes. Some examples are:
- A Web tool called College Navigator, which provides information about colleges based on location, programs offered, tuition, distance learning, evening courses and more
- Publications on student aid grants, loans and work-study programs that can help pay for college or career education
- A Web tool called Browse Scholarship, which assists in searching for specialized scholarships by field of study (music, law enforcement, biology, community service, etc.)
The National Children's Cancer Society (NCCS)
Contact: (800) 532-6459
Population served: Cancer patients up to age 21 (must have diagnosed before the age of 18) worldwide
NCCS provides programs and services to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and their families.
- Provides state-specific as well as national scholarships for college
Cancer Survivor's Fund (CSF)
Contact: (281) 437-7142
Population served: U.S. residents who are high school graduates of any age diagnosed with cancer and/or cancer survivors
CSF provides college scholarships to persons diagnosed with cancer, receiving treatment for cancer or in remission from cancer.
- Provides scholarship funds to enable people to start and/or continue their college education
- Provides counseling and emotional support
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AA&MDSIF)
Contact: (800) 747-2820, ext. 111
Population served: Patients, in the United States under the age of 35, who are diagnosed with aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and are seeking scholarship assistance for college or graduate school
AA&MDSIF's mission is to provide information and support to patients, families and caregivers coping with aplastic anemia, MDS, PNH, and related bone marrow failure diseases.
Scholarship Assistance is offered through:
- The Matthew Debono Scholarship - awards range from $500 - $2,000
- Applicants are required to have a physician's letter verifying the diagnosis of aplastic anemia, MDS or PNH. In addition to having a bone marrow failure disease diagnosis, scholarship applicants must be high school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll, or students who are already enrolled in a full or part-time (minimum six credits) undergraduate or graduate course of study
- Applications are accepted each year in March; annual awards are determined in May/June - further information is found at http://www.aamds.org/support-and-community/scholarships
I'm Too Young for This
Contact: (877) 735-4673
Population served: Young adults, ages 15-39, diagnosed with cancer or cancer survivors worldwide
The mission is to empower young adults affected by cancer by ending isolation, improving quality of life and providing meaningful survivorship.
- Provides a listing of financial aid and scholarships for cancer patients, cancer survivors, children of a cancer patient or survivor, students who lost a parent to cancer and students pursuing careers in cancer treatment
Orange County Community Foundation
Contact: (949) 553-4202
Population served: High school seniors, college students and children of cancer patients in the United States
The Orange County Community Foundation connects donors and nonprofit agencies working toward a common goal: to improve the quality of life for their community.
- Offers the Michael A. Hunter Memorial Scholarship Fund, a nationwide scholarship, to graduating high school seniors, community college and four-year university students who are leukemia or lymphoma patients and/or are children of deceased leukemia or lymphoma patients
- Provides a listing of other possible resources for scholarships and financial aid
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)
Contact: (800) 532-5274
Population served: Patients under the age of 25 in the United States with any diagnosis
PAF offers assistance to patients with specific issues regarding insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis of life-threatening or debilitating diseases.
- Offers ten $3,000 education scholarships to individuals who are or have been diagnosed with cancer or a critical/life-threatening disease
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
Contact: (800) 310-4053
Population served: High school seniors, in the United States, planning to attend a two/four-year college
RMHC's mission is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.
- Provides scholarship opportunities including specific scholarships for students who have Asian/Pacific, African-American/Black Caribbean or Hispanic heritage
- Offers scholarships to students who will enter two/four-year schools right after high school, are less than 21 years of age and reside within the geographic areas of participating chapters
Surviving and Moving Forward: the SAMFund for Young Adult Survivors of Cancer (the SAMFund)
Contact: (866) 439-9365
Population served: U.S. residents between the ages of 17 and 35 who have finished cancer treatment
The SAMFund provides grants and scholarships to young adult survivors to help supplement money that was lost during treatment. The grants and scholarships help pay for transitional issues such as education, living, job search and lingering medical expenses.
- Provides grants for educational development (tuition, books, computers, standardized tests, travel to schools for interviews, study abroad, tutoring)
- Provides grants for professional development (vocational training, travel to job interviews, professional apparel, resume and interview skill development)
SuperSibs!
Contact: (866) 444-7427
Population served: U.S. high school seniors who have a sibling with cancer
SuperSibs! is dedicated to ensuring ongoing comfort, recognition and support to children with brothers and sisters with cancer. Fixed amount college tuition assistance scholarships are awarded annually after criteria scores are evaluated by an independent committee.
Eligibility criteria include:
- Applicant must live in the United States, Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands
- Must be a graduating high school senior the year the application is submitted
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or 2.5 (on a 5.0 scale)
- Must be planning on attending the first year of an accredited college, university or vocational institution in the fall of the year the application is submitted
The Ryan Mullaly Second Chance Fund
Population served: Young adults diagnosed with cancer or a recurrence between the ages of 13 and 22 in the United States
The Fund aims to serve patients who have been deprived of the normal high school experience that most teenagers take for granted.
- Scholarship awards of $1,000 are provided to patients pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree at a two/four-year college or currently enrolled in an accredited postsecondary vocational or trade program, which will culminate in certification (graduate school programs are not eligible)
Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults
Contact: (888) 393-3863
Population served: Patients (ages 15-35) in the United States who have been diagnosed with cancer
The mission is to enhance lives by supporting, educating and connecting young adults, and their loved ones, affected by cancer. Offers ten $2,500 scholarships annually.
Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:
- Dedication to community service
- Commitment to educational and professional goals
- Use of their cancer experience to impact the lives of other young adults affected by cancer
- Medical hardship and financial need
