02/11: HOPE Springs Eternal
Hope: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
Since its inception in 2005, Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars has lived up to its name: the chapter provides students hope for a better future, by providing not only 4-year renewable scholarships, but an entire network of support for helping recipients achieve success before, during, and even after college.
This inspired model wasn't born overnight. It took time, effort, and unbelievable passion and dedication from remarkable volunteers to create the kind of success Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars has experienced. Two of those exceptional people are Scott Thole and Dan Pierson.
Scott first became involved with Dollars for Scholars when a former mentor began a chapter and asked Scott to help with fundraising. Our mission hit very close to home: Scott’s dad was a first generation college student who faced an uphill battle. “My Dad’s parents never finished high school, and college to them was considered a waste of time,” he says.
Despite this stigma – and despite the fact that he had to work four jobs just to pay for school – Scott's dad earned his degree. Inspired by his story, and seeing Dollars for Scholars as the perfect opportunity to improve access to higher education, Scott found himself going above and beyond his original fundraising task. He eventually felt confident enough to start a chapter of his own, and one of the first colleagues he called in was his close friend Dan Pierson. Like Scott, Dan was impressed by the mission of Dollars for Scholars; having grown up in a household that supported his every educational effort, he jumped at the chance to give back.
Scott says it was easy to start the Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars chapter and affiliate with Scholarship America; the real challenge was figuring out a sustainable model and getting buy-in from the community.
To do so, Scott relied on his experience with Dollars for Scholars, coupled with the chapter volunteers' first-hand knowledge of how to succeed in college. They devised three key elements for chapter success: a close-knit chapter board made up of friends who are passionate about the mission; renewable scholarships for which students can reapply throughout their college careers; and a Role Model program where board members can serve as mentors.
This model ensures that students not only get into school, but are able to graduate, prepared for post-college success. In addition, the Chicago HOPE model builds in the student's desire to give back after graduation. Last but not least, it helps the chapter be a more stable organization in the community and reflects the Dollars for Scholars mission by helping students Get Into college, Get Through college, and Give Back to the chapter.
The results for the chapter, which spent two years fundraising and building before awarding its first scholarships in Spring 2008, have been eye-opening, and Scott and Dan are both proud of their success and confident it will continue, toward their goal of a multimillion-dollar endowment. Scott reiterates, “I love that model, and believe that chapter success relies on all parts;" Dan agrees, stating that by helping students get into college and ensuring their success during and after, Chicago HOPE is an invaluable resource to the community's students and businesses alike.
This status gives the chapter an edge when competing for funding and donor support in their community; Dan and Scott help foster that edge with unique marketing and personal relations efforts. Their annual Masquerade Ball, complete with a silent auction and fashion show, has historically raised upwards of $40,000 in scholarships, and they ensure attendees both have fun and remember why they're there. For example, Dan and other chapter volunteers compiled a video for the event, featuring the previous year's scholarship recipients expressing what their awards and their mentors meant to them. The chapter also displays wall-sized thank-you letters from past recipients at the event venue, helping keep the students and their stories front and center.
Since they have been awarding scholarships, Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars has also made a point of providing renewable scholarships, in the $3,000 - $4,000 per year range. The only catch? Students must continue to earn these scholarship awards, by maintaining a 3.0 GPA and reapplying each year. These requirements keep students accountable, provide them with more incentives for academic success, and keep them connected to the chapter. Scholarship recipient Lee Ying Wu is just one example – in her second year at MIT, she is planning to start an ACT prep course in the summer for students from Chicago public high schools. (Read her story here.)
Chicago HOPE also keeps students connected through their Role Models mentoring program, which pairs board members with scholarship recipients in order to mentor the students throughout college. The Role Model offers support and advice to their scholarship recipient regarding academics, internships, careers, or even just personal life. The chapter makes sure they're always just a phone call away for students, and the Role Models make an effort to keep in touch, whether it’s going to lunch or baseball games or conversing online or on the phone.
In short, Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars is doing outstanding work. And, though Scott and Dan are humble about their roles, their efforts have been noticed. Recently, the pair were honored by Investment News's Invest in Others Foundation as finalists in the foundation's Community Leadership Awards, receiving $2,500 for the chapter.
And, despite the current economic climate, they remain excited about the future. Chicago HOPE hasn’t lost steam in their million-dollar endowment mission. As Dan explains, they have just learned to be more creative and organized in their fundraising approach; by encouraging each board member to look for charitable grants available through their workplaces, they have built further partnerships with a diverse group of companies and supporters.
As both Scott and Dan will tell you, volunteering with Dollars for Scholars means there's never a dull moment. As both role models and board members, they have unique opportunities to build lasting relationships with students. They impact those students' lives before, during and after college, helping them steer a course toward success, and providing hope throughout their community.
Since its inception in 2005, Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars has lived up to its name: the chapter provides students hope for a better future, by providing not only 4-year renewable scholarships, but an entire network of support for helping recipients achieve success before, during, and even after college.
This inspired model wasn't born overnight. It took time, effort, and unbelievable passion and dedication from remarkable volunteers to create the kind of success Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars has experienced. Two of those exceptional people are Scott Thole and Dan Pierson.
Scott first became involved with Dollars for Scholars when a former mentor began a chapter and asked Scott to help with fundraising. Our mission hit very close to home: Scott’s dad was a first generation college student who faced an uphill battle. “My Dad’s parents never finished high school, and college to them was considered a waste of time,” he says.
Despite this stigma – and despite the fact that he had to work four jobs just to pay for school – Scott's dad earned his degree. Inspired by his story, and seeing Dollars for Scholars as the perfect opportunity to improve access to higher education, Scott found himself going above and beyond his original fundraising task. He eventually felt confident enough to start a chapter of his own, and one of the first colleagues he called in was his close friend Dan Pierson. Like Scott, Dan was impressed by the mission of Dollars for Scholars; having grown up in a household that supported his every educational effort, he jumped at the chance to give back.
Scott says it was easy to start the Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars chapter and affiliate with Scholarship America; the real challenge was figuring out a sustainable model and getting buy-in from the community.
To do so, Scott relied on his experience with Dollars for Scholars, coupled with the chapter volunteers' first-hand knowledge of how to succeed in college. They devised three key elements for chapter success: a close-knit chapter board made up of friends who are passionate about the mission; renewable scholarships for which students can reapply throughout their college careers; and a Role Model program where board members can serve as mentors.
This model ensures that students not only get into school, but are able to graduate, prepared for post-college success. In addition, the Chicago HOPE model builds in the student's desire to give back after graduation. Last but not least, it helps the chapter be a more stable organization in the community and reflects the Dollars for Scholars mission by helping students Get Into college, Get Through college, and Give Back to the chapter.
The results for the chapter, which spent two years fundraising and building before awarding its first scholarships in Spring 2008, have been eye-opening, and Scott and Dan are both proud of their success and confident it will continue, toward their goal of a multimillion-dollar endowment. Scott reiterates, “I love that model, and believe that chapter success relies on all parts;" Dan agrees, stating that by helping students get into college and ensuring their success during and after, Chicago HOPE is an invaluable resource to the community's students and businesses alike.
This status gives the chapter an edge when competing for funding and donor support in their community; Dan and Scott help foster that edge with unique marketing and personal relations efforts. Their annual Masquerade Ball, complete with a silent auction and fashion show, has historically raised upwards of $40,000 in scholarships, and they ensure attendees both have fun and remember why they're there. For example, Dan and other chapter volunteers compiled a video for the event, featuring the previous year's scholarship recipients expressing what their awards and their mentors meant to them. The chapter also displays wall-sized thank-you letters from past recipients at the event venue, helping keep the students and their stories front and center.
Since they have been awarding scholarships, Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars has also made a point of providing renewable scholarships, in the $3,000 - $4,000 per year range. The only catch? Students must continue to earn these scholarship awards, by maintaining a 3.0 GPA and reapplying each year. These requirements keep students accountable, provide them with more incentives for academic success, and keep them connected to the chapter. Scholarship recipient Lee Ying Wu is just one example – in her second year at MIT, she is planning to start an ACT prep course in the summer for students from Chicago public high schools. (Read her story here.)
Chicago HOPE also keeps students connected through their Role Models mentoring program, which pairs board members with scholarship recipients in order to mentor the students throughout college. The Role Model offers support and advice to their scholarship recipient regarding academics, internships, careers, or even just personal life. The chapter makes sure they're always just a phone call away for students, and the Role Models make an effort to keep in touch, whether it’s going to lunch or baseball games or conversing online or on the phone.
In short, Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars is doing outstanding work. And, though Scott and Dan are humble about their roles, their efforts have been noticed. Recently, the pair were honored by Investment News's Invest in Others Foundation as finalists in the foundation's Community Leadership Awards, receiving $2,500 for the chapter.
And, despite the current economic climate, they remain excited about the future. Chicago HOPE hasn’t lost steam in their million-dollar endowment mission. As Dan explains, they have just learned to be more creative and organized in their fundraising approach; by encouraging each board member to look for charitable grants available through their workplaces, they have built further partnerships with a diverse group of companies and supporters.
As both Scott and Dan will tell you, volunteering with Dollars for Scholars means there's never a dull moment. As both role models and board members, they have unique opportunities to build lasting relationships with students. They impact those students' lives before, during and after college, helping them steer a course toward success, and providing hope throughout their community.
Students, friends, families and volunteers came together in October for the 7th Annual Walk for Education in Los Angeles, hosted by California Dollars for Scholars and Collegiate Partner Loyola Marymount University.
The Walk for Education raises money for chapters across California each year; in addition, as California Dollars for Scholars Executive Director Ann Worley points out, it aims to "bring young students on campus and get them dreaming about attending college in the future."
One of those groups of students came from the Drew Silvern Dollars for Scholars Migrant Education Foundation in East Los Angeles. Founder and president Lila Lee Silvern checked in with Scholarship America:
"Some of the heartiest of the students participating in the Los Angeles School District's Saturday Migrant Education Program boarded a bus at 6:30 a.m. for a two-hour ride across the city to Loyola Marymount University. The students and their teachers, John Holloway and Wilda Kier, arrived just in time to register for the [Walk], get their t-shirts, autographed pictures of the Laker Girls, fruit juice and energy bars.
"With water bottles in hand after a warm up with the Laker Girls, they set forth on their 5k walk around the beautiful and scenic LMU campus. Three of the students, who were seniors, were awed by the glimpse of life on a college campus. They were told that they would be eligible to apply for a scholarship given by Drew Silvern Migrant Ed Dollars for Scholars.
"Since 1958, Dollars for Scholars has helped create and support community-based, volunteer-led scholarship groups. California chapters awarded more than $2.4 million in scholarships. A loyal group of supporters of the Drew Silvern Migrant Ed Fund raised enough money last year from a Fiesta and the Walk to award $15,000 in grants to twenty students, one of whom is in his junior year at Loyola Marymount.
"The walkers returned hot and thirsty, but exhilarated from the walk. The morning ended with Pizza and a raffle drawing of Tee shirts representing the many college campuses of California .
"The students boarded the bus with their souvenirs and hopefully the seeds of interest in some day in the near future being able to attend a University like Loyola Marymount."
The Star Achievers Dollars for Scholars chapter also participated in the Walk for Education again this year. This unique chapter was started in 1992 by Ed and Lenora Dugas and Della Ford, after the tragic passings of the Dugas's daughter and Della's husband, who was also their beloved church pastor.
The three of them decided to do something positive out of their grief, and started Star Achievers Dollars for Scholars. Their scholarships go to high-achieving African-American students both from their own church and from surrounding high schools.
Each year, Lenora makes wonderful handcrafted gifts, which the chapter sells at the walk, along with raffle tickets for items donated by the Home Depot where current chapter president Louis Rubins works. Lenora checked in with our California Dollars for Scholars office after the Walk as well:
"We just celebrated our 16th [year] with Dollars for Scholars, and if anyone would have asked me prior to that if I would spend the next decade(s) fundraising to assist the children of others, I would have replied with a resounding 'NO.' Yet, I find myself writing letters and proposals annually.
"Because of people like [our California staff, Ann Worley and Barbara Charnock] who are always just a phone call away to answer questions, you've made it so much easier for us to keep going. The [Walk] s our only real fundraiser. We have a group of church friends who because of knee replacements and body aches, will give instead of coming out to walk. I think, this was our smallest number of actual walkers. Even Della had knee replacement the first of this year.
"However, I still enjoy doing my quilting projects and selling them!"
In addition to proceeds from Lenora's quilting -- she gives half of what she earns to the fund -- the chapter also recently received $15,000 in support from Boeing and SCE. Despite knee replacements and all, Star Achievers, like the rest of the participants in the Walk for Education, is still going strong.
The Walk for Education raises money for chapters across California each year; in addition, as California Dollars for Scholars Executive Director Ann Worley points out, it aims to "bring young students on campus and get them dreaming about attending college in the future."
One of those groups of students came from the Drew Silvern Dollars for Scholars Migrant Education Foundation in East Los Angeles. Founder and president Lila Lee Silvern checked in with Scholarship America:
"Some of the heartiest of the students participating in the Los Angeles School District's Saturday Migrant Education Program boarded a bus at 6:30 a.m. for a two-hour ride across the city to Loyola Marymount University. The students and their teachers, John Holloway and Wilda Kier, arrived just in time to register for the [Walk], get their t-shirts, autographed pictures of the Laker Girls, fruit juice and energy bars."With water bottles in hand after a warm up with the Laker Girls, they set forth on their 5k walk around the beautiful and scenic LMU campus. Three of the students, who were seniors, were awed by the glimpse of life on a college campus. They were told that they would be eligible to apply for a scholarship given by Drew Silvern Migrant Ed Dollars for Scholars.
"Since 1958, Dollars for Scholars has helped create and support community-based, volunteer-led scholarship groups. California chapters awarded more than $2.4 million in scholarships. A loyal group of supporters of the Drew Silvern Migrant Ed Fund raised enough money last year from a Fiesta and the Walk to award $15,000 in grants to twenty students, one of whom is in his junior year at Loyola Marymount.
"The walkers returned hot and thirsty, but exhilarated from the walk. The morning ended with Pizza and a raffle drawing of Tee shirts representing the many college campuses of California .
"The students boarded the bus with their souvenirs and hopefully the seeds of interest in some day in the near future being able to attend a University like Loyola Marymount."
The Star Achievers Dollars for Scholars chapter also participated in the Walk for Education again this year. This unique chapter was started in 1992 by Ed and Lenora Dugas and Della Ford, after the tragic passings of the Dugas's daughter and Della's husband, who was also their beloved church pastor.
The three of them decided to do something positive out of their grief, and started Star Achievers Dollars for Scholars. Their scholarships go to high-achieving African-American students both from their own church and from surrounding high schools.
Each year, Lenora makes wonderful handcrafted gifts, which the chapter sells at the walk, along with raffle tickets for items donated by the Home Depot where current chapter president Louis Rubins works. Lenora checked in with our California Dollars for Scholars office after the Walk as well:
"We just celebrated our 16th [year] with Dollars for Scholars, and if anyone would have asked me prior to that if I would spend the next decade(s) fundraising to assist the children of others, I would have replied with a resounding 'NO.' Yet, I find myself writing letters and proposals annually.
"Because of people like [our California staff, Ann Worley and Barbara Charnock] who are always just a phone call away to answer questions, you've made it so much easier for us to keep going. The [Walk] s our only real fundraiser. We have a group of church friends who because of knee replacements and body aches, will give instead of coming out to walk. I think, this was our smallest number of actual walkers. Even Della had knee replacement the first of this year.
"However, I still enjoy doing my quilting projects and selling them!"
In addition to proceeds from Lenora's quilting -- she gives half of what she earns to the fund -- the chapter also recently received $15,000 in support from Boeing and SCE. Despite knee replacements and all, Star Achievers, like the rest of the participants in the Walk for Education, is still going strong.
28/09: The $6 Million Secret: The Volunteer Spotlight on Gregg Gropel and Luverne Dollars for Scholars
Luverne, Minnesota is a small town – just under 5,000 residents – but it's got a big heart. Luverne Dollars for Scholars has awarded scholarships to more than 1,200 students in the last 26 years, including more than $111,000 to 165 members of Luverne High School's Class of 2009. With a gift this year of nearly $3 million from the estate of a founding member, things are only looking brighter for Luverne and its students. Like every one of our chapters, though, it all started from the ground up.
Specifically, it began in 1983 in the basement of a local bank. A handful of community members, including Gregg Gropel, Don Klosterbuer, Harvey Ordung and Harvey Etrim, came together to discuss a common cause: their ironclad belief that strengthening their community meant investing in education. At first, the chapter had more will than dollars. Gregg, the former secretary of the chapter, recalls that they decided to raise awareness by sending letters to local businesses, only to realize that “We didn’t even have money for postage!”
A bank donation got them their stamps, though, and by the next year the chapter had given two $500 scholarships and garnered an additional $2,000 in perpetual scholarships from the American Legion, Lions Club, Rotary Club and others, but the long hours and tireless work meant chapter morale was suffering. Searching for ideas, chapter president Harvey Etrim suggested writing to the Aaneson family -- former Luverne residents who founded the snack company Old Dutch. Gregg tracked down Curtis, one of the three Aaneson brothers, and convinced him to contribute $5,000.
Gregg Gropel (standing) and Don Klosterbuer address the local press after announcing their $2.9 million bequest from Harvey Ordung. (photo via Worthington Daily Globe)
As Gregg and Don both attest, it couldn't have come at a better time. The donation, which was followed by another a few months later, was just the morale booster volunteers needed to keep their spirits alive. It also catalyzed awareness throughout the community to such a degree that another local resident, Lava Brooks, bequeathed nearly $700,000, elevating its endowment to just under $1 million – a successful chapter by any measure.
Gregg and his fellow volunteers could have sat back and admired their work, but that's not how things are done in Luverne. In fact, Gregg decided to approach Vernon Aaneson of Old Dutch to see if he'd be interested in setting up a company scholarship. Though Vernon felt Old Dutch's reach was too national to do a single-community scholarship, he did make quite a personal donation: two checks totaling $1 million. As Don Klosterbuer jokes even now, “Talk about your all time best fundraisers; we opened up the mail.” And success has only bred more success -- in July 2009, founding member Harvey Ordung left the chapter $2.9 million in his will, building their coffers to $6 million in endowed scholarship funds.
What's the secret to the chapter's success? Is it simply a series of fortunate events? Or is it something more? Don has an idea: “He’s too modest to say, but Gregg Gropel is Luverne Dollars for Scholars. ... We wouldn’t have received our recent $2.9 million endowment, or had half the success we’ve had without Gregg. It’s easy to be the president of the chapter when you have Gregg for the secretary.”
Gregg served in that position from the chapter's founding until this past year, working to cultivate donor relationships, develop a system for distributing scholarships to students, and build a tracking system for multi-year scholarship awards. In addition, in the early 1990s, he started an awareness-raising publication called Alumni News, which goes to all Luverne High School graduates. If features class reunion and alumni events, as well as plenty of information about Dollars for Scholars -- including alumni-funded scholarships and chapter happenings. Thanks in large part to this publication, several Luverne High School alumni classes have established permanent student scholarships.
Gregg also put a premium on donor recognition, both by students receiving scholarships and the community at large. To highlight their generosity, he created the Community Scholarship Awards booklet, containing the names of each year's scholarship recipients as well as the names and a short biography of the donors. This added biography allows students to know who helped provide their scholarship, and affords them the unique opportunity to personally thank their donor either in person or through a letter. (Both Gregg and Don agree that thank-you letters to donors are crucial for any Dollars for Scholars program.)
While Gregg has long served at the forefront of innovation at Luverne Dollars for Scholars, he is now letting others lead. He stepped down as secretary this year, but continues to serve as a chapter advocate and the primary liaison for those interested in setting up scholarship funds.
Over the years, Gregg has donated thousands of hours to the chapter, and he received national recognition when he made the Scholarship America National Honor Roll in 1999. He says he doesn’t know exactly what it is that motivates him to volunteer, but that the community attitude in Luverne is relentlessly positive and focused on “doing the right thing.” This attitude coupled with community loyalty and pride certainly helped get Gregg involved 26 years ago, as it does today. Though he didn't grow up in Luverne, Gregg sees it as his hometown, and Dollars for Scholars has given him and other community residents the opportunity to invest in their hometown's future – an investment with monumental payoffs.
Specifically, it began in 1983 in the basement of a local bank. A handful of community members, including Gregg Gropel, Don Klosterbuer, Harvey Ordung and Harvey Etrim, came together to discuss a common cause: their ironclad belief that strengthening their community meant investing in education. At first, the chapter had more will than dollars. Gregg, the former secretary of the chapter, recalls that they decided to raise awareness by sending letters to local businesses, only to realize that “We didn’t even have money for postage!”
A bank donation got them their stamps, though, and by the next year the chapter had given two $500 scholarships and garnered an additional $2,000 in perpetual scholarships from the American Legion, Lions Club, Rotary Club and others, but the long hours and tireless work meant chapter morale was suffering. Searching for ideas, chapter president Harvey Etrim suggested writing to the Aaneson family -- former Luverne residents who founded the snack company Old Dutch. Gregg tracked down Curtis, one of the three Aaneson brothers, and convinced him to contribute $5,000.
Gregg Gropel (standing) and Don Klosterbuer address the local press after announcing their $2.9 million bequest from Harvey Ordung. (photo via Worthington Daily Globe)
As Gregg and Don both attest, it couldn't have come at a better time. The donation, which was followed by another a few months later, was just the morale booster volunteers needed to keep their spirits alive. It also catalyzed awareness throughout the community to such a degree that another local resident, Lava Brooks, bequeathed nearly $700,000, elevating its endowment to just under $1 million – a successful chapter by any measure.
Gregg and his fellow volunteers could have sat back and admired their work, but that's not how things are done in Luverne. In fact, Gregg decided to approach Vernon Aaneson of Old Dutch to see if he'd be interested in setting up a company scholarship. Though Vernon felt Old Dutch's reach was too national to do a single-community scholarship, he did make quite a personal donation: two checks totaling $1 million. As Don Klosterbuer jokes even now, “Talk about your all time best fundraisers; we opened up the mail.” And success has only bred more success -- in July 2009, founding member Harvey Ordung left the chapter $2.9 million in his will, building their coffers to $6 million in endowed scholarship funds.
What's the secret to the chapter's success? Is it simply a series of fortunate events? Or is it something more? Don has an idea: “He’s too modest to say, but Gregg Gropel is Luverne Dollars for Scholars. ... We wouldn’t have received our recent $2.9 million endowment, or had half the success we’ve had without Gregg. It’s easy to be the president of the chapter when you have Gregg for the secretary.”
Gregg served in that position from the chapter's founding until this past year, working to cultivate donor relationships, develop a system for distributing scholarships to students, and build a tracking system for multi-year scholarship awards. In addition, in the early 1990s, he started an awareness-raising publication called Alumni News, which goes to all Luverne High School graduates. If features class reunion and alumni events, as well as plenty of information about Dollars for Scholars -- including alumni-funded scholarships and chapter happenings. Thanks in large part to this publication, several Luverne High School alumni classes have established permanent student scholarships.
Gregg also put a premium on donor recognition, both by students receiving scholarships and the community at large. To highlight their generosity, he created the Community Scholarship Awards booklet, containing the names of each year's scholarship recipients as well as the names and a short biography of the donors. This added biography allows students to know who helped provide their scholarship, and affords them the unique opportunity to personally thank their donor either in person or through a letter. (Both Gregg and Don agree that thank-you letters to donors are crucial for any Dollars for Scholars program.)
While Gregg has long served at the forefront of innovation at Luverne Dollars for Scholars, he is now letting others lead. He stepped down as secretary this year, but continues to serve as a chapter advocate and the primary liaison for those interested in setting up scholarship funds.
Over the years, Gregg has donated thousands of hours to the chapter, and he received national recognition when he made the Scholarship America National Honor Roll in 1999. He says he doesn’t know exactly what it is that motivates him to volunteer, but that the community attitude in Luverne is relentlessly positive and focused on “doing the right thing.” This attitude coupled with community loyalty and pride certainly helped get Gregg involved 26 years ago, as it does today. Though he didn't grow up in Luverne, Gregg sees it as his hometown, and Dollars for Scholars has given him and other community residents the opportunity to invest in their hometown's future – an investment with monumental payoffs.
Congratulations to Scott Thole and Dan Pierson, who are both financial advisers with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and dedicated volunteers with Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars. The pair are finalists for the national Volunteer Team Award presented by the Invest In Others Charitable Foundation. The award competition annually recognizes advisers across the United States for exemplary leadership within their communities.
As award judge and Investment News editor Jim Pavia writes in his announcement of the nominees:
"Although the Bernie Madoffs and R. Allen Stanfords of the world have dominated media attention, the fact is that most financial advisers are good, honest people who put their clients' interests first and in many cases look to give back to their communities. ... These people are truly remarkable individuals. I am not just talking about the finalists; I am speaking of all 400 advisers nominated by their peers or companies."
Being selected to the small group of finalists is a terrific honor for Scott, Dan, and Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars, and could be a windfall for the chapter as well: winning charities will receive a $10,000 donation at the Invest In Others awards banquet September 30 in New York City.
As award judge and Investment News editor Jim Pavia writes in his announcement of the nominees:
"Although the Bernie Madoffs and R. Allen Stanfords of the world have dominated media attention, the fact is that most financial advisers are good, honest people who put their clients' interests first and in many cases look to give back to their communities. ... These people are truly remarkable individuals. I am not just talking about the finalists; I am speaking of all 400 advisers nominated by their peers or companies."
Being selected to the small group of finalists is a terrific honor for Scott, Dan, and Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars, and could be a windfall for the chapter as well: winning charities will receive a $10,000 donation at the Invest In Others awards banquet September 30 in New York City.
“Individual commitment to a group effort --that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” -Vince Lombardi
Lee Tischer and Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars chapter president Phyllis Likness received the Washington State Grange Volunteer Organization of the Year Award this July.
A fishing tournament and a car show: two seemingly unrelated events, right? Not in Wahkiakum, Washington.
Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars and its volunteers have creatively linked these two events together for the past five years, as the Derby for Dollars for Scholars. The event’s goal – raising scholarship money for Wahkiakum High School students – has been met with incredible success. The Derby brings in over $14,000 in scholarship funds each year to the chapter, and its popularity benefits local businesses that participate, as well.
So who are the brilliant masterminds behind this event? That would be Lee and Diane Tischer; passionate and dedicated residents and volunteers for Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars. Both Lee and Diane grew up in the community, went to school and graduated from high school in the community and were raised to give back to the community. Diane grew up on a local dairy farm; her parents, who owned a local grocery store, provided daily examples of helping others. As Diane says, “That’s just what you did; you helped out and got involved.” Lee grew up in a split home, but yet he was able to thrive and have success because he knew the community was behind him. He found that many of the community’s elders helped him in hard times; now, he and Diane are paying that kindness forward with the hope that current youth will do the same. As Diane says, “We want to do all we can to help the kids in the community.”
Lee and Diane began paying forward their belief in students when they began the “Fifth Quarter” tradition nearly 14 years ago. After a home football game, Lee and Diane open their home to all high school students for a cookout. The event not only ensures a safe place for youth to go after a game, but allows Lee and Diane to stay connected with students. And while opening their home was a step toward giving back to the community that gave so much to them, Lee and Diane wanted to do more. Wanting to help make sure students could pursue their education beyond high school, and influenced by a local school principal who had started a Dollars for Scholars chapter in another area of Washington, Lee, Diane and six others met in the Wahkiakum High school library and began their own chapter.
Nine years later, the chapter has become a staple scholarship organization in the community and its success has even brought with it a few awards, including its recognition as the Washington State Grange Volunteer Group of the Year. (See the June inTouch article for full details)
The success of Lee, Diane and the chapter has been due to the effort put forth by not only chapter members, but by everyone in the community. As Lee points out, “This community has really suffered in these tough economic times and unemployment is at an all time high, and yet businesses and people in the community are more generous than ever.” Lee also makes a conscious effort not to ask the same businesses over and over to donate to multiple fundraising events. Instead, he and other chapter members extend their reach to out-of-town and non-traditional local businesses like contractors. At the same time, businesses recognize the revenue they make thanks to chapter events like the Derby, which makes them more inclined to help out the chapter mission.
By the same token, individuals in the community have found easy ways to donate to the chapter. For example, Wahkiakum has a local birthday club. Instead of members giving presents to each other, they donate the money they would have spent to a scholarship fund. Frequently, for memorials and services, people send donations instead of flowers. This has become a popular way to honor someone and it also helps the chapter to give out more substantial scholarships to their students – as Diane points out, with college costs so high, any scholarship less than $500 hardly covers fees or books!
The scholarships raised by Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars have truly made the difference for many local students between going and not going to school. Currently, the chapter gives out as many as 18 scholarships per year ranging from $500 to $5,000. The chapter’s average scholarship is around $2,000; in 2008 one student even received a $10,000 scholarship. While the awards given out by the chapter are truly impressive, Lee and Diane and the rest of the chapter volunteers have an even bigger goal: they would like to build a million-dollar endowment, and they want to give EVERY SINGLE student in their community a substantial scholarship. They’re lofty goals, but Lee and Diane dream big and hope that their efforts, combined with the support of the community, will make them happen. Of course, they wouldn’t mind expediting the process – as Lee jokes, “We are still looking for that million dollar donor and of course I bought my lottery ticket.”
Regardless of how long it takes, Lee and Diane are dedicated to the mission of Dollars for Scholars because they know that the future of the community depends on educated youth. As Diane eloquently puts it: “Kids are the future of our community. If we don’t help and educate them, we can’t improve the community, and it will fail.”
Lee Tischer and Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars chapter president Phyllis Likness received the Washington State Grange Volunteer Organization of the Year Award this July.
A fishing tournament and a car show: two seemingly unrelated events, right? Not in Wahkiakum, Washington.
Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars and its volunteers have creatively linked these two events together for the past five years, as the Derby for Dollars for Scholars. The event’s goal – raising scholarship money for Wahkiakum High School students – has been met with incredible success. The Derby brings in over $14,000 in scholarship funds each year to the chapter, and its popularity benefits local businesses that participate, as well.
So who are the brilliant masterminds behind this event? That would be Lee and Diane Tischer; passionate and dedicated residents and volunteers for Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars. Both Lee and Diane grew up in the community, went to school and graduated from high school in the community and were raised to give back to the community. Diane grew up on a local dairy farm; her parents, who owned a local grocery store, provided daily examples of helping others. As Diane says, “That’s just what you did; you helped out and got involved.” Lee grew up in a split home, but yet he was able to thrive and have success because he knew the community was behind him. He found that many of the community’s elders helped him in hard times; now, he and Diane are paying that kindness forward with the hope that current youth will do the same. As Diane says, “We want to do all we can to help the kids in the community.”
Lee and Diane began paying forward their belief in students when they began the “Fifth Quarter” tradition nearly 14 years ago. After a home football game, Lee and Diane open their home to all high school students for a cookout. The event not only ensures a safe place for youth to go after a game, but allows Lee and Diane to stay connected with students. And while opening their home was a step toward giving back to the community that gave so much to them, Lee and Diane wanted to do more. Wanting to help make sure students could pursue their education beyond high school, and influenced by a local school principal who had started a Dollars for Scholars chapter in another area of Washington, Lee, Diane and six others met in the Wahkiakum High school library and began their own chapter.
Nine years later, the chapter has become a staple scholarship organization in the community and its success has even brought with it a few awards, including its recognition as the Washington State Grange Volunteer Group of the Year. (See the June inTouch article for full details)
The success of Lee, Diane and the chapter has been due to the effort put forth by not only chapter members, but by everyone in the community. As Lee points out, “This community has really suffered in these tough economic times and unemployment is at an all time high, and yet businesses and people in the community are more generous than ever.” Lee also makes a conscious effort not to ask the same businesses over and over to donate to multiple fundraising events. Instead, he and other chapter members extend their reach to out-of-town and non-traditional local businesses like contractors. At the same time, businesses recognize the revenue they make thanks to chapter events like the Derby, which makes them more inclined to help out the chapter mission.
By the same token, individuals in the community have found easy ways to donate to the chapter. For example, Wahkiakum has a local birthday club. Instead of members giving presents to each other, they donate the money they would have spent to a scholarship fund. Frequently, for memorials and services, people send donations instead of flowers. This has become a popular way to honor someone and it also helps the chapter to give out more substantial scholarships to their students – as Diane points out, with college costs so high, any scholarship less than $500 hardly covers fees or books!
The scholarships raised by Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars have truly made the difference for many local students between going and not going to school. Currently, the chapter gives out as many as 18 scholarships per year ranging from $500 to $5,000. The chapter’s average scholarship is around $2,000; in 2008 one student even received a $10,000 scholarship. While the awards given out by the chapter are truly impressive, Lee and Diane and the rest of the chapter volunteers have an even bigger goal: they would like to build a million-dollar endowment, and they want to give EVERY SINGLE student in their community a substantial scholarship. They’re lofty goals, but Lee and Diane dream big and hope that their efforts, combined with the support of the community, will make them happen. Of course, they wouldn’t mind expediting the process – as Lee jokes, “We are still looking for that million dollar donor and of course I bought my lottery ticket.”
Regardless of how long it takes, Lee and Diane are dedicated to the mission of Dollars for Scholars because they know that the future of the community depends on educated youth. As Diane eloquently puts it: “Kids are the future of our community. If we don’t help and educate them, we can’t improve the community, and it will fail.”
By Lauren Costella, National Volunteer Coordinator
“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” -Helen Dyer
The combination of work, family and volunteering often leaves us wishing we could be in two places at once. For Debbie Busching of South Dearborn (IN) Dollars for Scholars, there's even more to it: “I work in Ohio, I live in Kentucky and I volunteer in Indiana.”
Being able to divvy up her time in so many places comes somewhat naturally to Debbie: as a child she moved around quite a bit because her father was a member of the US Air Force. When Debbie found a more permanent home in Moore's Hill, Indiana, she began working and raising a family and volunteering for various organizations and sports that her children were involved with. She discovered her true volunteer passion when her oldest daughter received a scholarship from the local Dollars for Scholars chapter. With this help for her daughter, Debbie realized the value of showing community support to students and encouraging them to never give up on their goals. She has been volunteering for South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars since 2002, and, earlier this year, Debbie was honored as Indiana Dollars for Scholars' Volunteer of the Year.
In her time with the chapter, Debbie has held nearly every officer position, taking on any vacancy that needs filling and enjoying the variety of challenges. Most of all, she enjoys fundraising for her chapter; Debbie works as a marketing professional, so she appreciates the ability to transfer her skills and expertise to philanthropy. For example, Debbie helped create and implement an innovative fundraiser in which community businesses donate to Dollars for Scholars based on points in local high school sporting events -- a company or organization may donate $1 a point in a basketball game, or $25 per touchdown in football. Each game usually has two sponsors, and sometimes upwards of five or six. This creative program brings in an added $3,000 per year for scholarships, and helps maintain what Debbie calls an incredible relationship with local high schools.
Volunteering has always been a family affair for Debbie. Her brother and sister, her husband and now her children are all volunteers for various organizations, and her inspiration stems from her parents. Until his death in 1987, her father was an active volunteer, and her mother, a 70-year-old cancer survivor, spends at least 20 hours a week volunteering in a local nursing home, for the American Legion, and planting flowers for the local beautification committee. And that's not all: recently, Debbie’s mother set up a scholarship fund in her name. It stemmed from an idea her co-workers and American Legion colleagues had to celebrate her birthday: instead of presents, they started to donate to a scholarship fund. The idea caught on, and Debbie and her siblings even donate to the fund for special occasions like Christmas and birthdays. As a result, this year the fund offered $500 in scholarships to two students, with a goal of doubling the award next year.
Beyond creatively raising money, Debbie and South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars work tirelessly to ensure that get the most out of their scholarships. They encourage all students to take advantage of Scholarship America's Collegiate Partners and Matching Collegiate Partners, in part by allowing them to split their scholarship between two years and take advantage of the college's matching amounts each year. For example, students who could have used their $1200 scholarships for their freshman year and received a $500 matching-partner grant are encouraged to use $600 each year (and thus get not one but two matching grants.) This makes the scholarships more valuable for students and helps them to cover college costs for multiple years.
Debbie is nothing if not proud of the work her chapter's done to increase scholarship money for students. When she started with South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars seven years ago, the chapter raised about $12,000 in scholarships. In 2009, that amount has increased to $37,000. Certainly such successes can be attributed to increased generosity from local businesses over the years, but Debbie also points out how crucial alumni scholarship recipients have been to creating chapter success. These recipients give back by donating anywhere from $5-$150, and a student recipient from the class of 1995 recently started a fund that awarded a $1500 scholarship this year.
Cultivating and maintaining alumni relationships is a top priority for the Debbie and the South Dearborn chapter. Every two years, the local high school hosts a Thanksgiving-weekend basketball game, and the chapter hosts a recipient alumni night in conjunction with this popular tradition. At halftime of the game, the chapter's founder and current president speak, and each former recipient is called to the court to be publicly recognized. At the last event in 2008, 200 of the chapter's 375 past recipients showed up – a fantastic display of alumni support.
Certainly these chapter successes haven’t come without challenges, especially in recruiting new volunteers. South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars serves a very spread-out community, which at times makes it difficult to get people interested and involved. But Debbie is focused on finding people who are passionate about education. As she says, “Getting people for fundraisers is easy, but it’s getting people to help with the long term positions that seem to be problematic. Everyone has something they are interested in and we are looking to find the ‘right’ people interested in education.”
Recruiting can be a struggle, but Debbie points out that the selling points for Dollars for Scholars are pretty straightforward: education for students helps to solve community problems. For a small community to survive, citizens must be educated. Educated communities are more productive and have less crime. The chapter also encourages student involvement in the community by offering scholarships for their volunteering efforts.
Dollars for Scholars is truly a mission driven, and it’s a catalyst for creating and maintaining a better communities. It’s an organization a community can rally behind and be proud to support, just as South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars has proven. Last but not least, it’s an organization that knows no borders: just ask Debbie Busching and the state lines she and her efforts regularly cross.
“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” -Helen Dyer
The combination of work, family and volunteering often leaves us wishing we could be in two places at once. For Debbie Busching of South Dearborn (IN) Dollars for Scholars, there's even more to it: “I work in Ohio, I live in Kentucky and I volunteer in Indiana.”
Being able to divvy up her time in so many places comes somewhat naturally to Debbie: as a child she moved around quite a bit because her father was a member of the US Air Force. When Debbie found a more permanent home in Moore's Hill, Indiana, she began working and raising a family and volunteering for various organizations and sports that her children were involved with. She discovered her true volunteer passion when her oldest daughter received a scholarship from the local Dollars for Scholars chapter. With this help for her daughter, Debbie realized the value of showing community support to students and encouraging them to never give up on their goals. She has been volunteering for South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars since 2002, and, earlier this year, Debbie was honored as Indiana Dollars for Scholars' Volunteer of the Year.
In her time with the chapter, Debbie has held nearly every officer position, taking on any vacancy that needs filling and enjoying the variety of challenges. Most of all, she enjoys fundraising for her chapter; Debbie works as a marketing professional, so she appreciates the ability to transfer her skills and expertise to philanthropy. For example, Debbie helped create and implement an innovative fundraiser in which community businesses donate to Dollars for Scholars based on points in local high school sporting events -- a company or organization may donate $1 a point in a basketball game, or $25 per touchdown in football. Each game usually has two sponsors, and sometimes upwards of five or six. This creative program brings in an added $3,000 per year for scholarships, and helps maintain what Debbie calls an incredible relationship with local high schools.Volunteering has always been a family affair for Debbie. Her brother and sister, her husband and now her children are all volunteers for various organizations, and her inspiration stems from her parents. Until his death in 1987, her father was an active volunteer, and her mother, a 70-year-old cancer survivor, spends at least 20 hours a week volunteering in a local nursing home, for the American Legion, and planting flowers for the local beautification committee. And that's not all: recently, Debbie’s mother set up a scholarship fund in her name. It stemmed from an idea her co-workers and American Legion colleagues had to celebrate her birthday: instead of presents, they started to donate to a scholarship fund. The idea caught on, and Debbie and her siblings even donate to the fund for special occasions like Christmas and birthdays. As a result, this year the fund offered $500 in scholarships to two students, with a goal of doubling the award next year.
Beyond creatively raising money, Debbie and South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars work tirelessly to ensure that get the most out of their scholarships. They encourage all students to take advantage of Scholarship America's Collegiate Partners and Matching Collegiate Partners, in part by allowing them to split their scholarship between two years and take advantage of the college's matching amounts each year. For example, students who could have used their $1200 scholarships for their freshman year and received a $500 matching-partner grant are encouraged to use $600 each year (and thus get not one but two matching grants.) This makes the scholarships more valuable for students and helps them to cover college costs for multiple years.
Debbie is nothing if not proud of the work her chapter's done to increase scholarship money for students. When she started with South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars seven years ago, the chapter raised about $12,000 in scholarships. In 2009, that amount has increased to $37,000. Certainly such successes can be attributed to increased generosity from local businesses over the years, but Debbie also points out how crucial alumni scholarship recipients have been to creating chapter success. These recipients give back by donating anywhere from $5-$150, and a student recipient from the class of 1995 recently started a fund that awarded a $1500 scholarship this year.
Cultivating and maintaining alumni relationships is a top priority for the Debbie and the South Dearborn chapter. Every two years, the local high school hosts a Thanksgiving-weekend basketball game, and the chapter hosts a recipient alumni night in conjunction with this popular tradition. At halftime of the game, the chapter's founder and current president speak, and each former recipient is called to the court to be publicly recognized. At the last event in 2008, 200 of the chapter's 375 past recipients showed up – a fantastic display of alumni support.
Certainly these chapter successes haven’t come without challenges, especially in recruiting new volunteers. South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars serves a very spread-out community, which at times makes it difficult to get people interested and involved. But Debbie is focused on finding people who are passionate about education. As she says, “Getting people for fundraisers is easy, but it’s getting people to help with the long term positions that seem to be problematic. Everyone has something they are interested in and we are looking to find the ‘right’ people interested in education.”
Recruiting can be a struggle, but Debbie points out that the selling points for Dollars for Scholars are pretty straightforward: education for students helps to solve community problems. For a small community to survive, citizens must be educated. Educated communities are more productive and have less crime. The chapter also encourages student involvement in the community by offering scholarships for their volunteering efforts.
Dollars for Scholars is truly a mission driven, and it’s a catalyst for creating and maintaining a better communities. It’s an organization a community can rally behind and be proud to support, just as South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars has proven. Last but not least, it’s an organization that knows no borders: just ask Debbie Busching and the state lines she and her efforts regularly cross.
by Lauren Costella, National Volunteer Coordinator
Citizen Service is the very American idea that we meet our challenges not as isolated individuals but as members of a true community, with all of us working together. Our mission is nothing less than to spark a renewed sense of obligation, a new sense of duty, a new season of service..."
-- former President Bill Clinton
"Roger has a sixth sense about the community's needs and how to support the people in it. ... He is the superman of all projects ... and he uses his free time for the betterment of others."
These are the words of Verna Bowie, director of the Southeast Polk Dollars for Scholars (SEP) chapter, when asked to describe volunteer and chapter chair Roger Mahnke. Without a doubt, these words ring very true, given the impact he and the rest of the SEP chapter have in their community. This year alone, the chapter gave out 242 scholarships ranging from $250 to $4,000 -- 51 of which came directly out of the money raised by chapter volunteers.
Roger has always been very involved with the Southeast Polk community, ensuring students have the best possible opportunities for getting a great education. He served as a school principal starting in the 1960s, later moving to the school district office as the director of personnel. In 2001, when the SEP chapter formed, Roger began volunteering his time raising scholarship funds for students. Since 2002 he has been the chair of the chapter; in that time, Roger, the SEP Dollars for Scholars volunteers, and the community as a whole have gone above and beyond to raise as much scholarship money as possible. From payroll deductions and golf tournaments to elementary school hat days and bussing tables for tips, Roger and the SEP chapter volunteers do just about anything to give out as many scholarships as possible. One of their premier events is their annual Mars Dinner Auction (a sit-down dinner and live auction) that, this year, raised over $24,000 in scholarships!
But as Roger will say over and over again, it is not just him making this happen; it is the combined efforts of all the SEP chapter volunteers and the entire Polk community that make miracles happen. But no one can deny that such a close knit community and bond for contributing to education has developed through Roger’s personal touch efforts in connecting with every organization in the community. Roger made it a personal endeavor to visit all the local community organizations and businesses to ask for their help. In fact, he dedicates hours upon hours visiting and meeting one-on-one with people in order to create strong bonds and relationships and garner support for the local chapter. As Verna jokes, “If you want to know a good place to eat, Roger knows the place!”
Joking aside, Roger values the importance of creating these personal relationships and contacts, and when these businesses donate or get involved, Roger recognizes their wonderful contributions. For example, he invites all of these businesses to their scholarship awards night. All these businesses and donors are recognized in their scholarship recognition booklet. The booklets describe the donor or the business and the purpose of the scholarship. Also, business representatives and donors are given the opportunity to actually meet the scholarship student. Students and donors get pictures together at the event. Finally, businesses are given a 12-by-18-inch recognition poster. Those posters can be seen proudly displayed in businesses all over the community, and have actually encouraged other businesses to donate and get involved.
It’s all about building relationships and creating personal contact; these elements make all the difference in shaping the community strength around Dollars for Scholars. People in the community have come to trust and appreciate Roger for his incredible leadership, and of course Roger passes this lesson on to the students who receive a scholarship. Every student is required to write a thank you letter to the donors who contributed to their scholarship. If students fail to write a letter, they don’t get their scholarship. It’s just that simple. It’s vital to thank and appreciate the benevolence of donors. As Roger describes, “We had a family leave their entire estate to the school which has accounted for over $250,000 in scholarships, but students didn’t know who this family was.” This is also why, in addition to thank you letters from students, Roger and the SEP chapter created a donor recognition book that includes all the donors and businesses that have helped with contributing to raising scholarship funds. With this booklet, students, their families and the rest of the community know exactly where and from whom the scholarship is coming from and can then thank them for their kindness and generosity.
Roger and the rest of the Southeast Polk Dollars for Scholars chapter have worked wonders for the students and families in their community. And while such endeavors can be time consuming, it’s the effort and hard work that make the program great. Every day, Roger and the SEP chapter see the incredible impact they are having in students’ lives. In the future they want to be able to give our meaningful scholarships to every single student in the community! It sounds ambitious, but that’s the out-of-the-box thinking that Roger and other chapter volunteers possess. They know that investing in their youth is an investment in the future of the community and the return on their investment will certainly reflect success.
Citizen Service is the very American idea that we meet our challenges not as isolated individuals but as members of a true community, with all of us working together. Our mission is nothing less than to spark a renewed sense of obligation, a new sense of duty, a new season of service..."
-- former President Bill Clinton
"Roger has a sixth sense about the community's needs and how to support the people in it. ... He is the superman of all projects ... and he uses his free time for the betterment of others."
These are the words of Verna Bowie, director of the Southeast Polk Dollars for Scholars (SEP) chapter, when asked to describe volunteer and chapter chair Roger Mahnke. Without a doubt, these words ring very true, given the impact he and the rest of the SEP chapter have in their community. This year alone, the chapter gave out 242 scholarships ranging from $250 to $4,000 -- 51 of which came directly out of the money raised by chapter volunteers. Roger has always been very involved with the Southeast Polk community, ensuring students have the best possible opportunities for getting a great education. He served as a school principal starting in the 1960s, later moving to the school district office as the director of personnel. In 2001, when the SEP chapter formed, Roger began volunteering his time raising scholarship funds for students. Since 2002 he has been the chair of the chapter; in that time, Roger, the SEP Dollars for Scholars volunteers, and the community as a whole have gone above and beyond to raise as much scholarship money as possible. From payroll deductions and golf tournaments to elementary school hat days and bussing tables for tips, Roger and the SEP chapter volunteers do just about anything to give out as many scholarships as possible. One of their premier events is their annual Mars Dinner Auction (a sit-down dinner and live auction) that, this year, raised over $24,000 in scholarships!
But as Roger will say over and over again, it is not just him making this happen; it is the combined efforts of all the SEP chapter volunteers and the entire Polk community that make miracles happen. But no one can deny that such a close knit community and bond for contributing to education has developed through Roger’s personal touch efforts in connecting with every organization in the community. Roger made it a personal endeavor to visit all the local community organizations and businesses to ask for their help. In fact, he dedicates hours upon hours visiting and meeting one-on-one with people in order to create strong bonds and relationships and garner support for the local chapter. As Verna jokes, “If you want to know a good place to eat, Roger knows the place!”
Joking aside, Roger values the importance of creating these personal relationships and contacts, and when these businesses donate or get involved, Roger recognizes their wonderful contributions. For example, he invites all of these businesses to their scholarship awards night. All these businesses and donors are recognized in their scholarship recognition booklet. The booklets describe the donor or the business and the purpose of the scholarship. Also, business representatives and donors are given the opportunity to actually meet the scholarship student. Students and donors get pictures together at the event. Finally, businesses are given a 12-by-18-inch recognition poster. Those posters can be seen proudly displayed in businesses all over the community, and have actually encouraged other businesses to donate and get involved.
It’s all about building relationships and creating personal contact; these elements make all the difference in shaping the community strength around Dollars for Scholars. People in the community have come to trust and appreciate Roger for his incredible leadership, and of course Roger passes this lesson on to the students who receive a scholarship. Every student is required to write a thank you letter to the donors who contributed to their scholarship. If students fail to write a letter, they don’t get their scholarship. It’s just that simple. It’s vital to thank and appreciate the benevolence of donors. As Roger describes, “We had a family leave their entire estate to the school which has accounted for over $250,000 in scholarships, but students didn’t know who this family was.” This is also why, in addition to thank you letters from students, Roger and the SEP chapter created a donor recognition book that includes all the donors and businesses that have helped with contributing to raising scholarship funds. With this booklet, students, their families and the rest of the community know exactly where and from whom the scholarship is coming from and can then thank them for their kindness and generosity.
Roger and the rest of the Southeast Polk Dollars for Scholars chapter have worked wonders for the students and families in their community. And while such endeavors can be time consuming, it’s the effort and hard work that make the program great. Every day, Roger and the SEP chapter see the incredible impact they are having in students’ lives. In the future they want to be able to give our meaningful scholarships to every single student in the community! It sounds ambitious, but that’s the out-of-the-box thinking that Roger and other chapter volunteers possess. They know that investing in their youth is an investment in the future of the community and the return on their investment will certainly reflect success.
By Lauren Costella, National Volunteer Coordinator
Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer. ~Author Unknown
$50 for books and student fees may not seem like much, but it was that scholarship that inspired Dr. Reynaldo Garay to a life as a relentless, passionate, dedicated force for helping the lives of students.
Rey was born and raised in East Los Angeles, one of five sons of immigrants from Mexico. He was a good student and accomplished water-sports athlete, but the family's economic struggles left little room to dream about postsecondary education; that small scholarship from East Los Angeles College meant much more to him than simply a way to pay for books. It was a sign from his community that people believed in him and cared about what he did with his future.
Spurred on by his community's faith in him, Rey maintained a solid GPA while participating in five different sports, eventually going on to graduate from UCLA, achieving his Master's and Ph.D. degrees at USC, and giving back to students by becoming a teacher, administrator and lifelong learner. In the 1990s, he was asked by national Dollars for Scholars staff members to help establish a chartered regional office in Southern California, out of which came California Dollars for Scholars; if his founding work and year as board president weren't enough, Rey also started the Wilmington Dollars for Scholars chapter in his community.
Rey continues to be a dedicated volunteer on both the community and statewide levels; even though he's retired from his full-time work, he's still busy dedicating himself to students. In his words, “When a student does well in school, we (the community) need to recognize it.” He still serves on the board for both California Dollars for Scholars and Wilmington Dollars for Scholars. With his vibrant energy and unyielding belief in students’ abilities for achieving success, Rey volunteers to pass on the same generosity that his East Los Angeles community bestowed upon him years ago. After all, this simple recognition can go a long way in changing the course of someone’s life: indeed, it changed Rey’s.
After completing the schooling inspired by that first scholarship and spending some time in the military, Rey ended up finding a career path in teaching. He taught Spanish, health and physical education and supervised sports at Gardena High School in Los Angeles, and was offered another scholarship grant to participate in a fast-paced, Japanese language studies program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The program was intense but the new cultural understanding and experience was unlike anything he had ever known. After finishing the program, he traveled to several East Asian countries, and then finally returned to teach Spanish at Los Angeles Harbor College. After that, he spent the next decade in various college administration positions throughout the Los Angeles school district, recently retiring from his last post as the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Education still remains a focal point in Rey’s life, as he dedicates most of his time and energy to Dollars for Scholars chapters. He does, though, recognize that maybe his time in the driver’s seat is approaching the end and that new blood needs to step up and take the wheel: “It’s time to bring in new people to take over for older members. It’s time for me to give somebody else a turn.” He enthusiastically expressed his excitement about fellow volunteer Lucia Moreno-Linares. “She is ready to lead, to do more. This is a very positive step [for the chapter]. We do what we can but at some point we have to turn over the reigns to encourage new leaders to forge a new path and direction for the chapter to keep it going and help aid in its success.”
Of course, Rey has learned some lessons about chapter success in his time with Dollars for Scholars; one of the keys he mentions is simply paying forward kindness and recognizing the benefits of volunteering. He got involved with Dollars for Scholars because it was a way to give back, but in his time volunteering, he also finds that he has become a better person because he has the opportunity to do something. He helps to give students a better chance for a successful future and his actions actually impact in the lives of others, and not just in a trivial way: his actions make a difference.
In all, Rey is very satisfied with his successes and his life’s accomplishments, and he loves knowing that his energy and influence have helped to cultivate more and better opportunities for students to pursue a postsecondary education. But more than that, Rey is proud that he fulfilled the expectations that his community bestowed upon him so many years ago. The East Los Angeles College scholarship was what Rey refers to as the initial ripple in the “ripple effect.” What started as a simple monetary investment from a caring community rippled into so much more for Rey: a better life for Rey and those he has touched.
Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer. ~Author Unknown
$50 for books and student fees may not seem like much, but it was that scholarship that inspired Dr. Reynaldo Garay to a life as a relentless, passionate, dedicated force for helping the lives of students. Rey was born and raised in East Los Angeles, one of five sons of immigrants from Mexico. He was a good student and accomplished water-sports athlete, but the family's economic struggles left little room to dream about postsecondary education; that small scholarship from East Los Angeles College meant much more to him than simply a way to pay for books. It was a sign from his community that people believed in him and cared about what he did with his future.
Spurred on by his community's faith in him, Rey maintained a solid GPA while participating in five different sports, eventually going on to graduate from UCLA, achieving his Master's and Ph.D. degrees at USC, and giving back to students by becoming a teacher, administrator and lifelong learner. In the 1990s, he was asked by national Dollars for Scholars staff members to help establish a chartered regional office in Southern California, out of which came California Dollars for Scholars; if his founding work and year as board president weren't enough, Rey also started the Wilmington Dollars for Scholars chapter in his community.
Rey continues to be a dedicated volunteer on both the community and statewide levels; even though he's retired from his full-time work, he's still busy dedicating himself to students. In his words, “When a student does well in school, we (the community) need to recognize it.” He still serves on the board for both California Dollars for Scholars and Wilmington Dollars for Scholars. With his vibrant energy and unyielding belief in students’ abilities for achieving success, Rey volunteers to pass on the same generosity that his East Los Angeles community bestowed upon him years ago. After all, this simple recognition can go a long way in changing the course of someone’s life: indeed, it changed Rey’s.
After completing the schooling inspired by that first scholarship and spending some time in the military, Rey ended up finding a career path in teaching. He taught Spanish, health and physical education and supervised sports at Gardena High School in Los Angeles, and was offered another scholarship grant to participate in a fast-paced, Japanese language studies program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The program was intense but the new cultural understanding and experience was unlike anything he had ever known. After finishing the program, he traveled to several East Asian countries, and then finally returned to teach Spanish at Los Angeles Harbor College. After that, he spent the next decade in various college administration positions throughout the Los Angeles school district, recently retiring from his last post as the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Education still remains a focal point in Rey’s life, as he dedicates most of his time and energy to Dollars for Scholars chapters. He does, though, recognize that maybe his time in the driver’s seat is approaching the end and that new blood needs to step up and take the wheel: “It’s time to bring in new people to take over for older members. It’s time for me to give somebody else a turn.” He enthusiastically expressed his excitement about fellow volunteer Lucia Moreno-Linares. “She is ready to lead, to do more. This is a very positive step [for the chapter]. We do what we can but at some point we have to turn over the reigns to encourage new leaders to forge a new path and direction for the chapter to keep it going and help aid in its success.”
Of course, Rey has learned some lessons about chapter success in his time with Dollars for Scholars; one of the keys he mentions is simply paying forward kindness and recognizing the benefits of volunteering. He got involved with Dollars for Scholars because it was a way to give back, but in his time volunteering, he also finds that he has become a better person because he has the opportunity to do something. He helps to give students a better chance for a successful future and his actions actually impact in the lives of others, and not just in a trivial way: his actions make a difference.
In all, Rey is very satisfied with his successes and his life’s accomplishments, and he loves knowing that his energy and influence have helped to cultivate more and better opportunities for students to pursue a postsecondary education. But more than that, Rey is proud that he fulfilled the expectations that his community bestowed upon him so many years ago. The East Los Angeles College scholarship was what Rey refers to as the initial ripple in the “ripple effect.” What started as a simple monetary investment from a caring community rippled into so much more for Rey: a better life for Rey and those he has touched.
by Lauren Costella, National Volunteer Coordinator
"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." –Margaret Mead
Scholarship recipients for 2008 from St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Career Investment Dollars for Scholars
Every day, our Dollars for Scholars volunteers and supporters create opportunities for student success in our communities across the nation; Beverly Fritz of the St. Paul (MN) Area Chamber of Commerce Career Investment Dollars for Scholars chapter is absolutely no exception. A loving wife and mother of three college graduates, Beverly works day in and day out to ensure that students understand the importance of—and possess the tools for—attaining a postsecondary education.
Beverly was born and raised in Rochester, MN. Her parents offered her and her three older brothers the support and encouragement needed to pursue college; this consistent emphasis on making postsecondary education a priority helped all four siblings became first generation college students. Beverly became the first in her family to attend a private college (Macalester College in St. Paul.) The door to her dream school opened when she received a generous scholarship allowing her to attend tuition-free—an opportunity that meant the world to her: “Sometimes [donors] may not even realize the importance of the scholarships in the lives of students," Beverly says. "But really it means more than words could possibly describe.”
Ever since her own college dreams came true, Beverly has devoted countless working and volunteer hours to giving back to her community, particularly through public education. She worked as an English as a Second Language teacher for 15 years before moving into an administrative position, focusing on enhancing programming for K-12 learning, developing volunteering in schools, and building student enrichment programs.
During her teaching years, Beverly became a regular attendee at events for Henry Sibley Dollars for Scholars in Mendota Heights, MN, and helped her local Rotary Club partner with the chapter to distribute scholarships. When she started a new career working with the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce Charitable Foundation, she immediately set up an affiliated Dollars for Scholars chapter, allowing Beverly to help students pursue their dreams—and to give back the same community support that made her own college education possible. (Including the donation she and her husband made this year, of a scholarship to the chapter.)
The St. Paul Chamber of Commerce chapter focuses on cultivating a strong bond between students and donors. The chapter's annual reception brings the two groups together in person; the students and families get to thank their donors, and the donors witness the priceless impact the scholarship has on the student’s life. (In addition, donors receive framed photos of themselves and their students, reminding them every day how their graciousness and generosity keeps student educational dreams alive.) Beverly points out scholarship recipient Juventino Rodriguez as a quintessential example:
“I feel that I am part of something I care about, and something that influences and encourages me to perform and be the best I can be," Juventino said, upon receiving his American Bank Career Investment Scholarship. "Without you, I would have never been in this position that has not only changed my life, but the lives of those most close to me." Today, as a college sophomore, Juventino is still working to thank the donor and the chapter, frequently volunteering to speak on panels and at local events to impress upon others the importance of scholarships.
Students like Juventino keep Beverly excited and motivated about Scholarship America's mission. And while achieving all goals set forth by the chapter are not always easy—especially gaining the necessary support for expansion—she and her chapter push forward relentlessly. In fact, she offers a very valuable piece of advice to other volunteers who may be struggling to expand the impact they have in their communities: “Don’t be afraid to ask for money. People usually assume that because the economy is weak that people will not give, and that is not always true.” And she reminds us: “You are never going to get a ‘yes’ if you never ask.”
It's hard work, but the combination of passionate leaders and a willingness to ask for time and money are crucial for chapters to further our mission. And, taking one last page from Beverly: when the going gets tough, she simply reminds herself that these daily efforts have unparalleled impact in educating the next generation of bright young minds to change the world.
Inspired by Beverly's story? Want to help? Click here to support Scholarship America.
"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." –Margaret Mead
Scholarship recipients for 2008 from St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Career Investment Dollars for Scholars
Every day, our Dollars for Scholars volunteers and supporters create opportunities for student success in our communities across the nation; Beverly Fritz of the St. Paul (MN) Area Chamber of Commerce Career Investment Dollars for Scholars chapter is absolutely no exception. A loving wife and mother of three college graduates, Beverly works day in and day out to ensure that students understand the importance of—and possess the tools for—attaining a postsecondary education.
Beverly was born and raised in Rochester, MN. Her parents offered her and her three older brothers the support and encouragement needed to pursue college; this consistent emphasis on making postsecondary education a priority helped all four siblings became first generation college students. Beverly became the first in her family to attend a private college (Macalester College in St. Paul.) The door to her dream school opened when she received a generous scholarship allowing her to attend tuition-free—an opportunity that meant the world to her: “Sometimes [donors] may not even realize the importance of the scholarships in the lives of students," Beverly says. "But really it means more than words could possibly describe.”
Ever since her own college dreams came true, Beverly has devoted countless working and volunteer hours to giving back to her community, particularly through public education. She worked as an English as a Second Language teacher for 15 years before moving into an administrative position, focusing on enhancing programming for K-12 learning, developing volunteering in schools, and building student enrichment programs.
During her teaching years, Beverly became a regular attendee at events for Henry Sibley Dollars for Scholars in Mendota Heights, MN, and helped her local Rotary Club partner with the chapter to distribute scholarships. When she started a new career working with the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce Charitable Foundation, she immediately set up an affiliated Dollars for Scholars chapter, allowing Beverly to help students pursue their dreams—and to give back the same community support that made her own college education possible. (Including the donation she and her husband made this year, of a scholarship to the chapter.)
The St. Paul Chamber of Commerce chapter focuses on cultivating a strong bond between students and donors. The chapter's annual reception brings the two groups together in person; the students and families get to thank their donors, and the donors witness the priceless impact the scholarship has on the student’s life. (In addition, donors receive framed photos of themselves and their students, reminding them every day how their graciousness and generosity keeps student educational dreams alive.) Beverly points out scholarship recipient Juventino Rodriguez as a quintessential example:
“I feel that I am part of something I care about, and something that influences and encourages me to perform and be the best I can be," Juventino said, upon receiving his American Bank Career Investment Scholarship. "Without you, I would have never been in this position that has not only changed my life, but the lives of those most close to me." Today, as a college sophomore, Juventino is still working to thank the donor and the chapter, frequently volunteering to speak on panels and at local events to impress upon others the importance of scholarships.
Students like Juventino keep Beverly excited and motivated about Scholarship America's mission. And while achieving all goals set forth by the chapter are not always easy—especially gaining the necessary support for expansion—she and her chapter push forward relentlessly. In fact, she offers a very valuable piece of advice to other volunteers who may be struggling to expand the impact they have in their communities: “Don’t be afraid to ask for money. People usually assume that because the economy is weak that people will not give, and that is not always true.” And she reminds us: “You are never going to get a ‘yes’ if you never ask.”
It's hard work, but the combination of passionate leaders and a willingness to ask for time and money are crucial for chapters to further our mission. And, taking one last page from Beverly: when the going gets tough, she simply reminds herself that these daily efforts have unparalleled impact in educating the next generation of bright young minds to change the world.
Inspired by Beverly's story? Want to help? Click here to support Scholarship America.
Guest Post by Lauren Costella, National Volunteer Coordinator
"All the flowers of tomorrow are the seeds of today." ~ Anonymous
Nancy Levy's passion for inspiring change and investing in education emerged early in life, thanks in part to a former grammar school teacher who told her class that "you shouldn't waste time, and when you do something have something to show for it."
At the time, these words were meant to inspire summertime projects for young students, but Nancy has taken them to heart her whole life. From her ten years as Board of Education chair to her work as President of the Windsor Locks (CT) Dollars for Scholars Chapter, she has made a lifelong effort to plant the seeds of student success by improving advocacy for, and access to, higher education.
Windsor Locks is a small town, literally; it takes up only twelve square miles. Many students do not come from affluent backgrounds, and many families see education as an impossible dream or luxury, instead of as an achievable reality and a necessary step for student and community success. During Nancy's decade on the Board of Education-a role taken on after all three of her children had finished high school-she helped cultivate a stronger community understanding about the importance of long-term educational investment, even from those without children in the school system. After ten years, though, she wanted a new challenge with more direct impact.
Windsor Locks Dollars for Scholars was a natural transition. The chapter not only represents a visible, positive movement for education, but also allows for immediate feedback from students impacted by receiving scholarship money. Nancy described one memorable example: "One student ... had received a scholarship to attend school, but because of family issues could not enroll until two years later. She asked if her scholarship was still available. Because our chapter holds scholarships for up to two years, we told her that she could still utilize that scholarship money. She was thrilled!" Moments like these keep Nancy inspired and reaffirms why she commits her time to volunteering for Windsor Locks Dollars for Scholars-her chapter can literally make the difference in whether a student continues school or not.
In addition, the chapter is working on more than just scholarships. In order to get students interested in college early, the local high school desperately wanted to bus all 8th and 9th graders to visit local campuses. Unfortunately, the cost was too much for them to take on, so Nancy and her chapter went to work fundraising for the program. A lot of hard work and $3,000 later, all of these 8th and 9th graders will be taking a local college tour. As Nancy explains, it's one of the projects that stemmed from the harmony between the high school and her chapter; thanks to good communication, listening and mutual respect, the two organizations function as complimentary partners rather than competing adversaries.
Nancy's relationship with high schools is only the beginning. She sees a need to develop such mutual respect throughout all of Windsor Locks, to help create successful students. This involves, among many other things, continuous work to recruit volunteers. (See below for some of Nancy's indispensable advice, as well as new recruitment materials from Dollars for Scholars.) Fortunately, though recruiting is never easy, Nancy's built a network of passionate contributors, some of whom have been around since the chapter's beginning eight years ago.
All of those volunteers know one thing: encouraging students to dream big has equally big payoffs, improving the community and contributing to a nationwide movement of higher education and success. But this effect only happens if the seeds of success are planted early, and that's why Nancy sees her chapter as a group of "community gardeners": "We are planting the seeds," she said. "Giving scholarships or being known in the community tells students that we care about them...we are telling students that we notice the work they have done, and we care about how they do."
With Windsor Locks Dollars for Scholars helping sow those seeds, students are reaping the benefits: big dreams, new opportunities, and, ultimately, educational success.
Why not donate today and help a chapter like Nancy's?
"All the flowers of tomorrow are the seeds of today." ~ Anonymous
Nancy Levy's passion for inspiring change and investing in education emerged early in life, thanks in part to a former grammar school teacher who told her class that "you shouldn't waste time, and when you do something have something to show for it."
At the time, these words were meant to inspire summertime projects for young students, but Nancy has taken them to heart her whole life. From her ten years as Board of Education chair to her work as President of the Windsor Locks (CT) Dollars for Scholars Chapter, she has made a lifelong effort to plant the seeds of student success by improving advocacy for, and access to, higher education.Windsor Locks is a small town, literally; it takes up only twelve square miles. Many students do not come from affluent backgrounds, and many families see education as an impossible dream or luxury, instead of as an achievable reality and a necessary step for student and community success. During Nancy's decade on the Board of Education-a role taken on after all three of her children had finished high school-she helped cultivate a stronger community understanding about the importance of long-term educational investment, even from those without children in the school system. After ten years, though, she wanted a new challenge with more direct impact.
Windsor Locks Dollars for Scholars was a natural transition. The chapter not only represents a visible, positive movement for education, but also allows for immediate feedback from students impacted by receiving scholarship money. Nancy described one memorable example: "One student ... had received a scholarship to attend school, but because of family issues could not enroll until two years later. She asked if her scholarship was still available. Because our chapter holds scholarships for up to two years, we told her that she could still utilize that scholarship money. She was thrilled!" Moments like these keep Nancy inspired and reaffirms why she commits her time to volunteering for Windsor Locks Dollars for Scholars-her chapter can literally make the difference in whether a student continues school or not.In addition, the chapter is working on more than just scholarships. In order to get students interested in college early, the local high school desperately wanted to bus all 8th and 9th graders to visit local campuses. Unfortunately, the cost was too much for them to take on, so Nancy and her chapter went to work fundraising for the program. A lot of hard work and $3,000 later, all of these 8th and 9th graders will be taking a local college tour. As Nancy explains, it's one of the projects that stemmed from the harmony between the high school and her chapter; thanks to good communication, listening and mutual respect, the two organizations function as complimentary partners rather than competing adversaries.
Nancy's relationship with high schools is only the beginning. She sees a need to develop such mutual respect throughout all of Windsor Locks, to help create successful students. This involves, among many other things, continuous work to recruit volunteers. (See below for some of Nancy's indispensable advice, as well as new recruitment materials from Dollars for Scholars.) Fortunately, though recruiting is never easy, Nancy's built a network of passionate contributors, some of whom have been around since the chapter's beginning eight years ago.
All of those volunteers know one thing: encouraging students to dream big has equally big payoffs, improving the community and contributing to a nationwide movement of higher education and success. But this effect only happens if the seeds of success are planted early, and that's why Nancy sees her chapter as a group of "community gardeners": "We are planting the seeds," she said. "Giving scholarships or being known in the community tells students that we care about them...we are telling students that we notice the work they have done, and we care about how they do."
With Windsor Locks Dollars for Scholars helping sow those seeds, students are reaping the benefits: big dreams, new opportunities, and, ultimately, educational success.
Why not donate today and help a chapter like Nancy's?
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