Scholarship Sponsor Q&A: Charles L. Shor Foundation Epilepsy Scholarship

The CLS Foundation, rooted in Cincinnati and driven by the leadership of Charles L. Shor, channels private philanthropy into medical and economic research that addresses real world challenges. At its core, the foundation supports data-driven initiatives aimed at improving quality of life for people living with epilepsy, while also advancing research and public understanding of broader economic forces that shape opportunity and financial stability in the United States.

The foundation’s work spans holistic wellness research, community education, and scholarship support for students, reflecting a commitment to both individual wellbeing and systemic insight. CLS Foundation partnered with Scholarship America in 2025 to create the Charles L. Shor Foundation Epilepsy Scholarship.

About Charles Shor and the CLS Foundation

Charles Shor is a prominent American businessman and philanthropist hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his distinguished career as the President and CEO of Duro Bag Manufacturing, the world’s largest paper bag manufacturing company, and his unwavering commitment to epilepsy research through the Charles L. Shor Foundation for Epilepsy Research.

Throughout his life, Charles has battled epilepsy. After a harrowing kidnapping attempt and his appointment as the President of Duro Bag, his seizures intensified. His determination to rise above this challenge led him to establish the Charles L. Shor Foundation for Epilepsy Research in 2002. To date, the foundation has generously donated over $1 million to various institutions, including the University of Cincinnati, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and the Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati, making it one of Ohio’s premier private foundations.

We spoke with Tanya Fleming of Epilepsy Wellness Advocates and the CLS Foundation about the foundation’s charitable work and the new scholarship program.

Scholarship America: Could you start by telling us about your role at the CLS Foundation and what inspired the CLS Foundation to partner with Scholarship America for your scholarship initiatives?

CLS: At the Charles L. Shor Foundation, my role as the day-to-day executive is to ensure that our philanthropy is structured to remove barriers and create durable opportunity—especially for individuals and families navigating epilepsy.

This scholarship initiative was inspired by a reality we see too often: people with epilepsy are fully capable of pursuing lives of purpose and independence, but traditional educational pathways are not designed with their needs in mind. Health uncertainty, financial strain, caregiver burden, and inconsistent support systems can stand in the way long before ability or ambition ever does.

We partnered with Scholarship America because we wanted this program to be executed with the highest level of rigor and trust. Their expertise allows us to deliver scholarships in a way that is scalable, transparent, and centered on student success—while we stay focused on the deeper mission of wellness, independence, and long-term outcomes for people with epilepsy.

Scholarship America: How do you see this partnership with Scholarship America enhancing and complementing your existing student support programs?

CLS: This partnership allows us to do more than provide financial assistance, it allows us to build a true support structure around the student.  For people with epilepsy, the barriers are rarely just tuition. The challenge is often the surrounding burden: medical complexity, caregiver strain, interruptions in schooling, and the lack of systems that understand what students are managing day to day.  Scholarship America strengthens our ability to deliver this program with operational excellence, but more importantly, it helps us create the foundation for supports adjacent to the scholarship—so that we maximize the probability of persistence, completion, and long-term success. Our goal is not simply access. Our goal is strong and sustainable outcomes.

Scholarship America: Beyond scholarships, the CLS Foundation also works on epilepsy wellness resources and economic research through programs like Epilepsy Wellness Advocates and the Blue-Collar Dollar Institute. How does educational access tie into those broader goals?

CLS: Educational access is one of the most powerful levers we have to improve quality of life for people with epilepsy.  Epilepsy impacts far more than health—it affects employment, independence, confidence, and the ability to plan for the future. When educational pathways become inaccessible, it compounds caregiver burden and limits long-term opportunity.  Our scholarship work is directly tied to our broader wellness goals because we want both the individual with epilepsy and their caregivers to have more stability, more support, and a clearer path forward—so they can focus on care management and living with purpose.  We place particular emphasis on skilled trades and career-focused education because these pathways often require less time commitment, reduce student debt, and lead to strong long-term outcomes. That combination is especially important for students managing a chronic neurological condition.

Scholarship America: Many organizations use scholarships as a way to extend impact beyond direct services. How does this initiative complement your advocacy and research work? 

CLS: This initiative is a natural extension of our advocacy and wellness mission.  Direct services matter, but long-term impact comes from removing systemic barriers that keep people with epilepsy from fully participating in society—economically, professionally, and personally.  Scholarships are one of the clearest ways to extend that impact because they invest in independence. They reduce financial pressure, alleviate caregiver burden, and open pathways to meaningful work.  And by pairing scholarship support with adjacent resources, we are not just funding education—we are increasing the likelihood of completion, career success, and long-term quality of life.  Ultimately, this scholarship is about more than education. It’s about enabling people with epilepsy to pursue lives defined not by limitation, but by purpose and opportunity.

Scholarship America: What impact do you hope this scholarship program will have on students’ lives over the long term, particularly in reducing barriers for people balancing health challenges with education or career growth? 

CLS: We need to give all Americans the opportunity to have the success I did, no matter if you have any illness.

Scholarship America: What’s your number one piece of advice for students considering applying?

CLS: Work hard. Don’t accept no. Understand we only use 1/7 of our brain power, so just trying will allow you to learn you can do whatever you put your mind to.