Community Foundation of Sarasota County Accepting Applicants for Scholarship Program through February 18

SARASOTA, FL – Students from four area counties are now invited to apply for more than 70 scholarship opportunities offered through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. By completing a single application, students under the age of 24 who are graduating high school seniors or prior graduates of high schools in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte or DeSoto counties pursuing education at an accredited university, community college, technical school, or certification program have an opportunity to be selected for scholarships that range from $500 to $25,000 annually in financial support. Students have until February 18 to complete the “Traditional Scholarship Application” available through the Student section of our website: www.cfsarasota.org.

Scholarships are designed to satisfy a diverse array of academic interests and fields and are awarded based on merit, need, or a combination of both. The amount of each scholarship varies from student to student.

“Education is the gateway to a lifetime of opportunity and possibility, yet many families find their path to success limited by the affordability and accessibility of higher education,” says Roxie Jerde, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “Our traditional scholarship breaks through these challenges and brings these opportunities within reach of all families, regardless of financial means. While each student’s journey is unique, our main goal remains the same: empowering students not only to be accepted into their program of choice, but also to fulfill its requirements and reach graduation. Through the generosity of our donors and community, we are doing just that to uplift the next generation of community leaders.”

For 30 years of our 40-year history, scholarships have been a part of the Community Foundation’s mission, connecting countless students with meaningful scholarship opportunities to transform academic aspirations into the foundation for lifelong academic and professional success. Through the generosity of forward-thinking donors, scholarship staff, and more than 80 volunteer committee members, the Community Foundation is able to award approximately $2 million in scholarships each year to both traditional and adult students who are shaping our community. Last year alone, the outstanding achievements of 535 traditional and adult students were recognized with generous scholarships totaling $1.95 million.

For students interested in applying for a scholarship, please visit www.cfsarasota.org/students.

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About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $418 million in more than 1,500 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $21.5 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $274 million to area nonprofit organizations to our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit www.CFSarasota.org or call (941) 955-3000.