Resource:How to create a scholarship for disadvantaged communities

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Meeting with Jahannie Torres gives anyone the inspiration to make the proper positive change in their community. As a Computer Engineer in Puerto Rico, she took note at how hard getting into Higher Education (HE) really was monetarily. Coming from a challenged area, she recognized that something had to be done, and created a scholarship program for students to help them reach a better education. In her own view, "If you give kids the proper education, they can open doors and really change the world". After numerous trials and tribulations, Jahannie has had great success with her program. There were a few steps that she wanted to emphasize that helped her get to where she is now.  


Gaining Funding:

An important lesson that Jahannie pointed out was to approach businesses that can relate to the scholarship you are trying to create.

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She also advises to recieve funding from local businesses that know the situation and your story because if they understand, they will be more likely to donate. She also added that being personal with clients helps tremendously.

Don't limit yourself to just businesses, though. Ask professors and other faculty or personnel who share your passion. If they share your passion and you have a plan as well as good pitch, then don't assume they won't help. You miss every shot you don't take.

Go big, get a website. A website can allow your cause to reach so many more people. We live in a global society, so why not capitalize on it! Let people know what you're doing. Add a link to a Go Fund Me page as well. Every little bit can help.

Lastly, it may not seem ideal, but don't deny your personal savings. Don't dry up your bank account, but don't rule it out either. You're asking others to donate to a cause you're passionate about, if you donate your own money, it will show you don't just talk the talk but you walk the walk.

Don't forget to give your donators recognition, too. Unless they request not to receive it, it is nice to do to show your appreciation. Building a strong community is important.

Type of Donations:

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When you ask for money from businesses, ask for them to give it as a check. Then you can give it directly to the kids' parents at the graduation ceremony. You can ensure the family knows what the money is meant to be used for. This is the method that Jahannie used which seemed to work very well. Another process could pool the money together and create a bank fund that is evenly distributed towards those who are in need of assistance.

If you do get other forms of money, put it into a bank account. Then you could utilize it for other resources towards the same goal. Jahannie uses the extra money to purchase school supplies to support other students' educational needs. This is something to take special note in. To help kids in school, they mainly need two types of assistance: tuition reduction and some way to cover the physical school materials (notebooks, folders, etc.).

Know Your Cause:

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Knowing your cause is very important to implement your idea successfully. If you don't know why you are doing it there is a chance to drop your work amidst. Jahannie knows her reason well and so she succeeded at implementing her idea. She struggled a lot to get a scholarship because she is a girl from a disadvantaged community. After earning her scholarship, she enjoyed all the opportunities and privileges that a college provides for the development of the student. She believes other people from her community should also experience this. As a first generation college student and being a daughter to an unemployed single mother, she knew all the hardships that a person from her community faces to receive an education. She believed that education can change the fate of her community and she worked to help as many students as she can to get educated. Her reason was strong enough to cross all the barriers and obstacles in her path and ultimately led her to succeed.

Future vision of her scholarship funding:

Her scholarship funding mission is doing well now but she is not yet satisfied. She is going to reach out a large number of sponsors and scholars soon with her website. She also wants to provide public school provisions like computers to help more scholars with little funding. After discussing what her views were for the future, several students made comments which she physically took note on. One of these had to do with gaining funds to purchase a product that would then be community shared. An example of this could be buying a computer for the classroom that could then be used by all of the students. That way everyone has the opportunity instead of just a handful of grateful students.

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