Donors Respond to Growing Needs

As college costs increase, many of our generous donors are responding to the growing needs for scholarships. Because of donors creating and contributing to Scholarship funds at the Foundation, our robust program has been able to award tens of millions in scholarships to thousands of students in our community.

In 2019 alone, more than 300 students in our community were supported by over $1.6 million in scholarship funds. Our donors’ dedication to the next generation’s education continues to impress us. “Because of the financial aid received from my scholarship, I am able to go through my first year of college debt free,” said Hailee Lunte, a scholarship recipient. “I can’t express how thankful I am for the donors and the selection committee for making my college experience free of financial stress.”

The Foundation is dedicated to unbiased, individual scholarship selection committees that carefully review each application so students like Hailee are able to reap the benefit of equitable education. For the 2018-2019 academic year in Jefferson County alone, 66 percent of our scholarships were awarded to people of color and 44 percent were awarded to first generation college students.

“Every scholarship makes a significant impact on the life of a student and often their families as well. With escalating college costs, it’s imperative for students and families to have access to additional monetary resources,” said Emory Williamson, Community Foundation of Louisville Scholarship Coordinator. “Our donors have realized this need and continuously seek to support students and their educational endeavors.”

At the Foundation, we get to join our fundholders in making this impact a reality and relieve financial stress to inspire students to continue their education.

“One particular moment that sticks out to me is when we got to surprise a student (see video below) at their school with a scholarship. The student was facing significant financial hurdles and this scholarship ensured those financial burdens were eliminated,” said Williamson. “The student was shocked and their classmates were incredibly supportive. I remember a few students and teachers crying tears of joy as the student humbly accepted their scholarship. Even better, the fundholder was able to join us as the scholarship was presented and I could see the joy it brought to them as we changed the future of this student together.”

If you know a student who would benefit from a scholarship, share with them this video that walks through the steps needed to apply.

The General Scholarship Application will close on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 5 p.m. EDT.