NEW YORKERS FOR CHILDREN

 SPIRIT AWARD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

2021 APPLICATION AND GUIDELINES

 


Dear Applicant:

We are proud to support young adults in their efforts to achieving their educational goals through the New Yorkers For Children Spirit Award. The Spirit Award consists of a $10,000 scholarship, a $5,000 scholarship and two $2,500 scholarships awarded each year to four individuals in foster care or former foster youths who are attending a 4-year college with plans to complete a bachelor’s degree. The recipient is a young person who has achieved academic success, demonstrated a willingness to think beyond themselves, shown resilience in the face of challenges, and gained a new sense of self-awareness as a result of the obstacles they have had to overcome. Students are eligible to apply if they are entering the third or fourth year in college in fall 2021.

 

Please review the enclosed guidelines and carefully complete the application. It is important that we have all the requested information, so please take extra care to read the guidelines before finalizing and sending in your application. If you have any difficulties obtaining all the information required by the deadline of October 20th, 2021, please let us know. You may have the information sent directly to New Yorkers For Children in order to avoid further delay. An incomplete application will not be considered. The Spirit Award is only available to youth in, or recently transitioned out of foster care that are enrolled in college and in their junior or senior year. All applications must be received by October 20th, 2021. 

 

Our goal is to serve as many foster youth from New York City as possible. If you have any questions or need help with the completion of your application, please contact us at program@newyorkersforchildren.org or 646.257.2930.

 

Sincerely,

Saroya Friedman-Gonzalez

Executive Director

NEW YORKERS FOR CHILDREN
New Yorkers For Children protects, ensures, and promotes the safety and well-being of NYC’s children and families, with an emphasis on youth in foster care.
Please visit our website www.newyorkersforchildren.org for more information about our programs.
  • This Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that is granted to youth who have achieved academic success, demonstrated a willingness to think beyond themselves, shown resilience in the face of challenges, and gained a new sense of self-awareness because of the obstacles they have had to overcome. The Spirit Award consists of up to $10,000 in scholarships awarded each year up to four individuals.
  • ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
  • Must be in a 4-year college program with plans to complete a bachelor’s degree
  • Must be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Must be entering their Junior or Senior year in an accredited 4-year college or university as a full-time student
  • Must be a current or former New York Foster Care youth
  • Must be 26 years old or younger
*Priority will be given to students who have aged out of the foster care system.
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MPORTANT NOTE: Without your accurate contact information, New Yorkers For Children (NYFC) will not be able to notify you if you are selected as a recipient. Please keep a copy of this application and send updated contact information to NYFC if your address or other information changes during the period.
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REMINDER: All applications must be submitted with accurate information as verification of your foster care status will be take place. Please complete all sections of the application to be considered. 
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Short Response Section 

  PERSONAL ESSAY QUESTIONS

Please write below or attach your personal essay, 500 words or more, that demonstrates your candidacy for the Spirit Award. 
Your essay must address each of the questions below:
1.       Please describe why you are applying for the scholarship.
2.       What are your academic, professional and personal goals?
3.       Please describe your current financial situation and how receiving these funds will help you in school.
4.       What achieved academic success, demonstrated willingness to think beyond yourself, resilience in the face of challenges, and new sense of self-awareness have you achieved throughout your life.
 
Required documents for submission: 
1. Unofficial transcript
2. Fall 2021 school schedule
3. Personal essay
4. 2 personal references






Email all references directly to Program@NewYorkersforChildren.org

By E-signing below, I affirm that all statements made on this application are true. I understand that a false statement or intentional omission of any material fact may cause me to be disqualified from eligibility of this scholarship.



Contact Information