REAL HELP - Southwest Florida Community Foundation

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Unity throUgh oUr sChoLarshiPs Why I Love Scholarships by Bob da Frota, Senior Advisory Trustee, Southwest Florida Community Foundation From my experience, I can attest that Southwest Floridians are incredibly generous and are committed to helping others succeed through higher education. What qualifies me to make such a statement? Well, for the last twelve years, I have been a trustee of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. Additionally, for the past three years, I have had the privilege of overseeing the Community Foundation’s scholarship committee, which is comprised of volunteers who are tasked with assisting in the organization’s awarding of scholarships to some of Southwest Florida’s deserving students. This task is not only a lot of work, it is also emotionally painful, and yet every year we continue to do this necessary work. Why do we do it? I can only speak for myself. The scholarship review process is something that is time intensive, and is almost entirely done by volunteers. Once the Community Foundation staff has assembled all of the completed scholarship applications, a group of community volunteers are assigned to read the applications. These scholarship readers, who come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, review each application analytically as well as intuitively. Each award recipient must meet the wishes of the scholarship’s donor, something that each reader works hard to ensure. After all applications have been reviewed, the readers make their recommendations. Some chosen applicants go on to be interviewed by Community Foundation trustees. When this process is complete, the Community Foundation is then able to notify the scholarship award recipients. The challenge of every year is that all of our applicants are already winners. They are products of their own unique backgrounds and stories, having overcome many types of challenges, and they are all deserving. As readers, we sit around a table and feel the pain of recommending one student over another. In April, at the end of this process of awarding scholarships, we committee members are emotionally exhausted. So, why do I do it? I reflect on the fact that donors not only entrust us to carry out their wishes, but also make it possible through their vision and generosity for very special people in our community to pursue their dreams. The donors gave their money, and surely, I can give my time. I think about the parents, families, friends, and teachers who have instilled the qualities that have brought our children to this point in their lives. They are to be commended for giving these kids the support, guidance, and encouragement that they needed. Having done their part, then, I keep doing mine. I know I have grown from the camaraderie of my fellow trustees and readers and donors. We have weathered countless hours and the emotional ups and downs together. Yet, during the interview process, we are inspired by the students’ sparkling eyes, enthusiasm, and confidence. Of the many stories we could relate, one reflects it all— the story of a young woman who was interviewed for the John M. and Mary A. Shanley Memorial Scholarship. It is a four -year scholarship for those pursuing medicine, law, dentistry, math, and science education. The scholarship is worth $5,000 per year for a total of $20,000. When this young lady was interviewed, she brightened the whole room and made us feel happier. She had the composure of a winner, not just because of her valedictorian rank and acceptance to an Ivy League university, but for her radiant smile. Her main success was in overcoming obstacles. She overcame language barriers to learn English as a teen, was the first of her migrant family, which frequently moved, to attend school, and she worked to support herself and her siblings. Despite all the challenges I may have in my world, they are minor compared to what many of our scholarship candidates have overcome. They move forward, keeping their eyes on their dreams, with composure and exuberance. They give me hope. I guess that’s why I do this. As I sign up to be a scholarship reader for next year, I embrace this quote from Mother Theresa: “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” 18 www.floridacommunity.com
2011 Scholarship Fund Recipients AAuW & Sue gottcent memorial Mandy-Ellen Goldenberg Chelsea Birczak Jordan Abdo & michael Bluett Kristin Kuhlman Judge Isaac Anderson Shanessa Stewart Jane Berktold Dana Pagano Emily Lowman James Bilder Michelle Roman Jordin Lamb Thalia Stanberry Carl e. Brooks Karl Dufrenne Stephanie Desgazon John & ruth Childe Ethan Jansen Couse-gram Ever Velasquez d & A Florida Ever Velasquez dash Nursing Anie Charles dunbar heritage Shanessa Stewart Anne m. Fassett Ana Abarca Paul & Aline Flynn Amelia Rosen Jessica Williams Lindsay Laden Juliet Reilly doris Frey Jennifer Bromwell Alana Yallof Christopher Clarke William graddy Mitchell Cooper Frances h. gresham Carolina Lerma Chip Johnson Andres Boral Sherzod Tokamov Andrea Mordue george e. Judd Sydney Bell Daniel Talavera Joseph Calderone, Jr. Abigail McMahon Thalia Stanberry doc Keen memorial Ashley Cox Kelsie Hansen Isabel Kirkpatrick Michelle Roman robert A. Kleckner Sara Martin Carol Patti mcLaughlin Juliet Reilly ruth messmer Abigail McMahon Julie Willard mikell Kaitlyn Rieser Judge William J. Nelson Constance Hackler robert & dorothy Pence Morgan Brown Chet & Janett Perry rotary Sara Martin Faye Lynn roberts Amanda Brink david robinson Arts Sydney Bell Abigail McMahon Unity throUgh oUr sChoLarshiPs Sanibel Community Church Marjorie McCann robert & margaret Schikora Amanda Brink John & mary Shanley Desiree Goenaga Jessica LeSan Paslene Pericles Satcha Sanon ellen Sheppard Jannette Bautista SWFL Sheriffs deputy Abigail Owiesny Alexis Lytle edna Swain Arthur Green Latisha Fields Dominque DeLoach John & madeleine taeni Amanda Brink Alana Yalloff Thompson memorial Hao Tran Alexander Ragonese Morgan Brown Katie Melich www.floridacommunity.com 19
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Page 3 and 4: From the President/Ceo Often times
Page 5 and 6: What is a Community Foundation? A c
Page 7 and 8: Why A Fund At Southwest Florida Com
Page 9 and 10: How We Make An Impact Contributors
Page 11 and 12: Linda Ackert Maureen Bashaw Alexand
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Page 15 and 16: HoW To APPLY FoR GRANTS SWFLCF gran
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Page 23 and 24: Walter B. & dorothy LaChicotte Fund
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Page 27 and 28: honorariums in honor of Janet eusti
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REAL HELP - Southwest Florida Community Foundation

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