37 students were recognized at May 9 ceremony, renewed scholarships announced in August
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEWS — Ronald McDonald House Charities® Northern Nevada (RMHC® Northern Nevada) is set to eclipse $1 million dollars in scholarship dollars awarded to students from northern Nevada communities since its first year operating the RMHC® U.S. Scholarship Program. The non-profit organization awarded scholarships to 37 first-year recipients during an evening ceremony May 9 as part of its fourteenth year of the scholarship program. Coupled with renewable scholarships awarded in August, 2014, the program’s total financial contribution to students will surpass $1 million.
Since its inception in 2000, the RMHC® U.S. Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships each year to college-bound students who need financial assistance. Recipients are selected from a pool of northern Nevada applicants who meet academic achievement, financial need and community involvement criteria. In 2006, renewable scholarships were introduced. By the close of 2014 a total of 650 students will have received scholarships from the program.
“Reaching this financial milestone in only 14 years speaks highly of the level of commitment to education our program’s donors have,” said Marty Ozer, executive director of RMHC® Northern Nevada. “The caliber of students who apply and are awarded mirror that same high commitment to education. Aside from the Millennium, I’m certain we’re the largest program in the area in terms of number of scholarships awarded.”
The RMHC® U.S. Scholarship Program is a network of RMHC® homes across the country aided by RMHC® Global in order to help students pursue their education goals. In northern Nevada, funds are donated by individuals, companies and entities and matched by RMHC® Global for every dollar raised up to $18,500. This makes it one of the largest scholarship programs in the area in terms of number of scholarships awarded each year.
“Many people believe McDonald’s underwrites our organization wholly,” said Ozer. “While they champion our mission and provide multiple levels of support, the reality is that straight financial contributions from McDonald’s comprise only two percent of our overall budget. That’s why we’re thrilled our community has come together in a way that’s enabled us to facilitate better lives through education.”
