York City Dollars for Scholars: A Scholarship Today. A Brighter Future Tomorrow.
Sending your child off to college is an exciting time for both parents and students who have worked hard to take that next step toward a fulfilling career. But it can also be a stressful time for many families when they experience “sticker shock” after receiving their first bill.
The York City Dollars for Scholars (YCDFS) chapter was founded through a community effort to alleviate some of that stress caused by high tuition and dorm fees. Since 1996, the organization has remained focused on its mission: helping York City public school students successfully transition to post-secondary education by providing scholarships to qualifying high school graduates.
The York City Dollars For Scholars Endowment Fund goes a step farther by providing a permanent source of scholarship funding for York City students pursuing either a two or four-year college degree and other accredited training courses.
These collective efforts matter deeply to the students, many of whom become the first in their family to pursue a college degree–despite the rising education costs that can make the opportunity feel out of reach for a lot of families.
But with support from several generous donors, York City Dollars for Scholars has awarded over $2.2 million to 1,551 students since 1997.
Diane Baker, YCDFS Board President, has worked with York City students since 2006, and says even with the challenges students face, about 82% of YCDFS scholarship recipients plan to attend a four-year college. Between 2018-2026, statistics show that 56% of the students receiving scholarships are first generation college students, and over 65% are female.
A 2004 graduate and recipient of a YCDFS scholarship, Ciara Darr, expressed her thanks to York City’s Dollars for Scholars Board members in a letter, writing, “My siblings and I are all York High alumni, and we were each blessed to receive Dollars for Scholars scholarships. It made a real difference for our family. My parents had 6 kids, so the program has always held a special place in my heart.”
Now a senior at college, Nicky Som also conveyed his gratitude, sharing, “As a first-generation Asian American college student, I’ve encountered many challenges along the way. Thankfully, one of those challenges has never been the burden of tuition, thanks to YCDFS. Your financial support has been crucial in keeping me on track with my education.”
Due to the increasing costs of tuition, the YCDFS board has seen an uptick in requests from students. Each year, they receive anywhere from 50-75 applications, and acknowledge that the $1,000 scholarships offered to students don’t go as far as they used to, but say every dollar helps.
Donors who give to the York City Dollars For Scholars Endowment Fund aren’t only investing in students and families, they are investing in the long-term future of York. Each scholarship is more than a check; it is a message to a young person that their community sees their potential and is willing to stand behind them. With a scholarship, a student can focus on their studies instead of the financial burden of school.
That is the lasting promise of the York City Dollars for Scholars Endowment Fund: to keep educational opportunities open for York City students today, while building a sustainable source of support for the students who will follow.
With additional gifts to the fund, Diane is hopeful that the York City Dollars for Scholars scholarships continue to benefit students who are eager to learn, so that one day, they too will pay it forward and help another student fulfil their dream of earning a college degree.
