By Skip Sheffield
In troubled economic times, it is tougher than ever to convince people to give to any charity. In its 29th year of operation, the George Snow Scholarship Fund defies the odds.
At an annual awards reception at Royal Palm Yacht Club, the George Snow Scholarship Fund gave out a record $433,000 to 63 Florida scholars. The beauty of the gala event, attended by more than 300 adults and young people, was that it was produced at no cost to the fund, its scholarship recipients or their guests thanks to underwriters the Steve Bagdan Charitable Foundation, the R.A. Ritter Foundation, BNY Mellon Wealth management and other donors.
It began with a tragedy: a 1980 helicopter crash that took the life of teacher-turned builder and developer George Snow. Tim Snow, George’s eldest son, founded the memorial fund in 1982 with brother Jeff and sisters Lisa and Jennifer. George Snow Scholarship Fund is now one of the largest sources of educational grants in Palm Beach County, with 266 four-year scholarship recipients currently attending college. The fund is a broad-based association of individuals, businesses and charitable organizations. Some perpetuate the memory of a deceased person. Others are religious, professional or civic groups. All are dedicated to providing educational opportunities to youth who may not otherwise be able to continue their higher education.
Not only does the George Snow Scholarship Fund give out monetary grants, it provides scholars with a backpack loaded with useful goodies, including an HP laptop computer. In addition, the fund’s management and volunteers provide year-round moral support, guidance and advice to its scholars, many of whom are leaving home for the first time.
The Snow Scholarship Fund, which has only four full-time staff, has become so successful it now administers scholarships for than 50 individuals, organizations and corporations.
One such organization is Propel, which awarded scholarships for the first time this year to three deserving students.
“Tim Snow and his staff have the know-how and experience to expedite the process,” said Propel executive director Tolliver Miller. “Most small non-profit just don’t have the staff to do such a good a job. There are additional benefits for our kids, because George Snow Scholarship Fund is a year-round resource for education, funding opportunities and practical advice.”
Miller is the sole paid employee of Propel, founded in 2003. Propel serves about 65 disadvantaged or at-risk youth in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. Through George Snow Scholarship Fund, Propel awarded three scholarships to Tyrone Brooks, a junior at Florida A&M University; Kenneth Stephens, a sophomore at Bethel (Minn.) University, and Joselito Rivera, an incoming student at Florida Barber Academy.
Tyrone Brooks is a perfect example of a bright, underprivileged youth who has overcome obstacles to earn an education taken for granted by many. Now 23, Brooks grew up in the Pearl City section of Boca Raton with his single-parent mother. He worked while attending Palm Beach State College and Tallahassee Community College. For the first time he has the advantage of being a full-time student.
“The way the scholarship is set up, it helps me with my rent too,” says Brooks. “I feel blessed. The laptop and supplies will come in real handy too.”
Most Snow Scholarship recipients have similar stories, but not all are from disadvantaged or single-parent homes. Some scholarships are set up for specific subjects or interests, such as medicine, banking, law or music. Dreyfoos School of the Arts graduate Carly Gordon received two scholarships this year from musical foundations to offset her considerable expenses at Eastman School of Music in New York.
Ben Carter became the first recipient of a $10,000 George Snow Graduate School Scholarship to help him complete his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree at University of Florida.
“I have been working in veterinary clinics ever since high school,” Carter told the audience of more than 300. “I will continue to work while attending the University of Florida graduate school. Work is what I do. I hope to return to Boca Raton when I get my degree and either go to work at a clinic or start one of my own. If it were not for George Snow Scholarships, I wouldn’t be where I am now.” Ú
George Snow Scholarship Fund is at 1860 N. Dixie Highway, Boca Raton. Call 347-6799 or visit www.scholarship.org.
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