The Mansfield, Ohio based mental health nonprofit 33 Forever, Inc. is pleased to announce that it will award scholarships in the Spring of 2020 for post-high school education to graduating seniors at two Richland County, Ohio high schools - Lexington and Ontario.
These scholarships - named “The 33 Forever Scholarship In Honor of Danielle Leedy” - are one-time awards of $1,333 to one high school senior at each school who intends to pursue a post-high school education. Danielle Leedy was a 2003 graduate of Lexington High School and the Ontario scholarship was specifically made possible as a result of a generous contribution from the Dan and Brenda Niss Family. 33 Forever hopes to expand this scholarship to other schools in the future as funding permits.
The scholarships will be awarded based on the following criteria and not on financial need. To qualify:
The applicant must have a minimum high school grade point average of 2.0.
The applicant must be attending a 2 or 4 year degree-granting accredited institution the next school year, seeking a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.
The applicant must provide a written essay describing either: (1) an obstacle the applicant has overcome, OR; (2) ways in which the applicant has had to demonstrate resilience, OR; (3) how a mental health issue/challenge has affected someone the applicant knows. It should also describe how the above has impacted the applicant and the applicant’s future or how they live their life as a result or why they are the person they are. It should also describe the applicant’s future goals or aspirations - both short and long term.
The applicant must further demonstrate and describe his or her involvement in a community service project or program or some other activity supporting others in the community.
Finally, the applicant must provide a listing/description of the applicant’s high school, community and/or work activities during high school.
Further details/requirements/forms can be obtained by contacting the high school guidance counselors at the respective schools.
Applications must be received by 33 Forever on or before 5 pm on April 15 by hand delivery or mail to: 33 Forever, Inc., 1 Marion Ave., Suite 215, Mansfield, OH 44903. If applications are provided to a guidance counselor to submit, be sure it is in the counselor’s hands early enough to assure a timely submission. E-mail submissions will also be accepted on or before that date and time at jeff@33forever.life. Late applications will not be considered.
The scholarship recipients will be selected by the 33 Forever, Inc. Board of Directors (or an appointed committee of the Board) and will be announced at the spring senior awards day at each school.
33 Forever, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by the family and friends of Danielle Leedy, a vibrant, strong, professional young woman who lost a long battle to chronic depression in February 2019. It was created to honor Danielle’s life and her longtime passion to raise awareness, empower and comfort those struggling with the disease of depression, anxiety and finding self worth, including suicidal thoughts.
Specifically, 33 Forever’s vision is to positively impact the lives of all those affected by depression, anxiety and their related disorders, including suicidal thoughts, by promoting awareness, engaging in advocacy, providing educational programming and resources for all those struggling and their loved ones, supporting research efforts and establishing and encouraging community support.
For more information about 33 Forever and Danielle Leedy, visit www.33forever.life or the 33 Forever Facebook or Instagram pages.