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Hearts for Community Service

Reward Kids Who Serve Their Communities

WHAT WE DO

The Hearts for Community Service scholarship program provides financial merit-based awards (scholarships) to support students who are active volunteers in their community and are attending – or soon to be attending – a post-secondary institution.

The burden of higher education debt has painful and long-lasting consequences for low-income students and students of color, according to a 2022 report released by the Pell Institute and PennAHEAD. The report found that while higher education can still provide access to increased economic mobility for many poor and first-generation students, it can drown many in debt.

Warrick Dunn Charities’ Hearts for Community Service scholarships help to offset the financial burden of attending a post-secondary institution and support student’s goals to better themselves academically by creating access to higher paying jobs, economic stability, and a better quality of life for themselves and generations to come.

The $5,000 Hearts for Community Service scholarship award is available to student residents in each of the following Warrick Dunn Charities, Inc. markets: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale (equivalent GED scores accepted)

Be of service as a volunteer in your local community
Attending or soon to be attending a post-secondary school, including associate, undergraduate, graduate, professional, or doctoral program

Be a resident of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Wisconsin.

What should be included in my letters of recommendation?

Each applicant is required to submit two (2) letters of recommendation showing proof of volunteer community service. Recommendation letters should be written by someone from an organization for which you currently volunteer or have previously volunteered with and should illustrate examples of your volunteer service as well as the impact your service has had in the local community. Each recommendation letter should answer the following three (3) questions:

How long has the student been a volunteer with your organization?
What are some of the volunteer roles this student has played within your organization?
What impact has the student’s volunteerism had on the community members you serve?

What information do I need for my application?

In addition to basic family and demographic information, applicants will need to provide the following:

Two (2) letters of recommendation showing proof of volunteer community service. Recommendation letters should be written by someone from an organization for which you currently volunteer or have previously volunteered with and should illustrate examples of your volunteer service as well as the impact your service has had in the local community.
An email address and direct phone number for each reference must be included
Proof of enrollment in a post-secondary institution
Proof of residency (driver’s license or government-issued ID) in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Wisconsin.
A copy of your most recent transcript
A 500-word essay

What should be included in my essay?

Each applicant is required to submit a 500-word essay answering all of the following:

Describe how you are of service and the positive impact it has made on your community.
How has the volunteerism to your community had an impact on your life?
How will this scholarship assist in furthering your education?
What does the opportunity to receive a post-secondary education mean to you?

HOW WE DO IT

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Step 1:

Each year between June 15th and July 31st, we accept applications from students who have dedicated their time and hearts to their local community.

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Step 2:

Applications are reviewed by our Scholarship Review Committee and evaluated based on our established criteria.

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Step 3:

Donations from partners and donors like you are used to provide $5,000 scholarships.

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WHY WE DO IT

Our motto is simple: “Help those who help others.”

Hearts for Community Service does that by providing scholarships to individuals who are seeking a college education AND have shown compassion and service for their communities.

WHY WE DO IT

Our motto is simple: “Help those who help others.”

Hearts for Community Service does that by providing scholarships to individuals who are seeking a college education AND have shown compassion and service for their communities.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Donate

We share a kindred heart with young adults who invest in their communities. With your help, we want to invest back in them.

Donate

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

FOR MAKING THE DREAM OF EDUCATION A REALITY!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING THE DREAM OF EDUCATION A REALITY!

HOW WE GOT STARTED

Hearts for Community Service Scholarship began in 2014. For more Warrick Dunn Charities history, click the button below.

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INTERESTED IN A SCHOLARSHIP?

The Hearts for Community Service application period is now closed. Applications for 2023-2024 scholarships will be accepted between June 15-July 31, 2023. For all other inquiries, please contact Program Coordinator Anna D’Alessandro at adalessandro@wdc.org.

Get Involved

Volunteers make our mission of empowering families in need possible.

Volunteer

GuideStar Seal of Transparency - 2018 Silver Medal

Phone: +1 (470) 585-1648

Warrick Dunn Charities, Inc.
235 Ponce De Leon Place
Suite M – 306
Decatur, GA 30030

IMPROVING LIVES / INSTILLING HOPE / INSPIRING COMMUNITIES