$250,000 in Scholarships Awarded to Moderate and Lower Income Women
The AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program provides funds to women 40+ who are seeking new job skills, training and educational opportunities to support themselves and their families. This year, we are proud to announce the winners of our first Women's Scholarship award.
“The AARP Foundation is delighted to offer these scholarships to 74 hard-working women across the United States so that they can have access to the educational resources that will enable them to be competitive in the workplace,” said Robin Talbert, President of the AARP Foundation. “AARP’s founder, educator Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, would be pleased that 50 years after she started this organization, we are still dedicated to carrying out her lifelong-mission of creating new opportunities for individuals so that they will be more financially secure in the second half of life.”
While many individuals benefit from the work of the AARP Foundation, research shows that women are disproportionately at risk of having insufficient resources in the second half of their lives due to lower earning and different work patterns. The AARP Foundation announced the Women’s Scholarship Program in August of 2007 to help women 40+ overcome financial and employment barriers by allowing them to participate in education and training opportunities they could otherwise not afford.
Scholarship winners were chosen by an independent selection committee established by the AARP Foundation on the basis of financial need, personal circumstances and achievements, educational goals, and the likely impact of the scholarship on their lives and their families and communities. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $5,000, depending on financial need and the cost of the education or training program. The scholarship program is made possible, in part, by generous donation from Bank of America. Ongoing financial support for the scholarship program is received from the AARP Foundation Women’s Leadership Circle, a network of volunteer leaders who support the AARP Foundation in achieving its mission.
This year’s recipients include grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, Katrina survivors, military veterans, and women from other inspirational backgrounds. Of the winners, 40% are in their 40’s; 50% are in their 50’s and 10% are in their 60’s. Additionally, 66% are from diverse backgrounds.
As AARP’s affiliated charity, AARP Foundation programs provide security, protection and empowerment for older persons in need. Low-income older workers receive the job training and placement they need to re-join the workforce. Free tax preparation is provided for low- and moderate-income individuals, with special attention to those 60 and older. The Foundation’s litigation staff protects the legal rights of older Americans in critical health, long-term care, consumer and employment situations. Additional programs provide information, education and services to ensure that people over 50 lead lives of independence, dignity and purpose. Foundation programs are funded by grants, tax-deductible contributions and AARP.
