The Southern Federation has awarded over 400 scholarships,
totaling in excess of $320,000, since the inception of its Scholarship
Program in 1949.
Scholarships are presented to members who are recent high-school
graduates enrolling in a university. Applications are reviewed,
approved and awarded by the Scholarship Committee. A strong
feeling of commitment is planted with each scholarship awarded,
as the scholarships fund the acquisition of knowledge, providing
recipients with skills necessary to make meaningful contributions
to society. Past recipients have used their education to serve
society in fields such as law, medicine and business, and have
also actively participated in the leadership of the Federation.
In the beginning, one dollar from each Southern Federation convention
registration was directed for the Scholarship Fund and the Scholarship
Committee worked to raise the additional funds needed. Today,
scholarships are funded by contributions from the Southern Federation's
affiliated clubs, its individual members, the Federation itself
and non-Federation members interested in education, our organization,
and our heritage.
There are three primary ways to designate a contribution to
the Scholarship Fund:
A "One-Time Scholarship" requires
a minimum $250.00 donation. The donation bears the name of whomever
the donor wishes and is presented in the year received. The
donor may specify that a one-time scholarship be awarded under
the guidelines of either the Scholarship Fund or the Gift for
Knowledge Fund.
A "Perpetual Scholarship" is one
where the contribution is invested in an interest bearing account.
The individual endowment account remains intact and only the
accrued interest is used. The scholarship is given under the
guidelines of the Scholarship Fund of the Gift for Knowledge
Fund, again as specified by the donor. The scholarship bears
the name of whomever the donor wishes, year after year, without
the need for further contribution. This gift keeps on giving.
A "Gift for Knowledge Award" is one
that is made available by the contributions of many people.
A contribution to this award may be given in memory of, or to
speed the recovery of, a person, or to honor a special occasion.
No amount is too small. Contributions are used to build the
general endowment account, from which only the interest is used.
The Scholarship Committee hosts a reception at the Federation's
Annual Convention for all students applying for scholarships
and for the donors whom make these scholarships possible.
Please contact scholarships@sfslac.org
if you would like to make a contribution to the Scholarship
Fund.