Scholarships for Cancer and More

Dream Hope Believe Foundation

Dream Hope Believe Foundation offers financial assistance to children and young people under 17 who have lost a parent to cancer through a variety of grants and scholarships. Grants can cover a wide variety of things, but examples would include daycare services, school costs or tuition, healthcare services, and many other things that a child may require. For more information, click here.

Environmental Research Center Cancer Scholarship Fund

Purpose: These scholarships are available to provide financial assistance to college students in their pursuit of a higher education who have previously or are currently diagnosed with cancer. High school seniors or current college students are eligible for these scholarships.

Award: Scholarships, up to $1,000 each, will be awarded on an ongoing basis to students who qualify.

Eligibility: Any person who meets the following requirements is eligible to apply:
  • Qualified applicants must be students who will be, or who already have been, accepted to an accredited two or four year higher education institution.
  • Can provide verification of a diagnosis of cancer.
  • Must be a United States Citizen.
  • Must currently maintain residency in the State of California.
For more information, click here.

Iron Horse Scholarship

In honor of Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive Major League Baseball games played, Iron Horse Scholarships provide up to $2,130/semester for up to four years (or eight semesters).

While there are no age or GPA requirements, the Live Like Lou Iron Horse Scholarship Selection Committee will give preference to applicants who demonstrate financial need and academic promise. At least one award per year will be reserved for students pursuing a career in a field that will benefit the ALS community. Awardees are expected to serve as ambassadors for Live Like Lou and the ALS community during their award period (approximately ten hours per year). Click here for more information about the program.

Jackie Spellman Scholarship Foundation

The Jackie Spellman Scholarship Foundation awards annual scholarships to help improve the quality of life for those affected by leukemia or lymphoma.  The focus of the scholarship is on supporting secondary education (undergraduate and graduate studies) for leukemia or lymphoma patients and/or children, siblings, or parents of leukemia or lymphoma patients.  This scholarship is offered nationwide to United States citizens.  The Foundation will award up to 10 scholarships annually that range between $1,000 and $3,000.  The scholarships are renewable to qualified recipients.  For more information, click here.

John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship

Here at John Foy & Associates, we are known as the “Strong Arm of Georgia.” We are a tough Georgia law firm that will fight to the finish for our clients. But our associates know that not every battle is fought in the courtroom. Fighting a disease requires more than a legal “Strong Arm”—it requires a dedicated team of medical staff, loved ones, and countless more. Fighting leukemia requires determination, drive, and diligence in both the patient and the patient’s loved ones. Often, the battle is a solitary one, isolating the patient and family. Our firm associates recognize this. That’s why we are delighted to offer the John Foy & Associates “Strong Arm” Leukemia Scholarship. Our $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to one college student who has battled leukemia or whose life has been affected by it. For more information, click here.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Law School Scholarship

The Law Office of Renkin & Associates is pleased to announce the Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Law School Scholarship. This scholarship was established to provide financial support to a student whose life has been impacted by lymphoma or leukemia and is seeking to continue his or her education through law school. The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to an applicant who submits the required application and essay by July 31st. For more information, click here.

LIFE Lessons Essay Contest for Students

The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education is sponsoring a scholarship for college-bound high school seniors and current college students, ages 17-24, who have suffered the death of a parent or guardian. Candidates must submit a written essay of up to 500 words or a short three-minute video essay about how the loss affected them emotionally and financially. The essay should indicate whether having (or not having) life, health and other forms of insurance helped stabilize family finances and cover college costs. The grand prize winner of the written essay contents will receive a $5,000 scholarship. There are also $1,000 scholarships for the four first place winners and $500 scholarships for the 14 runners-up. The 5 first prize winners of the video essay will receive $1,000 scholarships. There is also a bonus prize of $4,000. The deadline is April 20. Participants can enter online or call 1-202-465-5000 x106 to request a paper entry form. For more information, write to Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education, 2175 K Street, NW Suite 250, Washington, DC 20037 or send email to scholarship@lifefdn.org.  For more information, click here.

MaryEllen Locher Foundation

The MaryEllen Locher Foundation is a national fund established by a mother diagnosed with breast cancer who once worried about her own child’s education.  The Foundation provides scholarships for secondary education to children who have lost a parent to breast cancer and children of breast cancer survivors.  For more information, click here.

Merfeld Family Foundation Scholarship

Graduating high school seniors from high schools in the United States intending to enroll full-time in an accredited community college or 4-year college or university OR students who are currently enrolled full-time at an accredited 4-year college or university. Candidates must be from a family where a parent was diagnosed with ALS while the applicant was/is in high school or in college. Award is $2,500; prior recipients may re-apply for consideration in successive years. For more information, click here.

Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Scholarship

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance will award $4,000 to one student each semester whose life has been impacted by cancer.  If you’ve battled a form of cancer yourself, or witnessed a loved one receiving treatment, we want to hear your story.  Application details can be found here.

Michael A. Hunter Memorial Scholarship

The Michael A. Hunter Memorial Scholarship Fund awards annual scholarships to help improve the quality of life for those affected by leukemia or lymphoma.  The focus of the scholarship is on supporting secondary education for leukemia or lymphoma patients and/or children of non-surviving leukemia or lymphoma patients.  This scholarship is offered nationwide.  For more information, click here.

Miles of Hope (Hudson Valley, NY)

The purpose of the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Scholarship is to assist graduating high school students whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.  Students must reside within one of the eight New york State counites covered by the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation: Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, and Ulster.  Each year, eight $1,000 scholarships are awarded.  For more information, click here.

National Collegiate Cancer Foundation

The National Collegiate Cancer Foundation sponsors an annual nonrenewable $1,000 scholarship for college students whose lives have been impacted by cancer and who are seeking to continue their higher education while still undergoing treatment. Applicants must be college students between the ages of 18 and 35. Recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, an essay, recommendations, cancer story, and demonstrating a “Will Win” attitude. The deadline is October 1. For more information, click here or send email to info@collegiatecancer.org.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awards up to seven scholarships of up to $10,000 per year to graduating high school seniors and current college students who are 25 years old or younger and who have lost a parent to breast cancer. Candidates who are already in college must have a college GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates must plan to attend a state college or university in the state where they reside. Candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents. The application deadline is in mid-November. (The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation also funds doctoral dissertation awards, postdoctoral fellowships, and grants for cancer research.) For more information, write to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Attn: Grants Dept. — College Scholarship, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite #250, Dallas, TX 75244, call 1-972-855-1616, send email to ccombs@komen.org, or click here.

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults is committed to helping young adults continue their education after being affected by cancer through their own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one. Numerous scholarships are available; click here for more information about them.

If you have any additional information regarding scholarships for families affected by a parent’s life-threatening illness,
please share with us.  Thank you!