“In establishing our College Scholarship Initiative we wanted to build on the Foundation’s ongoing investment in community-based programs in the Greater Boston area. Many of our grantee organizations play a key role in helping to motivate their high school participants to prepare for and apply to college. We know, however, that even after these youth are admitted to college many do not attend simply because it is not affordable. We hope our scholarship money will allow promising youth to continue on their road to success by removing significant financial barriers to college.”
- Ronny Zinner, President, Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation

ACESS Program
ACCESS, a partner in the Scholarship Initiative, works with Boston students to ensure they have they have the financial information and resources necessary to achieve their dream of higher education.

Shapiro Family Foundation College Scholarship Initiative

The Shapiro Family Foundation College Scholarship Initiative, established in December, 2007, opens the door to four-year colleges for promising youth. This by-nomination-only scholarship supports high-potential, talented, motivated low-income students from Greater Boston to attend and graduate from colleges with minimal educational debt. In June 2008, the Foundation awarded a total of nearly $150,000 in college scholarships to 17 recent high school graduates.

Key features of the Scholarship Initiative

  • All scholarship candidates must be participants in and nominated by one of the youth–serving nonprofit organizations supported by the Foundation through its Disability Inclusion, Empowerment or Youth in the Arts Initiatives.
  • All nominated youth will be required to work with ACCESS, a leading provider of financial aid advising and college scholarships for Boston students, to receive guidance in navigating the college financial aid process. For more information about the services that ACCESS provides, visit ACCESS's website
  • The Scholarships will provide renewable last-dollar funding up to $12,000.
  • Once in college, all Scholars will participate in monthly check-in calls with a Scholarship Initiative Advisor.

Criteria for Nomination

  • Participant in a Shapiro Family Foundation-funded program
  • High School Senior applying to four-year colleges
  • Strong academic record or a demonstration of significant improvement over time
  • Low income
  • United States Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident

Ideal candidates will also:

  • Demonstrate the ability and motivation to achieve in college
  • Be able to clearly articulate personal goals
  • Exhibit good citizenship
  • Have significant unmet financial need beyond what is being offered in college aid; the Shapiro Family College Scholarship seeks to fill students’ unmet financial need

The Shapiro Family Foundation College Scholarship Initiative is managed by The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI).

Nominating Organizations (2008 Scholars)

AccessSportAmerica
Artists for Humanity
BalletRox
Berklee College of Music
Boston Center for Independent Living
Boston Children’s Chorus
Center for Teen Empowerment
City Stage
Community Art Center
Community Music Center
Community Rowing
DOT Art
Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses
The Food Project
Huntington Theater
Hyde Square Task Force
Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion, Inc
Institute of Contemporary Art
Lesley University
Medicine Wheel Productions
MYTOWN
OrigiNation
Outdoor Explorations
Partners for Youth with Disabilities
Perkins School for the Blind
Piers Park Sailing
Project Step
Somerville Arts Council
Summer Search
Teen Voices
Urban Improv
West End House
ZUMIX