Bill and Melinda Gates Award $50,000 Gift to Washington Dollars for Scholars

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Washington Dollars for Scholars today announced a $50,000 gift from the William H. Gates Foundation. The $50,000 gift will assist in supporting the three-year, $425,000 start-up costs for the state organization and chartering process. The grant will also be matched one for two by a M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust challenge grant.

Citizen's Scholarship Foundation of America (CSFA) President William Nelsen said, "Access to education must be a top priority for this country. Communities, businesses, and all members of society need to join in partnership to expand educational access for America's young people."

Richard Millerick, area director for the Pacific Northwest region said, "The local chapters in Washington state are among the most successful in the nation. In 1996 alone, the 45 chapters raised more than $1 million, distributing $339,000 of that sum to 565 students and directing the remainder to endowments to help finance future scholarships. Combined with the Gates' gift, Washington Dollars for Scholars is now within $73,180 of reaching its three-year goal."

A program of CSFA, Dollars for Scholars is a national network of community-based, volunteer operated scholarship foundations offering financial and academic support programs. The Dollars for Scholars chapters provides an effective way for a community to work together to assist local students to reach for and achieve their educational goals.

Washington Dollars for Scholars is currently forming a state organization, chartered by CSFA, to help strengthen efforts in the state and ultimately serve every Washington high school. The state office will improve Dollars for Scholars ability to provide technical assistance to Washington state's emerging and existing grassroots chapters, in addition to responding to local needs and creating a vibrant network among the state's chapters.

Since Dollars for Scholars became active in Washington state 12 years ago, as many as 1,800 Washingtonians have raised more than $4.3 million to fund scholarships for more than 3,100 students.