Local Foundation’s New Scholarships Aim to Lift Single-Parent Families Into College and Careers

Scholarship awards announced and who will benefit

For A Bright Future Foundation this week named its 2025 class of Single Parent Household & Families scholarship recipients, handing out tuition and training aid to dozens of students who are raising children on their own. The announcement highlights a fresh round of financial help aimed at people juggling parenthood, work and school. The foundation said the awards are meant to reduce the immediate cost burden and make steady progress toward finished degrees or job-ready credentials.

Why the foundation started this program and what it hopes to do

The foundation was set up by Louis Hernandez Jr., a longtime community organizer and former small-business owner who has built his charity around one clear idea: steady, practical support helps families break long-term cycles of financial strain. Hernandez started the foundation after seeing parents drop out of classes because a single emergency expense set them back. The scholarship program grew from that experience; it focuses on single-parent households because those families face higher child-care and scheduling conflicts while carrying the same education costs as two-parent families.

Over the years the foundation has shifted from one-off grants to a structured scholarship program that combines money with mentoring and work-study options. Hernandez says the goal is not just to cover tuition but to create a path that helps recipients finish school and find steady work.

Three recipients and the difference the awards will make

Jamie Rivera, a 28-year-old mother of two, plans to use her award to finish a nursing assistant certificate. She had paused classes twice after a car repair and a childcare gap drained her savings. “This lets me move forward without worrying whether my next check will cover gas and diapers,” she said.

Marcus Allen is studying HVAC technology while working part time in a warehouse and caring for his six-year-old daughter. The scholarship will cover specialized tools and a winter workshop that had been out of reach. Marcus says the boost means he can get licensed sooner and aim at better pay.

Leila Thompson, who is returning to community college after years away, wants to study early childhood education. She says the award reduces the stress of choosing between a textbook or an extra tutoring session for her child. For all three, the common thread is practical relief — money that fills a clear gap so school can continue without another interruption.

How the program works and how winners were chosen

The 2025 awards combine fixed scholarship checks with smaller, targeted grants for costs such as child care, books, or certification fees. The foundation selected roughly two dozen recipients this year, with award sizes scaled to need and program cost. Applicants had to show they were the primary caregiver in a single-parent household, outline their education or training plan, and provide a short statement about how the scholarship would remove a specific barrier.

A panel made up of educators, community partners and foundation staff reviewed applications. They prioritized students who had made progress toward a credential and who showed a plan to complete their program within one to three years. The process favored applicants with clear, immediate financial gaps rather than long-term ambitions alone.

What the awards mean for local families and partners

Community colleges and workforce groups that partner with the foundation say these awards often translate into better completion rates and quicker moves into stable jobs. Local childcare providers and a handful of employers have agreed to match certain supports, such as paid internships or reduced-cost care slots, so the money stretches further.

Reaction from teachers and partner agencies was quietly positive: administrators noted that even modest, well-timed help can keep a student enrolled when otherwise they’d drop out. Hernandez echoed that view, saying the foundation wants to build a predictable pipeline: “When families can count on support, students finish and communities benefit.”

Where to find future applications or give support

The foundation said it plans to open a new application cycle next spring and will publish deadlines and eligibility details on its public site and community bulletin boards. People who want to donate or partner can contact the foundation through its regular channels to ask about volunteer roles or one-time gifts. The foundation also welcomes school and nonprofit partners that can help reach eligible students.

Sources

• prnewswire.com