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Q. |
What is the Northwest
Ohio Scholarship Fund, Inc.? |
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A. |
The Northwest Ohio Scholarship
Fund, Inc. was established in 1999 to create a permanent source
of tuition assistance for area families seeking a choice in
education for their children. |
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Q. |
What exactly is a privately
funded scholarship? |
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A. |
A privately funded scholarship
provides tuition assistance to help low-income children attend
the non-public school of their choice. These scholarships are
funded exclusively through the private donations of individuals,
corporations, and foundations. |
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Q. |
Who is eligible to apply? |
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A. |
Scholarships are available to
students who will be in kindergarten through eighth grade for
the 2008-2009 school year. These recipients must reside in
Wood, Lucas, or Fulton counties. The guidelines for eligibility
generally follow the federal free or reduced school lunch
program. |
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Q. |
How much money can the recipients
expect to receive? |
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A. |
Each scholarship is based on
individual family size and income, with a maximum scholarship of
$1,250 per child for elementary students. Income information is
re-evaluated each year with the scholarship amount adjusted
accordingly. The average scholarship for 2007-2008 school
year is $864.00. |
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Q. |
What is expected of each family? |
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A. |
Expectations of recipient
families are high. They must complete the scholarship
application process, stay current on necessary paperwork, and
make an annual family contribution of a minimum of $500.00
towards tuition. In this way parents become active participants
in their educational choice. |
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Q. |
Which schools qualify as
recipient schools? |
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A. |
Currently 53 schools are
recipient schools. Many are religious-based schools with 67%
being Catholic schools. Montessori schools and other
independent schools are included. Home schooling is even an
option. |
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Q. |
How does the Northwest Ohio
Scholarship Fund, Inc. differ from
the Children's Scholarship Fund? |
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A. |
The
Children's Scholarship Fund is a national program initiated by
Ted Forstmann and John Walton, to
match funds raised in local communities across the United
States. The Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund is a local program,
which raised $1 million in private funds for scholarships. This
$1 million total was match by the national program, to provide
$500,000 in scholarship funds per year. The national Children's
Scholarship Fund continues to partner with us, matching dollars
raised to fund new and continuing scholarships. |
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Q. |
What is the plan to continue the
program? |
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A. |
The Northwest Ohio Scholarship
Fund, Inc. is committed to continuing the current programs and
to include more students. The goal is to raise additional direct
scholarship funds in local contributions and to build a $5
million permanent source of funding through endowment. |
