Purple Pansies Awards 2023 Scholarships
Nonprofit Raises Money to Award Ten Scholarships to Students Impacted by Pancreatic Cancer
ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Purple Pansies nonprofit recently announced ten scholarship recipients for Spring 2023. The scholarship is significant as it enables students to further their education and focus on their future, instead of the fight with this terrible disease. The nonprofit gives 100% of all funds raised, less expenses, to fight pancreatic cancer.
Spring 2023 recipients:
- Michael J O’Donohue, New Jersey
- Jenna Koch, Maryland
- Keri Turner, Florida
- Grace Masaoka, Washington
- Julia Kalinowski, Georgia
- Sierra Faith Hammons, Virginia
- Sydney Rojo, Georgia
- Kelsey Price, Ohio
- Walker Benjamin Wilde, Utah
- Sydney Blevins, New Mexico
The scholarship program for 2023 is a milestone for the nonprofit as it has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer since 2008 when founder Maria Fundora lost her mother to the disease. Fundora turned her devastation into determination to make a difference, and immediately began holding events at her restaurant, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, to raise funds.
Reaching out for a bigger vision, she researched until she found Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, a nonprofit medical research institute that works on groundbreaking strategies targeting pancreatic cancer. To date they have raised more than $5 million to fund research through TGen and aid families with grants and scholarships.
“As Purple Pansies continues to grow and make an impact on our community, we want to continue the legacy by educating and providing opportunities for the younger generation to get involved with pancreatic cancer awareness,” said Fundora.
Scholarship eligibility is for students who have lost an immediate family member to pancreatic cancer, or students who have an immediate family member that has survived or is currently fighting pancreatic cancer. Recipients were selected based on essays about their experience with pancreatic cancer and how the scholarship would make a difference in their lives.
“Losing my mother to pancreatic cancer was devastating, but I’m glad it gives me a reason to strive for success and make her proud,” said recipient Kelsey Price. “This scholarship is a way to commemorate my mother and symbolize her contribution to my college experience.”
Visit https://purplepansies.org/scholarship/ for application next deadline to apply is May 5, 2023.
Contacts
MELISSA SMALLWOOD
(404) 402-9118
[email protected]
