Make A Difference Foundation, Inc (MADF), is pleased to announce the recipients for the 2014 Charlotte Lemons Annual Student Scholarship (C.L.A.S.S.) Award.  Established in 2004, C.L.A.S.S. is a need based scholarship which awards educational grants, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, to graduating high school seniors throughout the states of Georgia and Florida.  

The goal of the C.L.A.S.S. Award is to give students in need of financial assistance the opportunity to further their education at a two or four-year college and/or technical institution.  “We’re simply trying to do our part to ensure our kids have an opportunity to attend college and hopefully ease some of the long term financial burdens associated with continued education”, says MADF Founder & Executive Director, Donovan R Quary Sr. “With 71% of all college graduates entering into the workforce with an average student loan debt of over $29,000, the statistics show that there is definitely a need for a program such as C.L.A.S.S.”.

The annual selection process begins in January and consists of an informational application, a thorough transcript review, essay and formal interview.  MADF has awarded in excess of $70,000 in C.L.A.S.S. awards since the programs’ inception and we’re honored to officially welcome to the MADF family this year’s recipients:  Mr. David Green - $5,000 recipient (Fayetteville, GA), Ms. Jhané Barnes - $5,000 recipient (Atlanta, GA) and Mr. Darius Green - $1,000 recipient (Lakeland, FL).   

Each year, we partner with the United Way in giving hope and opportunity to under-served youth within our communities; and each year, we accomplish far more together than we ever could alone.  Our vision is simple… we see a world where children and youth have an equal opportunity to succeed at achieving their dreams; and we are seeing this vision become reality each and every day. 

Since 2003, Make A Difference Foundation, Inc. (MADF) has invested over $120,000 in youth development initiatives throughout Georgia and Florida and we are extremely proud of the work we have accomplished thus far:

- Awarded over $54,000 to support various community outreach efforts:

• Children’s shelters
• After school mentoring and tutoring programs
• Back to School supply initiatives
• Teen obesity and pregnancy campaigns

- Established the Charlotte Lemons Annual Student Scholarship (C.L.A.S.S.) Award in 2004 to help graduating high school seniors further their education:

• Over 50 students have received scholarships to attend colleges such as Princeton University, the University of Georgia,  the University of Florida, Emory University, Howard University, Florida State University, Mississippi State University and more
• 100 percent of recipients have obtained an Associate, Bachelor and/or Graduate degree
• Over $58,000 in C.L.A.S.S. funds awarded, including $15,000 in 2013

- Established the Emergency Tuition Assistance Program  in 2012 to assist college students struggling to remain enrolled due to financial hardships: 

• Three students, attending Spelman College, Georgia Tech and Savannah State, have benefitted from this program

If your employer offers a corporate giving campaign, such as The United Way Campaign, and you have not specified an organization to direct your contributions; we ask that you consider MADF.  MADF is a 501(c)(3), as recognized by the IRS,  not for profit organization dedicated to the cultural, educational, economic and social enrichment of underprivileged youth.  We invite you to visit our website at www.madf.org, to learn more about our history and the work we are doing in your community. 

To support MADF through the United Way, you will need the following designation information:

1. 836403 – Make A Difference Foundation, Inc. – Suwanee, GA OR
2. 14500 – Make A Difference Foundation, Inc.- Suwanee, GA

If you are still unable to find our organization in the search directory, you have the option to write-in an organization where you want your pledge directed:  Make A Difference Foundation, Inc, EIN: 31-1829226, United Way Partner ID: 6588925, Post Office Box 1941, Suwanee, Georgia 30024.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and for supporting our efforts to Make A Difference!

Suwanee, GA (September 25, 2013) – Make A Difference Foundation, Inc (MADF), is pleased to announce the five recipients of its 2013 Charlotte Lemons Annual Student Scholarship (C.L.A.S.S.) Award.  Established in 2004, C.L.A.S.S. is a need based scholarship which awards $1,000 educational grants to graduating high school seniors throughout the states of Georgia and Florida.  

The goal of the C.L.A.S.S. Award is to give students in need of financial assistance the opportunity to further their education at a two or four-year college and/or technical institution.  “Our vision is to ensure all children have an equal opportunity to succeed at achieving their dreams’, says MADF Founder & Executive Director, Donovan R. Quary, Sr. “It’s our belief that access to continued education plays a crucial role in individual, as well as, corporate success”.   

The annual selection process begins in January and consists of an informational application, a thorough transcript review, along with an essay on the topic “Making a Difference in My Community”.  In the essay, the applicant must identify a specific need in their neighborhood and discuss a solution to address that need. 

To date, MADF has awarded over fifty scholarships and we are excited to formally announce this year’s selections:  Ms. Tyra Turner (Wisdom Academy – Powder Springs, GA), Ms. Maria Reynolds (Fayette County HS – Fayetteville, GA), Mr. Vikrant Jain (Milton HS – Alpharetta, GA), Mr. Gregory Barber (Bannekar HS – College Park, GA) and Ms. Amanda Marcinko (Timber Creek HS – Orlando, FL).

Suwanee, GA (September 10, 2013) – Make A Difference Foundation, Inc (MADF), today formally announced the recipient of its first Charlotte Lemons Annual Student Scholarship (C.L.A.S.S.) $10,000 Award.  Established in 2004 and named after the late Charlotte Lemons, in honor of her unwavering devotion and commitment to public service, C.L.A.S.S. is a need based scholarship available to graduating high school seniors throughout the states of Georgia and Florida.    

The goal of the C.L.A.S.S. Award is to give students in need of financial assistance the opportunity to further their education by relieving some of the financial burdens they face while pursuing a college degree.  Since the program’s creation, MADF has awarded numerous $1,000 grants annually, totaling in excess of $50,000.  “I’m extremely pleased with the steps we’ve taken in accomplishing our goal,” explains Mr. Donovan Quary Sr, MADF Founder and Executive Director.  “However, this year, as we modestly celebrate ten years of serving our communities, we felt the need to challenge ourselves to do even more”.     

In conjunction with our annual $1,000 C.L.A.S.S. Awards, this year MADF decided to award one additional scholarship in the amount of $10,000 and we are thrilled to congratulate Ms. Kinsey Simpson on her selection.  In keeping with the high standards and traditions of the scholarships’ namesake, Kinsey was chosen not only for her exceptional transcripts, soaring letters of recommendation and a insightful, compelling essay; but also for her personal commitment to public service.  Since 2006 Kinsey has devoted countless documented hours mentoring children in various after school programs, personally saving to fund sack lunches for the homeless on weekends, volunteering in nursing homes near her home, as well as tutoring children in her local Hispanic community.  Kinsey is a 2013 Honors graduate of North Atlanta High School in Atlanta Georgia and is attending Depauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where she plans to obtain degrees in Political Science and Psychology. 

“I continue to beam with pride and joy each time we are able to provide assistance to an aspiring student to achieve their dreams. Their stories are very similar to my own, and the fact that my sister’s name is associated with this ensures her giving spirit will never be forgotten. Celebrating 10 years of giving and creating a legacy helping children one child at a time is what we are about”, says MADF Chairman and CFO Mr. Howard F. Lemons.

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