PAEF Partners with the Dobbs Fund of Atlanta, GA.
While playing football at Lincoln High School last fall, Granite High School Senior Ben Houg suffered a life threatening brain aneurism and was taken on Life Flight to St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula. The affect on Ben’s family was devastating both emotionally and financially.
In an effort to help his teammate, Ladd Hogue (no relation) decided to see if he could put together a fund raiser to assist the Houg family with their medical expenses. In the process of putting the event together Ladd’s sister, Elly, found that the Dobbs Fund of Atlanta, GA, had a program designed to encourage young people to engage in charitable fund raising activities which would bring their community together around a common cause. The Dobbs Fund pledged to match the first $2,000 of any funds raised as long it was processed by an IRS 501-C-3 organization. Ladd’s mother, Cary, contacted PAEF to find out if it was qualified to receive the matching funds from the Dobbs Fund.
In the past, PAEF has supported a variety of educational programs for citizens of all ages. In its judgment, the board of directors decided that supporting Ladd’s efforts to raise money for the benefit of his teammate’s family was the best kind of education, based on a real life experience.
Ladd and his family and friends organized a spaghetti feed on the Saturday of the games with Drummond. The event was heavily supported by both communities. When it was concluded over $4,000 had been raised. PAEF verified the amount required for the matching funds and completed Ladd’s application to the Dobbs Fund. A check for $2,000 was received by PAEF and the funds were transferred to the Houg Family Fund set up for that purpose at the Flint Creek Valley Bank.
PAEF was pleased to be able support Ladd’s effort to help his teammate’s family. While everyone does not agree that this is the kind of activity in which PAEF should be involved, our mission is to help people grow through education in any way possible. Supporting education through real life experience is perhaps the most important kind of education. In addition, no funds from PAEF’s treasury were spent on this activity.
First Keith Graybeal Scholarship to be Awarded
The first Keith Graybeal Memorial Scholarship for $250
will be awarded on May 9, 2011, to the winner of an essay contest conducted among the eighth graders in the various school districts in Granite County. The contest will be organized by Kerry Graybeal of Hall Elementary School. Ms. Graybeal and her committee will select the best essay from the eighth graders in each school district and submit them to PAEF’s Scholarship Committee for final selection.
The Graybeal family and friends have established an endowment account with PAEF to honor the memory of Keith Graybeal. It is their intent to grow the account until the earnings from the endowment support the scholarship in perpetuity. Endowment funds held by PAEF are invested in the Montana Community Foundation’s investment pool. Its policy guarantees a return of at least 4% on funds invested in their pool. An investment of $10,000 will fund a $400 scholarship in perpetuity. All donations to such a fund are fully tax deductible.
PAEF Announces Scholarships for 2011
The PAEF board of Directors, at its meeting on January 19, 2011, decided to announce the scholarships currently confirmed as available for award in 2011.
The Marletto Family has provided $5,000 for one or two scholarships for a student(s) with demonstrable financial need. PAEF uses Expected Family Support (EFS) from the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) evaluation for this purpose. It is important that any student applying for this or any other scholarship complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.
The Eik family has donated $1,000 to fund two Eik Family Scholarships again in 2011. Preference will be given to graduating seniors. The criteria for selection will be need, character and academic potential. Financial need should be documented.
The $1,500 Rose and Thomas Brogan Scholarship is funded by the estate of their daughter, Pat Cloney. An endowment account has also been established to fund this scholarship in perpetuity. Students applying for this scholarship must be at least of college sophomore standing, majoring in business, economics or mathematics.
The Commander Bernard J. O’Rourke Scholarship for $1,000 is funded by the family of Commander O’Rourke. The recipient of this scholarship must be a 2011 Granite High school senior. Granite High School is Commander O’Rourke’s alma mater. Applicants are encouraged to peruse Commander O’Rourke’s biography which is posted at PAEFMT.com. In their application essay the student must state how Commander O’Rourke’s life might motivate them to seek higher education or describe character traits and/or experience similar to his, which motivates them to seek higher education.
The PAEF Board of Directors’ Scholarship for at least $500 is funded by the personal donations of the Board of Directors. It is available to a resident of Granite County whether or not they are presently attending a post secondary institution. Character and academic potential are the primary criteria for awarding this scholarship.
The Sharon Christensen Scholarship for $500 is to be awarded to a Granite High School graduate – 2011 or before – who will be attending a post secondary education institution. Students with athletic scholarships will not be considered. The criteria will be character and academic potential.
The Jon Manke Memorial Scholarships of $250 each will be awarded to graduates of Drummond High School and Granite High School. The recipients must plan to study a field in healthcare with preference given to those desiring to become nurses.
Other scholarships and/or grants are available, though funds are somewhat limited. Applications for a variety of educational activities will be accepted at any time during the year. It is essential that the applicant clearly describes the scope and purpose of the course work being contemplated. It would be unlikely that PAEF would fund more than 50% of a tuition and/or fees.
Other scholarships are in the pipeline for 2011, but have not been confirmed as of this writing. The scholarship committee will award these scholarships at the time of their deliberations on April 18, 2011.
The deadline for scholarship applications is April 14, 2011. It is important that all applicants follow the instructions on the application carefully.
Want to Give a Scholarship?
PAEF helps businesses, families and individuals provide scholarships to deserving students with very little red tape or paper work. Simply contact us about your desire to provide a scholarship and we will put in motion a process that relieves you of the responsibility to advertise for applicants, process and evaluate the applicants and send a check to the institution of the student’s choice.
A member of the Board of Directors will be happy to assist you in deciding on the criteria for selection of the recipient, the amount of the scholarship, screening applicants and selecting the recipient. Once these things are decided everything will be reduced to a written Memorandum of Understanding so you can be sure that everything is set up to your satisfaction.
Elsewhere in this newsletter you will see the names of some of the individuals and families using PAEF’s services. Feel free to contact them to determine if they are satisfied with the services provided by PAEF. And, it will all be accomplished at no cost to you!!!
Application Hints
1. Visit PAEF’s website at PAEFMT.com to print the application.
2. Be sure your application contains the necessary documents – transcripts, letters of recommendation, essay etc.
3. Be sure your letters of recommendation are for 2011. Do not use letters obtained in previous years.
4. It is advantageous to have recommendations from responsible people other than you teachers. If you have a job, get a recommendation from your employer.
5. File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. Do this on the internet.
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