Parents and students attended the Dollars for Scholars meeting on Wednesday night. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Dollars for Scholars held their second meeting of the year on Wednesday night.
A non-profit organization that provides scholarships to high school students that live in Southwick, the new president of the organization is hoping to gain more attendance at meetings and have more people become a part of Dollars for Scholars.
“We’re trying to re-build this program and all of the support we can get would be amazing,” said President Lisa Hough.
During the annual scholarship awards ceremony this past May, Dollars for Scholars member Jim Putnam informed those in attendance that the organization was in danger of shutting down unless they were able to gain more members to help keep the effort sustainable.
At the ceremony in May, Dollars for Scholars gave out 50 scholarships that totaled around $30,000. The program has been around since the 1950’s, with the first recipient receiving $100 in 1955.
Shortly after May, Hough was approached to become the president once Deb Patryn stepped down after serving in that role for 15 years.
At Wednesday night’s meeting, Hough was able to get 11 people to show up, including representation from students of the National Honor’s Society.
“We’re going to have to reinvent the scholarships,” said Hough. “All of the scholarships we have can be tailored.”
Hough’s goal is to provide more name scholarships for students to earn. Although people can create a scholarship in someone’s memory, Hough also wants to encourage people to name scholarships after individuals who are still alive, whether it’s for a father, grandfather, mother, or friend.
“Do it now while they can hand out the actual scholarships,” said Hough.
Currently, Dollars for Scholars has a couple of major scholarships, including the Atkinson Scholarship, which is for $30,000 and goes to a junior in high school from Southwick that’s reaching for a certain college or university to attend.
Another important feature that has been implemented by the organization is that local businesses can now make donations towards Dollars for Scholars. Businesses can sign up to be platinum sponsor for $500, gold for $250, silver for $150, and can become a member for $25.
In order to have these scholarships available, the organization is looking for new ways to fundraise. In the past, Dollars for Scholars has done a mail-a-thon, parked cars for the Motocross Nationals, and collected old cell phones. While ideas continue to be brainstormed, Hough wants to focus on fundraisers that could be both profitable and efficient.
“If you have an idea, I say go ahead, make the call, and run with it,” said Hough.
Dollars for Scholars meets once a month at the Southwick Regional School and can be followed and reached on their Facebook page.
