Supporting Success in Education by Providing Scholarships to Children who are aging out of Foster Care.
The Fostering Education Scholarship Fund was established by Innovative Fitness and Village Connection, Inc. for the purpose of providing scholarships to children who are aging out of foster care and lack the funds needed to attend college. We are seeking like-minded partners who are willing to support our aging out of foster care population by making a funding commitment to the Fostering Education Scholarship Fund.
"Your organization made my education attainable and removed the impossibility of my pursuing it. I will not forget the opportunity provided to me by your foundation. It is my greatest hope to one day give back to people in my position in the way your foundation has helped me. Thank you for all you have done. Have a wonderful day!"
Very Respectfully, Tianna Sycks-Womack - Fostering Education Scholarship Fund recipient
2025 FESF Recipients
The Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) is proud to announce that four students have been awarded scholarships from the Fostering Education Scholarship Fund (FESF) for the Fall 2025 semester. Since its launch in 2021, the FESF has awarded a total of $40,500 in scholarships — including $8,000 this semester — to help ease the financial burden of higher education.
We are honored to recognize the following recipients for their dedication to their education:
Lamia Jackson, attending Beacon College, studying Business (first-time recipient, fall 2025).
Esha Green, attending Savannah State University, studying Business Administration, Marketing (first-time recipient, fall 2025).
Aliana Samayoa, attending Georgia Gwinnett College, studying Child Life (first-time recipient, fall 2025).
Thinh Nguyen, attending Georgia State University, studying Computer Information Systems (recipient fall 2022, fall 2023, fall 2024, & fall 2025).
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported this fund and made these scholarships possible. Congratulations to this semester’s recipients—we wish them continued success as they pursue their educational goals.
If you would like to contribute to the Fostering Education Scholarship Fund, please click here. Your support helps create brighter futures through education. Thank you!
2024 FESF Recipients
The Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) is pleased to share that five students have been awarded scholarships from the Fostering Education Scholarship Fund (FESF) for the fall 2024 semester. Since its creation in 2021, this scholarship has provided $32,500 in support to students, including $12,500 this semester, helping to ease the financial challenges of pursuing a degree.
We are honored to recognize the following recipients for their dedication to their education:
- Whitney Leigh Benz, attending University of West Georgia (first-time recipient, fall 2024).
- Sadie Hamil, attending Georgia Southern University (first-time recipient, fall 2024).
- Amon Travail Matar Philpot, attending Kennesaw State University (first-time recipient,t fall 2024).
- Tianna Lynn Sycks-Womack, attending Georgia Southern University - Armstrong (first-time recipient, fall 2024).
- Thinh Nguyen, attending Georgia State University (recipient fall 2022, fall 2023 & fall 2024).
We are sincerely thankful to all who have contributed to the Fostering Education Scholarship Fund and made these opportunities possible. Congratulations to this semester’s recipients—we wish you ongoing success on your academic journey.
2023 FESF Recipients
Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) has announced that five scholarship recipients have been named by the Fostering Education Scholarship Fund (FESF) for the fall 2023 semester. This scholarship was created in 2021, and we are excited to announce that $12,500 in scholarships has been awarded to these students to offset the financial burden of earning a degree.
Recipients of the scholarships are:
– Nettoyan Saxton, attending Loyola University (first-time recipient fall 2023).
– Sadie Hamil, attending Georgia Southern (first-time recipient fall 2023).
– Collins Arrey, attending Albany State University (recipient fall 2022 & fall 2023).
– Tianya Hunter, attending the College of Coastal Georgia (recipient fall 2022 & fall 2023).
– Thinh Nguyen, attending Georgia State University (recipient fall 2022 & fall 2023).
2022 FESF Recipients
Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) has announced that three scholarship recipients have been named by the Fostering Education Scholarship Fund (FESF) for the fall 2022 semester. This new scholarship was created in 2021, and for the first time, $7,500 in scholarships has now been awarded to these students to offset the financial burden of earning a degree.
Recipients of the scholarships are:
– Collins Arrey, age 18, who will attend Albany State University (first-time recipient fall 2022).
– Tianya Hunter, age 19, who will attend the College of Coastal Georgia (first-time recipient fall 2022).
– Thinh Nguyen, age 18, who will attend Georgia State University (first-time recipient fall 2022).
The Fostering Education Scholarship was created to address the financial challenges faced by students aging out of the Georgia foster care system who would like to pursue higher education. The instability of life in foster care often proves to be a distraction from learning and school performance. As one applicant shared in their essay, “We had no control where we will go and where we will live or what foster parents we will get.” Financial resources, mentorship, support, and stability are not commonly available to help these individuals complete degree programs that lead to well-paying, stable employment. This is the reason why caring individuals in our community have joined together to fund these awards. Everlean Rutherford, Isaiah Wilcox of Village Connection and Melissa Conti of Innovative Fitness were brought together through CCF because of a shared vision to improve the lives of these resilient youths aging out of foster care by helping them reach their educational goals through scholarships.
The Fostering Education Scholarship Fund is seeking like-minded partners who are willing to support Georgia’s aging out of foster care population by making a contribution to the Fostering Education Scholarship Fund. Your tax-deductible donations may be made here.
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Supporting Success in Education by Providing Scholarships to Children who are aging out of Foster Care. This scholarship was created in 2021, and we are excited to announce that so far $12,500 in scholarships has been awarded to these students to offset the financial burden of earning a degree.
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