One Simple Wish Scholarship Fund
We have fundraised $12,196 of our $250,000 goal for 2022/23 so far!
One Simple Wish Scholarship Fund
New for the 2021 academic year, One Simple Wish and our incredible wish granters have created a scholarship fund to support individuals impacted by foster care. The scholarship fund is intended to provide a life-changing resource for individuals who are on their journey to higher education, at any stage of life.
Recent research shows that less than 3% of individuals impacted by foster care achieve a college degree and we want to do our part to change that. We are committed to ensuring that financial hardships and traumatic life experiences do not stand in the way of someone making their educational goals a reality.
Featured 2021 Awardees
Tahj Burnette
Master of Social Work, Rutgers University School of Social Work
Thank you for paving the way for individuals impacted by foster care. I am going to represent this scholarship with pride and promise to continue advocating for vulnerable populations, fighting for social justice and promoting child welfare. For anyone who needs the reminder - don’t give up on your dreams! Dreams don't have an expiration date, so keep pushing and believe in yourself and you’ll make it!
Juanje Davis
Master's in Business Administration, Indiana Wesleyan University
Being selected for this scholarship reaffirms me never to stop dreaming. The beauty of dreaming is the ability to paint your canvas and manifest all your dreams by faith, tenacity, and drive. This scholarship bridged the financial gap of finishing graduate school debt-free. 3% of former foster youth obtain a college degree - One Simple Wish is helping me change that statistic.
Emily Murray
Juris Doctorate (Law), Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Receiving the One Simple Wish scholarship means that others care about and support traumatized and endangered youth. This resource not only helps me but it also affects the lives of every young person I hope to advocate for and represent as a children’s attorney. My work will save lives and this contribution makes it possible. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I can breathe a little bit easier because of you.
Alina Gonzalez
Human Services, Cal State Fullerton
There is so much we can achieve despite the circumstances we have come from. I am so honored and happy to be selected as a recipient of this scholarship. I feel like all my hard work is paying off and helping me continue working hard for my little one's and my own future. I was so excited about the scholarship I had told my son (4 years old) and he was like "you got the scholarship! you got the scholarship!". I am just so honored to be a recipient. Thank you so much for your generous, kind, loving hearts.
Makayla Lang
Master of Social Work, Case Western Reserve University
I am ecstatic to receive this scholarship; this will eliminate my need for further aid in the form of unsubsidized loans. Many other youth have natural supports they can count on, and former foster youth such as myself will never have those resources. Programs like this give power and a voice back youth; eliminating barriers to their success, and that is truly invaluable. Thank you again for investing in my future.
Estephanie Martinez
Entrepreneurship concentration, CSUSB
I will continue my education and thanks to your generous support with this scholarship I will be a first generation college student and I will be able to fulfill my dream of impacting my community and helping others. I want you to know that you are impacting students' lives at CSUSB!
All 2021 Awardees
Adham Abd
Ivy Tech Community College
Alexis Scott
Wagner College
Alina Gonzalez
Cal State Fullerton
Amber Drake
Indiana University Bloomington
Anai Avelino
UCSD
Angela Williams
Notre Dame College
Cameron Dawson
Cleveland State University
Chris Villegas
Paul Mitchell Temecula School
Christina Parker
University of Michigan
Demetrius Armstrong
San Jose State University
Diana Dort
Montclair State University
Emily Grech
University of Colorado Denver
Emily Murray
Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Estephanie Martinez Leal
California State University, San Bernardino
Eva Goldsberry
UC Santa Barbara
Faith Roll
Brookdale Community College
Iris Tan
Sanchez College of San Mateo
Isabelle Goodrich
Western Colorado University
Javier Vieyra Lozano
San Jose State University
Jericho Wagner
Washburn University
Jessica Bernaldo
Ocean County College
Juanje Davis
Indiana Wesleyan University
Kay Riley
The Ohio State
Kendra Schmetterling-Lund
Colorado State University
Kenneth Harrison
Ball State University
Kevelyn Duarte
DeAnza Community College
Kevin Vidal Rodriguez
University of California Riverside
Leah Vance Daniel
St. John Fisher College
Leslie Reneau
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Lucy Baker
University of La Verne
Madison Pellegrino
University of Delaware
Makayla Lang
Case Western Reserve University
Marlon Saechao
San Jose State University
Mary Alice Caudillo Zavala
Merced College
Mayda Berrios
Delaware State University
Megan Wiles
Fairmont State University
Michelle Ortiz
SUNY Old Westbury
Nzitonda Patrick
Washington State University
Samantha Pellicciotti
Montgomery County Community College
Sarah Thomas
San Jose City College
Suzan Nambi
Metropolitan State University Denver
Tahj Burnette
Rutgers University
Teresa McMahon
Texas A&M University
Xavier Asprer
University of California Los Angeles
Xiola Chin
Community College of Denver
Application Process
Review Process and Timing
Our 2021 process is now closed. Be sure to check back in early 2022 for when the 2022-23 school year submissions open.
Eligibility Requirements
- Individual must be 17 years of age and aged out of foster care, be aging out of foster care, or had a disrupted adoption. There is no maximum age limit.
- Individual must hold a 2.5 cumulative high school or college GPA (whichever was most recent).
- Individual must meet eligibility to receive federal and state financial aid and has already applied via FAFSA.
- Individual must already be accepted to a community college, university or accredited vocational school for the upcoming academic year.
- Individual must provide a reference to confirm their time in care, and a reference to recommend them for the scholarship. These can be the same or different people.
Recipients must meet all of the above eligibility requirements to be considered.
Want to contribute toward the fund?
You can donate using the button, or send a check to the address below. You can also email us if you wish to wire funds.
One Simple Wish
1977 N Olden Ave. #292
Trenton, NJ 08618
For any other questions, please email info@onesimplewish.org.
Equal Opportunity Statement: It is the policy and practice of One Simple Wish to treat all candidates for scholarships with dignity and respect, and to provide equal opportunity to all persons without regard to color, race, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, martial status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, military status, or any other category protected by law.
