The Hope Fund Educational Scholarship was established in 2021 by Jodi DeOms McKay and Bryan DeOms in loving memory of their parents, Gary and Dianne DeOms. Both Gary and Dianne (Mama D) were passionate supporters of Special Love programming, with a special dedication to the brothers and sisters of children with cancer. This scholarship continues their legacy by supporting siblings as they pursue higher education in fields that reflect their professional experiences.

About the Scholarship

The Hope Fund Educational Scholarship provides financial assistance to siblings of childhood cancer patients who have participated in Special Love’s BRothers And Sisters (BRASS) programming. Scholarships are awarded annually based on available resources, prioritizing applicants who demonstrate:

· Financial need

· Academic achievement and potential

· Involvement with Special Love programming

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must:

✔ Be a sibling of a childhood cancer patient

✔ Have participated in at least one BRASS camp-based program through Special Love, Inc.

✔ Be an undergraduate junior or senior, or a graduate student

✔ Be pursuing a degree in agriculture, science/medicine, or nonprofit management

Scholarship Details

  • Award Amount: $1,000 – $1,500
  • Eligible Expenses: Tuition and school fees (scholarship funds are paid directly to the post-secondary institution)
  • Disbursement: Awarded funds are distributed in two equal installments in July and December

Past recipients are encouraged to reapply!

Application Process

Scholarships are awarded based on a comprehensive review of the application, including:

  • Academic Performance and Potential
  • Financial Need
  • Personal Statement
  • Completeness of the Application

Questions? Email scholarships@specialove.org or call (888) 930-2707.

Hope Scholarship

Name
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Address

Special Love Involvement

Please indicate what Special Love programs you participated in, and years participated.

Section B: College/University/Trade School Information

Name and address of school to whom you have formally committed and are planning to attend. OR If you have not yet chosen a school, list any to which you have applied. Be aware a scholarship award will not be provided until you have provided evidence of enrollment.
Are you entering your junior year of college (or later)?
If answer is no, you do not meet the qualifications necessary for application. Please terminate your application until you meet all qualifications.
Have you applied to the above?
Have you been accepted?
Is this a graduate level program?
If you answered yes, you yourself should complete the financial information.
If you answered yes, your parents/guardians should complete the financial information.

Financial Support

Your application will NOT be reviewed if the information in Section B is incomplete. Applicants who live independently and will cover their own educational expenses should fill out this section themselves in its entirety.

For applicants who live at home, parents/guardians should fill out this section in its entirety.

(Market value, minus the mortgage balance)
List all outstanding debts over $1,000:
Press the + sign on the right of the field to add more lines.

School GPA/SAT/ACT

Please fill out this section and attach an official transcript (signed by a school official)
Transcript Attached?
Max. file size: 8 MB.
Certification(Required)
Applicant Name Entered Represents Signature That Above Is True
(If Applicable) Name Entered Represents Signature That Above Is True