Two Georgians receive JRF scholarship
Jul 1, 2006 by Josh White, Athens Banner-Herald
Seventy-eight low-income women from across the United States will each receive the Jeannette Rankin Foundation’s annual $2,000 grants, the Athens-based group announced Thursday evening.
The organization recognized those women this week, featuring their names on the program for the Jeannette Rankin Foundation Annual Dinner, held Thursday night. The grants will assist low-income women who are U.S. citizens and have enrolled themselves in accredited schools to complete their educations.
The foundation was started in 1976 and gave its first grant, which was $500, in 1978.
In 2006, the foundation’s goal was to raise enough money through donations to accommodate 70 women from the more than 900 grant applicants.
The foundation was able to raise enough money, though, to fund 78 grants, said Sue Lawrence, the group’s executive director.
The foundation gave $2,000 grants to 56 women in 2005 and 45 in 2004.
Lawrence attributes the organization’s ability to accommodate a greater number of applicants to both business sponsors and individual donors who understand the importance of education in helping low-income women.
“This organization is really fortunate and blessed,” she said. “The foundation would not be where it is today without (donors).”
The group gave grants to women from across the country, including Maine, Florida, California and North Dakota.
The foundation chose at least two women from Georgia, one of whom currently is enrolled at Athens Technical College, and another from Augusta, Lawrence said.
The foundation will put all the names of its 2006 recipients on its Web site as early as today.
Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 070106
Tagged: jrf scholars
