Hefner Fund approaches scholarship and grant application deadline
Talawanda seniors interested in scholarships, as well as local organizations looking for funding to support youth-related initiatives, are approaching a deadline to apply for support through the Hefner Fund.
The Hefner Fund, created and supported by the Rotary Club of Oxford, is approaching its Dec. 15 scholarship and grant application deadline. The fund provides scholarships for Talawanda High School seniors and supports youth-related initiatives in the Talawanda School District.
Applicants must provide a description of how their proposed grant will benefit local youth. Scholarship and grant recipients are then chosen by the Rotary Club members within 90 days of the application deadline.
The Hefner Fund was established in 1988 by then-Miami University President and Rotarian John Millett and has since awarded more than $750,000 in scholarships and grants to support local youth. The fund is named after Robert Hefner, who was the Miami Zoology Chair and a Rotarian. The fund is sustained through member contributions and the club’s primary fundraiser, Oxford Community Stars & Stripes.
Last year, the fund awarded $20,000 in scholarships to 15 Talawanda graduates. Additional funds went to eight community organizations and causes including the high school baseball program, sensory space and equipment at Marshall Elementary, Miami Little League and life jackets for the Oxford Parks and Recreation department.
The Rotary Club also helps fund causes in and beyond the local community. Last year, board members approved grants for 10 different causes including a clean water project in Mexico, a Rotary and McCullough-Hyde Hospital internship program and Oxford Empty Bowls.
The next application deadline after this cycle is April 15. For more information or to apply, contact Bill Schilling at bill@dsp.org for details.
