Dollars for Scholars Reaches $1 Million Mark

St. Louis Park Dollars for Scholars achieved a significant milestone this spring.

The organization reached the million-dollar mark in scholarship money awarded since it first offered funds for post-secondary education to graduates beginning in 1994. More than 1,500 scholarships have been awarded in 18 years.

The nonprofit group announced its millionth dollar at the annual Awards Night held Wednesday, May 25, at the high school. Members of the class of 2011 were awarded 108 Dollars for Scholars scholarships, with this year’s total reaching almost $80,000. 

All of the money donated comes from neighborhoods, school faculty, community organizations, memorials, businesses, reunion classes and past recipients.

“Individual students, high school sports teams, church groups and neighborhood associations all volunteered their time to assemble newsletters and canvas neighborhoods requesting donations,” said Judy Romlin, chair of the all-volunteer Dollars for Scholars board. “I’m amazed at how they all came together to help support our graduates further their education. 

“The board is so grateful for all their hard work and for the many donors who came forward to fund scholarships. It really speaks to the cohesiveness of our St. Louis Park community that so many were willing to help our best and brightest.”

St. Louis Park Dollars for Scholars is a local chapter of Scholarship America. Scholarship America was recently in the news when former CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric announced that all profits from her new book, “The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives,” will go to the organization.

Donations are being accepted for next year’s graduation class via giveMN.org or at Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 16403, St. Louis Park, Minn., 55416.