Community Foundation of Orange & Sullivan awards scholarships to 2020 graduates

Scholarship Programs in Orange County, NY - OCCC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                             

CONTACT: Nicole Feller Lee, Director of Development and Communications

Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Awards Nearly $300,000 in Scholarships

180 local students will benefit from the scholarships thanks to the generosity of area donors.

MONTGOMERY, NY (July 9, 2020) – It was a challenging spring for high school seniors who had their school year cut short due to COVID-19. Fortunately, the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS) now has a completely online scholarship portal so students were able to apply for scholarships from the comfort and safety of their homes.

In all, CFOS awarded nearly $300,000 in scholarships to students in school districts throughout the region. 180 students received scholarships, all made possible through generous donors who have established charitable funds within the Community Foundation.

“When donors establish scholarships, they better the future of our communities by supporting young people,” said Elizabeth Rowley, CFOS President and CEO. “The student recipients are extremely grateful for these awards as they pursue their dreams of higher education.”

Timothy Batzel, a graduating senior from Port Jervis High school who is headed to Syracuse University in the fall, is the recipient of the largest CFOS scholarship, The Oscar B. Greenleaf Scholarship.

“I’m still attempting to comprehend the magnitude of this award, let alone piece together the proper words of gratitude. I’ve come to the realization that there is no such verbal sequence of the same greatness,” said Batzel. “However, I would like to sincerely thank the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan for the opportunities that it has provided for many of my classmates and I on our journeys towards higher education. I assure that the Foundation’s insurmountable generosity and confidence in the Class of 2020 will not be in vain.”

Oscar Greenleaf was an ordinary person with extraordinary goals: to live life to its fullest and give so that others could learn. His bequest will ensure that children in Port Jervis will not only benefit from scholarships now, but in perpetuity. His goodwill will live on forever because of his gift to the Community Foundation.

Photo: Port Jervis High School graduate Timothy Batzel is the recipient of the Oscar B. Greenleaf Scholarship  

About the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS): Based in Montgomery, NY, the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan connects people who care with causes that matter. Established in 1999, the Foundation helps philanthropic individuals, businesses and organizations establish charitable funds that will award grants and scholarships, for good, forever. The Foundation has significantly increased the region’s charitable capital and has empowered donors to make a profound difference in the quality of life in our region. Since its inception, CFOS, with its donors and fund representatives, has awarded more than $15 million in grants and scholarships. The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan currently administers 322 active charitable funds that represent nearly $30 million in assets to support animal welfare, arts and culture, education, the environment, health and human services, recreation and youth. To learn more, visit cfosny.org.

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