Growing up in Martin County, Emma Fariello always had a passion for learning, but the daunting prospect of financing her college education often overshadowed her academic achievements at Palm City’s South Fork High School.
The turning point came during an Advanced Placement literature class, when a classmate encouraged her to apply for a scholarship from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
Emma followed through and was awarded a scholarship, made possible by the Julian and Eunice S. Cohen Scholarship Fund. The financial support was a significant relief for Emma and her family — and she soon found herself on the campus of the University of Florida. Ultimately the scholarship allowed Emma to complete her first two years of college with no loans or student debt. It also significantly eased her family’s financial burden.
As Emma moves through her junior year at UF, she is not only excelling in her dual majors of economics and marketing but has also taken on multiple leadership roles. She plans to continue her studies with the goal of earning a law degree focused on environment.
While Emma’s story is special, it is not unique. Thousands of students just like her from Palm Beach and Martin Counties have benefited from the Community Foundation’s scholarship program over the last 40 years. Since 1985, the Foundation has offered both need- and merit-based scholarships, helping students access higher education and reduce the burden of debt. To date, nearly $18 million has been distributed through over 3,200 scholarships to deserving students.
What sets our scholarship program apart is its commitment to diversity and accessibility. Many recipients are the first in their families to attend college, and our scholarships are designed to accommodate a wide range of educational paths. Whether students pursue traditional college degrees, vocational training, technical education, or certificate programs, the Foundation is dedicated to supporting their journey toward success.
Despite this success, however, our work is not complete. Last year, over 850 students applied for scholarships. These students are all deserving, capable and worthy recipients. And yet, we were only able to award 117 scholarships totaling $1.3 million. The reality is the number of talented applicants is far higher than the awards we have available. We know that we must close that gap.
That’s why to mark the 40th anniversary of our scholarship program, the Community Foundation has set an ambitious new goal: raising $5 million to expand access to higher education, vocational, and technical training for more local, aspiring students. We believe that with additional financial support, more students can unlock their full potential in college and beyond. It is our responsibility to ensure they have the resources to make that journey possible.
At the end of the day, education is a transformative force that shapes futures and builds communities. The success of our scholarship program over the last four decades has only been possible because our donors recognize that a college education drives economic mobility — not just for students, but for their families and our communities as a whole.
We invite you to contribute to our $5 million fundraising effort and help empower the next generation of leaders. Your support ensures that future students like Emma can thrive without the shadow of student debt.
Learn how to get involved in the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Fund at https://yourcommunityfoundation.org/scholarship-giving/.
Danita DeHaney is president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Dr. Joanne Julien is chair of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee.