Valerie's House Launches Scholarships for Grieving Students

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jan. 31, 2019 - PRLog -- Valerie's House, a Southwest Florida nonprofit whose mission is to support and care for grieving children after the death of a loved one, announces the launch of two first-time scholarships for children in its grief support program. The scholarships are being offered in partnership with the Uncommon Friends Foundation's scholarship program. The scholarships will be available to 2019 high school graduates from Lee or Collier Counties who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling and participate in the healing, grief support programs offered by Valerie's House. Nominees must also demonstrate financial need and have the potential to succeed in school.

"Grieving children are often full of drive, determination, strength and resilience, as they strive to make their lost loved one proud," said Valerie's House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.  "Many Valerie's House children will go on to make a huge impact in the world around them and we want to help them as much as we can get started on that journey."

Each scholarship in the amount of $1,000 will help defray the cost of tuition, books and supplies for college, trade school or a post-secondary institution of the student's choice. Recipients can apply to renew their scholarship for one or more subsequent terms. The deadline for applying online for the 2019-2020 school year is April 1, 2019. For nomination forms and full requirements, visit www.uncommonfriends.org/scholarships/opportunities.

Valerie's House was founded by Angela Melvin in 2016 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides grief support services to children and their families at its Fort Myers and Naples locations. As the first and only grief support program focused solely on helping children grieve, Valerie's House provides a safe, comfortable place for children to bond, grieve and heal together following the death of an immediate family member. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency that is fully supported through generous donations from the community. For more information, enroll in programs, volunteer, or donate, visit www.ValeriesHouseSWFL.org.

The Uncommon Friends Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1993 and dedicated to lifelong character building among today's youth and business leaders. It promotes character education in schools, ethics in the workplace, and preservation of the historic Burroughs Home & Gardens and James Newton Archives. For more scholarship information, visit http://uncommonfriends.org/.