Hearts for Community Service

The burden of higher education debt has painful and long-lasting consequences for low-income students and students of color, according to a 2022 report released by the Pell Institute and PennAHEAD. The report found that while higher education can still provide access to increased economic mobility for many poor and first-generation students, it can drown many in debt.

Warrick Dunn Charities’ Hearts for Community Service scholarships help to offset the financial burden of attending a post-secondary institution and support student’s goals to better themselves academically by creating access to higher paying jobs, economic stability, and a better quality of life for themselves and generations to come.

The Hearts for Community Service Scholarship application opens annually from June 1st to June 30th, with award winners announced in August.

This $5,000 scholarship is available to student residents from the following Warrick Dunn Charities, Inc. markets: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin who volunteer in their communities.

To be eligible for this scholarship, students must volunteer within their communities, and be enrolled in a post-secondary institution for the upcoming academic year. This includes high school students who are dually enrolled in an institution of higher education; high school graduates or GED equivalency; students enrolled in a trade school; or students pursuing an associate’s, bachelor’s, or post-graduate degree.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale (equivalent GED scores accepted)
• Be of service as a volunteer in your local community
• Attending or soon to be attending a post-secondary school, including associate, undergraduate, graduate, professional, or doctoral program
• Be a resident of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Wisconsin.

What should be included in my letters of recommendation?

Each applicant is required to submit two (2) letters of recommendation showing proof of volunteer community service. Recommendation letters should be written by someone from an organization for which you currently volunteer or have previously volunteered with and should illustrate examples of your volunteer service as well as the impact your service has had in the local community. Each recommendation letter should answer the following three (3) questions:

• How long has the student been a volunteer with your organization?
• What are some of the volunteer roles this student has played within your organization?
• What impact has the student’s volunteerism had on the community members you serve?

What information do I need for my application?

In addition to basic family and demographic information, applicants will need to provide the following:

• Two (2) letters of recommendation showing proof of volunteer community service. Recommendation letters should be written by someone from an organization for which you currently volunteer or have previously volunteered with and should illustrate examples of your volunteer service as well as the impact your service has had in the local community.
• An email address and direct phone number for each reference must be included
• Proof of enrollment in a post-secondary institution
• Proof of residency (driver’s license or government-issued ID) in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Wisconsin.
• A copy of your most recent transcript
• A minimum 500-word essay

What should be included in my essay?

Each applicant is required to submit a minimum 500-word essay answering all of the following:

• Describe how you are of service and the positive impact it has made on your community.
• How has the volunteerism to your community had an impact on your life?
• How will this scholarship assist in furthering your education?
• What does the opportunity to receive a post-secondary education mean to you?