HFC's Humans of Dementia Storytelling Scholarship

Hilarity for Charity (HFC) is a national non-profit on a mission to care for families impacted by Alzheimer's disease, activate the next generation of Alzheimer's advocates, and be a leader in brain health research and education.

Let’s face it—bringing up Alzheimer’s doesn’t usually make you the life of the party. Most people don’t want to think about dementia until they have to. Storytelling is a powerful tool to help bring light to Alzheimer's disease and dementia.  HFC's Humans of Dementia Storytelling Scholarship is open to high school and college students in the U.S. and Canada who have been impacted in some way by Alzheimer's disease. This scholarship focuses on storytelling as a tool to drive awareness and inspire change about Alzheimer's disease. Students are invited to submit a written or photo profile of someone living with Alzheimer's disease or who passed away from the disease.

2024 submission period is March 1 - May 1, 2024. Awardees will be announced no later than July 1, 2024. Please click "Guidelines" below to see detailed information about eligibility, guidelines, and scoring.

About the Scholarship:

Storytelling is a powerful tool to help bring light to Alzheimer's disease and dementia. HFC's Humans of Dementia Storytelling Scholarship is open to high school and college students in the U.S. and Canada who have been impacted in some way by Alzheimer's disease. This scholarship focuses on storytelling as a tool to drive awareness and inspire change about Alzheimer's disease.  By focusing on the person and not the disease, Humans of Dementia aims to bring light to and elevate the conversation around Alzheimer's disease so we can reduce the stigma and shame often surrounding loved ones living with the disease.

HFC awards 12 scholarships: 6 for high school students and 6 for college students. Awards for the written profile and photo essay categories include three cash awards of $1500 each, along with a VIP Virtual Awards Reception.

2024 Submission Period: March 1 - May 1, 2024 (11:59pm PT)

Your Submission:

Think of someone in your life who had or still lives with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. The person can be a relative, a friend, or someone in your community. The person you profile should be someone you know or knew, not a public figure. This is your chance to tell their story or feature a compelling aspect of their life, character, accomplishments, or contributions. Aim to emphasize the person's humanity and not the disease.

You are encouraged to explore unique perspectives and be creative with the story you are telling using words and/or photo images (at this time we are not accepting video or other multimedia).

Here are some suggested starting points. This is not meant to be used as a checklist. These are suggested prompts to help get you started.  Take your time with the storytelling process!

• Describe the person you profiling so that the reader feels like they are in the same room with them.
• Paint a picture of the person's life before the onset of Alzheimer's.
• Share some early memories or stories about the person.
• Include anecdotes that capture the person's personality, interests, and achievements.
• Share any poignant or memorable moments that have occurred since the diagnosis.
• Include both positive and challenging experiences to provide a balanced portrayal.
• Include any memorable quotes or sayings from the person, either from the past or in the present.
• Reflect on the significance of these expressions in the context of their journey with Alzheimer's.
• Discuss any lessons you have learned from the person or your experience with someone living with Alzheimer's.
• Reflect on the impact it has had on your perspective on life and relationships.

For photo entries, your image(s) may encompass any angle/subject related to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia – living with the disease, caregiving, treatment, science, etc.  This can be candid, portraiture, environmental portrait, documentary, double exposure, or still-life (loved one's objects). Try to avoid overused and cliche representations. You can submit color or black & white; film or digital; smartphone or camera. You may submit up to three (3) single images.  Entrants will be judged on a single image only.  Still images only (no video or multimedia).