Introduction

The Pay It Forward Fellowship

Who are we?

We are 2 individuals in New York City who appreciate those who have helped us thus far in our lives and consider ourselves fortunate. Having often talked about helping others, we're ready to put our beliefs into action. Please see our bios for more detail.

What are we looking for from an applicant?

We are seeking a high school student who in our eyes has the potential to be an outstanding contributor to society and those around him/her. S/he should not be afraid to dream and wishes to make a difference in the lives of others. Though academic and leadership qualities are important, what we value above all is character. We want to encourage and support those who believe their purpose in life is more than just personal excellence in a material world. We value those who have the character to stand up for their beliefs and feel the need to help others around them.

What is the award?

What we are offering is a financial scholarship of $2,000 and face-to-face mentorship on a monthly basis.

What is the nature of the mentorship?

While we don't automatically presume to know more than the award recipients, if there are questions about school or work, we'd be happy to help out. It will be a chance for both the organizers and the recipient to learn from each other. We want to keep it informal, and thought of as a "big-brother" type of mentorship. The recipient should feel free to reach out to us at anytime, by phone, email or whatever is convenient.

In everyone's best interests, we propose to meet the students either at their high school or at a New York Public Library in Manhattan.

What can I do with the scholarship?

There are no hard restrictions on how you spend the money. If you'd like to spend it on medical payments for a relative, or supplies for a school project -- that would be fine! Our hope is that you choose to do something meaningful with it and spend it according to the plan you set out in the application essay. If possible, we will choose to pay the schloarship in 4 payments, once per quarter. You will be asked to keep your receipts so we can review them.

Is this a 1 year scholarship?

Our aspiration is for this to be a multi-year commitment. We hope to find a new student to help each year. Outstanding past recipients (though not all) may have all or part of their financial scholarship renewed each year. Informal mentorship will be available to all past recipients.

How do I apply?

If you're interested, please write a 1-2 page essay telling us about yourself, people who are important to you, what you'd like to accomplish with the scholarship, an outline of how you'd achieve your goals, and what goals you have in life. A few finalists will be selected for an in-person interview, and 1 winner will be chosen. Please include your school name, grade level, GPA, and 2 references.

The deadline for submission is 5/30/2007.

The winner will be selected by 6/30/2007.