Frank Fusaro, Chairman, Adopt-A-Scholar Program, Alyssa Arroyo, 2007 scholarship recipient, and Johnny Maestro, Adopt-A-Scholar Sponsor

Joseph Licata, Adopt-A-Scholar Benefactor
with a scholarship recipient and family member

Robert Ingenito, Adopt-A-Scholar Benefactor
with a Scholarship Recipient and her family.

Scholarship recipients and family being interviewed for Foundation Quarterly

Adopt-A-Scholar Program

For the past several years the Columbus Citizens Foundation has worked tirelessly to provide financial aid to deserving students at the elementary, high school and college levels. Our efforts include the awarding of multi-year scholarships and grants and the development of a capital base to expand the program for future generations. To meet these dual objectives and to properly recognize the generosity of members and friends who support this worthwhile effort, we have created the Adopt-A-Scholar Program.  

How It Works
The program provides a benefactor with an opportunity to endow a perpetual scholarship or provide annual scholarship support in the name of a friend or loved one. The perpetual scholarship is awarded every four years in perpetuity, while the annual scholarship is a one-time, four-year grant. The benefactor may choose to target a particular school or geographical area for the award. The individual selection and administration of the award is the responsibility of our scholarship committees whose members annually review the applications of hundreds of deserving students.

Program Cost
The cost of creating these scholarships is as follows:

President’s Circle Perpetually Endowed Four Year College or High School Scholarship:  $500,000. 

Perpetually Endowed Four Year College or High School Scholarship:  $100,000. 

Annual College or High School Scholarship:  $25,000. 

At the benefactor’s option, scholarship contributions may be made in four annual payments. 

Tax Benefit
As the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all donations are tax deductible.  Gifts of appreciated securities or real property could further reduce the after tax cost of the benefactor's generosity.

We urge you to consider the positive effect your contribution will make on the lives of our young scholars.  Please call Christine Meola, Executive Director, at 212.249.9923 or email cmeola@columbuscitizens.org to answer any questions you may have.

Recognition of Benefactor
The benefactor’s generosity will be publicly recognized at an awards ceremony, through the Foundation Quarterly and on a permanent plaque that is prominently displayed in our townhouse.

A Living Memorial
What better way to preserve the memory of a loved one than to provide a deserving student with a life-altering opportunity.

Meet the Students
The donor may choose to meet the recipient and/or assume a mentoring role in the student’s academic progress.