Tracking Down College Scholarships
We hear often from parents, "I'd love for my son/daughter to get accepted to their dream school...but I'm very nervous about how to pay for it."
Even if you're in a more comfortable income bracket, scholarships can go a long way to making the college-going years less of a financial burden. Here are our top tips on getting started:
The Internet
Scholarpro.com and Zinch.com are both great resources for scholarships.
Your Employer
Look for college scholarships close to home. See if your company or any professional organizations you belong to offer scholarships.
Local
Local businesses, civic groups and even wealthy people in your hometown may offer scholarships to local students.
Guidance Counselors
Proactively sit down with your student's guidance counselor to discuss scholarships that are a personal fit for your student and your family's financial situation.
The University
Most people don't know that universities earmark scholarship money for students studying specific majors or entering certain career fields. Once you have narrowed your college list, be sure to reach out to each university to see what is available.
Federal Government
The federal government offers certain scholarships and grants: Read more
Kiva Celebrates International Women's Day
Of the almost three billion adults worldwide who are unbanked or under-banked, most are women. Without access to education and resources to start a business, their potential and dreams are far too often wasted. This affects us all.
In honor of International Women's Day, Kiva will launch Kiva.org/women on March 7 to spotlight the power of women to create sustainable change when everyday people lend their support. As part of the kick-off for Kiva Women - partner Dermalogica is funding a $100,000 Kiva Women free trial program that will enable new users of Kiva Women to direct a $25 loan to the woman borrower of their choice.
For as long as funds last, you can direct a $25 loan to a woman borrower of your choice without fronting a penny - Dermalogica is covering the free trials.
Help start the ripple effect of change that creates financial independence through entrepreneurship for women worldwide.
More about Kiva: Kiva is the world's first and largest microlending website where anyone, anywhere can help alleviate global poverty and empower women through loans as small as $25. Since Kiva's launch in 2005, more than 80% of the loans funded through Kiva have been to women borrowers in 60 countries and the United States. Kiva has connected more than 600,000 women borrowers to nearly 650,000 lenders, crowdfunding more than $200 million in loans to women. Loans through Kiva have a 98.9% payback rate and have proven to be a significant resource for women worldwide.
...
Read more
Creative Kids in the Kitchen
Young chefs give PB&J a makeover
Everyone loves a classic PB&J sandwich. Now, with a little culinary creativity, your family can liven up lunch and win money for college.
Over the past 10 years, Jif(r) Peanut Butter has inspired thousands of kid chefs to reinvent the peanut butter sandwich for the chance of earning a fund for college. This year, in the 10th Annual Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest(tm), families can foster creativity in the kitchen for a chance to win a $25,000 college fund, plus $10,000 to purchase educational products.
-Sandwiches will be judged on creativity, taste, nutritional balance, appearance and ease of preparation.
-10 semi-finalists will be selected to compete in a national online vote in January.
-Five finalists will be selected to compete at a live judging event in New York City in March.
-Four runners up will each receive $2,500 college funds.
Visit www.jif.com and www.jifenespanol.com between July 28 and October 12 for Official Rules and the entry form. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., between 6 and 12 years of age by October 12, 2011. Contests void where prohibited. See Official Rules for complete details.
The 2011 winner was 8-year-old Margalit M. of Raleigh, N.C. for her Wushu Chicken Tacos, pairing Jif Creamy Peanut Butter with chicken, asparagus and squash, all wrapped in a tortilla. Check out these other winning recipes for inspiration.
Wushu ...Read more
