AARP FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 4th ANNUAL WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Low-Income 40+ Women in Washington Are Eligible for Scholarships

Applications Being Accepted February 1 through March 31, 2010

Washington - The AARP Foundation has announced a call for entries to its fourth annual Women’s Scholarship Program. The scholarships will provide funds to women 40+ who are seeking new job skills, training and educational opportunities to support themselves and their families. Up to 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 will be awarded, depending on financial need and the cost of the education or training program.

“The AARP Foundation is committed to elevating opportunities for women,” said AARP State Director Doug Shadel. “Since its beginning, the program has provided valuable resources that have enabled more than 350 deserving women to have access to the educational tools to advance their professional goals. We are thrilled to be offering the program again this year.”

While many individuals benefit from the work of the AARP Foundation, research shows that women are disproportionately at risk of having insufficient funds in the second half of their lives due to lower earning and different work patterns. The AARP Foundation created the Women’s Scholarship Program in August 2007 to help women 40+ overcome financial and employment barriers by allowing them to participate in education and training opportunities they could otherwise not afford. In 2009, 108 women from all across the country were awarded more than $345,000 in educational scholarships.

Interested applicants can submit their application online beginning February 1, 2010 at www.aarp.org/womensscholarship. The application process closes on March 31, 2010. Scholarships will be awarded in early summer 2010.

Scholarships are available to eligible individuals with moderate to lower incomes and limited financial resources. To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must:

• Be female age 40 or older (as of March 31, 2010);
• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be able to demonstrate financial need; and
• Be enrolled in an accredited school or technical training program within 6 months of the scholarship award date.

Priority is given to women in three categories: those raising the children of another family member; those in low-paying jobs with no career opportunities and who are missing either a retirement benefit and/or health insurance; and those who have been out of the workforce for more than five years. Scholarships may be used for any course of study at a public or private secondary school, including community colleges, technical schools, and four-year universities. Funds are payable to the institution and may be used to pay for tuition, fees, and books.

Scholarship winners will be chosen by an independent selection committee established by the AARP Foundation. They will be chosen on the basis of financial need, personal circumstances and achievements, educational goals, and the likely impact of the scholarship on their lives and their families and communities.

The scholarship program is made possible by the AARP Foundation with generous support from Wal-Mart Foundation and the AARP Foundation Women’s Leadership Circle cabinet.

AARP Foundation

The AARP Foundation is AARP’s affiliated charity. Foundation programs provide security protection and empowerment for older persons in need. Low-income older workers receive the job training and placement they need to re-join the workforce. Free tax preparation is provided for low- and moderate-income individuals, with special attention to those 60 and older. The Foundation’s litigation staff protects the legal rights of older Americans in critical health, long-term care, consumer and employment situations. Additional programs provide information, education and services to ensure that people over 50 lead lives of independence, dignity and purpose. Foundation programs are funded by grants, tax-deductible contributions and AARP. For more information about the AARP Foundation, please log on to www.aarp.org/foundation.