In 2019, we formed The Girlz in the Hoodie Scholarship Committee. Although the breast cancer battle is challenging for the individual, we know it affects the families just as much. It’s a battle for everyone in the home. The financial burden of medical bills often takes priority over savings like student college funds. There was a need for our scholarship that we wanted to fulfill. Our program is an additional way to support families affected by breast cancer.

Every April, we reach out to participating schools in Lycoming County to award a $1,000 scholarship to graduating seniors. Each student must be attending a certified 2 or 4-year college and have a parent or guardian who has lost their life to breast cancer, or who is currently in the fight, or is in remission. The application consists of telling a little backstory of their journey with breast cancer and how this scholarship will help in furthering their education.

It is a truly bittersweet endeavor – on one hand we wish graduates wouldn’t have to apply because breast cancer wouldn’t exist. At the same time, we’re more than happy to help families in a different way and enjoy reading the individual journeys with this disease.

In 2023, we furthered our reach from Lycoming County, PA, into three other states including California, Florida, and Texas. In the years to come, we hope to include additional states with help from our donors.