United Way council establishes college scholarship

NEWTON — United Way of Northern New Jersey Women’s Leadership Council is partnering with the Sussex County Community College Foundation to establish annual scholarships to help female students afford the cost of college.

The partnership was launched by United Way with $4,000 raised from the annual United Way Honey Open Golf Outing. In June, the SCCC Foundation’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to provide a 1-to-1 match of an additional $4,000.

Called the ALICE Scholarships, the awards will support female students in financial need who are pursuing a degree or certificate program tailored to prepare individuals for jobs in-demand across the region.

Eligible course work can lead either to employment or to a transfer program at a four-year institution of higher education.

The first scholarships will be awarded in the fall of 2015.

ALICE is a United Way acronym that stands for asset limited, income constrained, employed and represents the nearly 25 percent of Sussex County households that earn more than the poverty level, but not enough to afford the basic cost of living.

“United Way Women’s Leadership Council is pleased to partner with the Foundation to support women who deserve a chance to reach their full potential,” said Council Director Sarah Brelvi. “Through the ALICE scholarships, we are helping women on their path to employment and, ultimately, to financial independence.”

Brelvi said that United Way saw the scholarships as a fitting tribute to the founder of the golf outing, Helen “Honey” Ackerman. The former Sussex County Clerk had a passion for giving back to her community, most especially to help women and children build better lives. This year’s golf outing is scheduled for Sept. 28 at the Farmstead Golf and Country Club in Lafayette Township. Event proceeds will support the scholarships.

“We are delighted to continue SCCC’s long partnership with United Way and their long tradition of the Honey Open to be able to provide much needed scholarship support for students. Almost 60 percent of SCCC’s students need financial support and these important scholarships will help to bridge the gap between tuition and financial aid,” said Karen DiMaria, SCCC’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

The SCCC Foundation raises funds through outreach and special events to support special college initiatives such as technology and infrastructure upgrades, program development, faculty development and student scholarships.

Students interested in applying for an ALICE Scholarship can contact the SCCC Foundation at 973-300-2121 and the applications for Spring 2016 awards will be available from Sept. 11 through Oct. 21, 2015.

For more information about the United Way Honey Open Golf Outing, visit UnitedWayNNJ.org/HoneyOpen2015 or email Monica.Lemperle@UnitedWayNNJ.org.