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This coming year, CCAF will have its first four-year college graduate. In all, more than a dozen students are in college receiving funding from the Helen Veress-Mitchell Scholarship Fund set up in 2002. Since then, CCAF has accrued donations of $40,000 to distribute to college students living with HIV/AIDS. Most are pursuing careers in the health care field in hopes of helping other people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Helen Veress-Mitchell Fund was established in memory of the mother of Joyce Mitchell, vice-chair of CCAF and head of the scholarship committee. “The scholarship fund is something my mother would be very proud of,” said Mitchell. “I couldn’t think of a better way of keeping her memory alive.”
The first scholarship recipient contracted HIV through a blood transfusion as a baby. The young woman, who has asked that her name not be publicized, grew-up in foster care, group homes and emergency shelters. The petite, well-spoken scholarship grantee has requested anonymity because she’s afraid that people will judge her and treat her differently if they find out she has HIV/AIDS. She lives alone, receives no government assistance and has worked for years to support herself while attending college.
More and more, with medications helping people manage their health; children infected at birth are growing into young adults living with HIV/AIDS. Many have lost their parents to the disease and are on their own. The Helen Veress-Mitchell Fund is dedicated to helping these young people move forward with their lives and attend college.
For information on how to apply for a scholarship or donate to the fund, contact Contact Ted Ross at (916) 446-4744 or Joyce Mitchell at (916) 480-9770 or write The Helen Veress-Mitchell Scholarship Fund at 1912 F Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95614.
Application Guidelines
Scholarship Fund Application
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