Elevate Scholarships
Our executive team is all too familiar with the financial sacrifices that youth from low income households must take to fund their education, from taking on debt to working multiple jobs while going to school. Although we all graduated with student loans, we were lucky enough to receive some scholarship funding during our time at university/college which helped enormously whether it was going towards paying tuition, buying textbooks or paying living costs while on campus. As a result, we have decided to launch a scholarship fund for Black Youth with financial need. The scholarships will help alleviate the financial burden of obtaining higher education and ultimately support these youth on their journeys to finishing their degrees and diplomas.
In Spring 2021, Elevate Youth Toronto hosted our first annual scholarship fund. This year's goal was to raise $1,000 and provide two $500 dollar scholarships to low-income Black youth pursuing post-secondary education. Thanks to our supporters and generous donors, we have raised $2,500 dollars and will be providing 4 scholarships to youth attending post-secondary in September 2021.
In July 2023, Elevate Youth Toronto marked another significant milestone as we hosted our second annual scholarship fund. This year, driven by our unwavering commitment to supporting the educational endeavours of underprivileged communities, our goal was to provide assistance to even more deserving students. We're thrilled to announce that, through the tremendous support of our dedicated community members and the generosity of our donors, we successfully secured $2,000. This allowed us to award the designated four scholarships of $500 to these exceptionally promising young individuals. These accomplishments align profoundly with our belief in the transformative influence of education. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed, enabling these deserving students to take significant strides towards their aspirations. This collective endeavour underscores the importance of community and its pivotal role in shaping our future.
In November 2024, Elevate Youth Toronto launched our largest scholarship to date, in the form of four scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to help fund students enrolled in a post-secondary program. The scholarships will be launched on a quarterly basis and will be available to both past participants of our programs and new applicants. This scholarship is our way of continuing to support and empower the youth in our community to furthur their educational pursuits.
Thank you for your support!
2024 Recipients
-
Rodresa
“Before the elevate program, I was unsure of what I needed to do to get to where I want to be in the future. But with their support, I have become more confident in my journey to pediatrics and serving communities in need. Additionally, I can say that I am extremely grateful that Elevate continues to support me, as this scholarship has allowed me to be more focused on my dreams, bringing me closer to success.”
-
Noble
"Receiving this scholarship means the world to me, as it eases my financial burden and allows me to focus more on my studies and pursue my academic and career goals with renewed confidence. I am truly grateful for Elevate’s support and commitment to helping students like me achieve our dreams. With this support, I am motivated to work towards making a lasting impact in my field and community.”
-
Success
“Receiving this scholarship lifts a financial burden and allows me to focus on my education without constantly worrying about university expenses. I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity, as it empowers me to chase my dreams and pursue my passions with confidence. This support will inspire me to give back to my community in the future.”
-
Harry
“I feel very honoured to receive the scholarship. As a student-athlete, it is tough to balance school and sports life, and sometimes, you have to sacrifice a little of your finances (and yourself) to keep up. Thanks to the scholarship, I have more room to focus on school and my sport and less on the financial burden.”
2023 Recipients
-
Deangela
“I am grateful to be the recipient of this award. It’s a words like these, that acknowledge and Reward, young black youth, like myself that keep us motivated and pushing, we live in a society that build barriers to hold us back with motivation, like this, myself, and many others continue to push beyond the barriers that are put in place to hold us down. Never give up on your dreams because this is never going to be a moment. It’s going to be a movement.”
-
Peterson
“Being chosen for this scholarship is a real honour. It means a lot to have my hard work in high school be recognized. This scholarship will make sure I am well prepared for College in the fall. Thank you for supporting young people in the community and for creating so many meaningful academic and employment opportunities for youth.”
-
Keziah
“I have always been a firm believer in education and have always welcomed more opportunities to grow and learn despite not growing up with the privilege that allowed me to do so. Nonetheless I am striving every day to challenge these odds, acquire more knowledge and be someone positive in society. This scholarship award is part of my journey, and I am tremendously grateful to Elevate Youth Toronto for believing in me. They truly are elevating youths!”
-
Queenslove
“I would like to Thank the elevate team for supporting me in different aspects of my growth and education. I am truly grateful for this scholarship. It's going to go along way in helping me with transportation as i will be commuting to and from school this upcoming school year.”
2021 Recipients
-
Keziah
Keziah is a Grade 12 graduating student interested in pursuing Social Work and then possibly going into law school. She believes both social workers and lawyers play an important role in ensuring Canadian society is equitable and fair for all, and she is passionate about working in communities to achieve that goal. In her downtime she enjoys singing, trying out new recipes and reading, lately she’s been reading 10 books a month!
-
Omar
Omar will graduate this year and begin studying at Life Sciences. Omar worked hard this past school year and received Honour Roll distinction. Omar is passionate about giving back and has donated his time to supporting Black students who were struggling with online school in his building. Omar hopes to pursue a career in Dentistry and give back to his community.
-
Praise
Praise will graduate this year and begin her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto in their engineering program. She enjoys taking on complex problems and believes in the power technology can have in having a positive impact in the lives of others. When she’s not studying, she enjoys a wide variety of hobbies such as playing the piano, and volunteering at church and in her community more broadly.
-
Janelle
Janelle is a Jamaican-born high school senior who will be attending university in the fall to pursue a career in Health Sciences. She is passionate about healthcare and how it is vital to ensuring the well-being of communities. Janelled has volunteered over 100 hours of her time to organizations within her community and hopes to continue this into her university career and beyond.