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Letter to the editor

Scholarship fund continues to help minority women

Fortune Education Foundation gives more than $213,000 to 14 African-American students.

By DEMORRIS LEE
Published June 10, 2005

CARROLLWOOD - Amelia Yates' future is brighter than ever. She just graduated from King High School, where she was a shooting guard on the basketball team. She may get a basketball scholarship. But if not, she still has a way to pay for college.

Natasha Venzen is in the same position. A member of Leto High School's Class of 2005, her scholarship allows her to attend Florida Southern Lakeland, a private college.

Yates, Venzen and 12 other recent African-American female high school graduates received more than $213,000 in scholarship money from a local organization, the Fortune Education Foundation.

"I need the money to go to school because my family doesn't have it," said Yates, who received a full ride to Hillsborough Community College and anywhere else she chooses to transfer after two years. Yates, 18, plans to major in sports medicine with a minor in business.

The scholarship is allowing Venzen, 18, to attend the college that she wants.

"I wouldn't have gone to a private school if I didn't get this scholarship," Venzen said. She will receive $76,000 over four years from the foundation and plans to major in primary education.

In its 13th year of giving money to African-American girls, the Fortune Education Foundation was started by Lee Ware of Carrollwood. In addition to the $213,000 given this year, the foundation will renew $199,000 in scholarships from previous years.

The scholarships target inner city girls of single parents. The recipients must have a 3.0 grade point average, write an essay and undergo a personal interview.

"You have to be careful of what you pray for," Ware said with a laugh. "You might just get it because this is getting bigger and bigger."

Ware said she prayed and asked God for a way to create a scholarship network for African-Americans.

The answer, she said, has resulted in a scholarship campaign that has grown from four $1,000 scholarships in 1993 to the nearly half-million that's distributed today. She's also recently started a program for girls 10 to 13 years old.

"We are the largest African-American donor in the bay area," Ware said of the scholarships.

Ware said other organizations may give one-time scholarships, but the foundation's are continual.

The foundation's annual fundraiser has been the main source of income for scholarships.

A "Celebrity Elegance Auction and Dinner Gala" this Saturday will include a banquet at the Hyatt Regency on N Tampa Street that will feature local jazz artist Eric Darius. There will also be a silent and live auction that will include airline tickets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers memorabilia, articles signed by tennis star Serena Williams and a host of other items.

"There will be a little something for everybody to buy," Ware said.

Scholarship recipients must keep a C average, participate in certain foundation events including the Gala, and they must have a mentor and become a mentor in order to keep the money flowing to their education.

"Mentoring teaches them to give back to the community," Ware said. "That's crucial to me, for them to give back."

Yates likes the mentoring arrangement.

"When you learn something, you got to be taught by someone and you in turn have to teach someone else," Yates said. "Knowing that someone else is looking up to you keeps you on track."

Venzen agreed.

"I don't mind giving back," she said. "Someone gives to me, I don't and shouldn't mind giving to others."

For more information about Saturday's event or the Fortune Education Foundation, call (813) 936-9090 or (813) 924-6713.

- Demorris Lee can be reached at 813 269-5312 or dalee@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 9, 2005, 10:29:11]