FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2019
Contact: Leah Nash
[email protected]
407.629.0000 X103
HEMOPHILIA FOUNDATION AWARDS $28,800 IN ANNUAL STATEWIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
Most Recipients Pursuing Degrees in the Sunshine State
The Bleeding Disorders Foundation of Florida (BDFF) awarded 14 students attending college this fall with scholarships totaling $28,800. Since the scholarship’s inception, BDFF has granted close to $180,000 to worthy recipients with bleeding disorders.
The Calvin Dawson Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of founder and first executive director of the BDFF, has been assisting those in the bleeding disorders with their higher education for the past 20 years.
“It is always such a pleasure to help these you ng men and women as they pursue their educations,” says BDFF Executive Director Fran Haynes. “Eighty-nine percent of all BDFF fundraising dollars assist members of the bleeding disorders community, including our annual scholarships program.”
BDFF scholarships are earmarked for Floridians with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease and other related hereditary bleeding disorders. Scholarships are attainable for high school graduates pursuing post-secondary education at a college, technical or trade school, or through other certification programs. Awards are based on merit, need, community service, and ambitions of the applicant as reflected in an essay.
Only two recipients are attending out-of-state schools while the remainder remain in state. This year’s recipients are:
Alexia Barillas, (Boca Raton) Palm Beach State College; Andrew Farren, (St. Petersburg) St. Petersburg College; Faith Runyon (Ocala) College of Central Florida; Herman Robinson (Tampa) Webber International University; Hope Runyon (Ocala) College of Central Florida; James Solomon (Clermont) University of Central Florida; Justin Horbacz (Reunion) University of Florida; Michael Berkman (Windermere) Syracuse University; Miguel Diaz-Burgos (Ocoee) Valencia College; Natalie Rubin (Tampa) University of South Florida; Olivia HoffSaint (Tampa) Mary’s College; Raymond Torres (Valrico) University of Central Florida; Tyler Nazario (Melbourne) Eastern Florida State College; and Xavier Fuentes (Orange Park) University of Florida.
Please visit hemophiliaflorida.org for more information about BDFF, hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, and/or BDFF fundraising walks.
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Note To Media: If you’d like more information about the Bleeding Disorders Foundation of Florida, or to schedule an interview with BDFF staff or members of the bleeding disorders community, please contact Leah Nash at [email protected] or 407.629.0000 X103.