Siblings of childhood cancer warriors are just as important as the patient, yet they are often overlooked as people tend to focus on the patient. For the Founder and President of Sofia's Hope this was never an option as her daughter, Gabriela, is as important as her sister Sofia. Sofia's Hope also recognizes that the financial impact on families with a child with cancer is dramatic and hopes these scholarships can help alleviate that burden making attending college a reality for these deserving warriors.
Scholarship Details
- $2,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s accredited college or university
- Includes a laptop or tablet, delivered by mail or in-person during the summer
- Scholarship awarded annually with reapplication eligibility for previous recipients
- Funds may be used for tuition and/or room and board
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a sibling of a childhood cancer survivor, current patient, or a patient who did not survive
- Must have lived in the same household as the childhood cancer patient during treatment
- Must be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited undergraduate or graduate program in the U.S.
- Must submit a physician’s letter verifying the medical history and current condition of the sibling patient
- Must provide at least one academic letter of recommendation on official letterhead
- Must write a 500-word essay on how childhood cancer impacted their life and career goals
- Must sign a release for name and photo to be used by Sofia’s Hope for promotional purposes
Application Process
- Complete and submit the full Gabriela Blanco Scholarship Application
- Include an acceptance letter or letter of good standing from your college/university
- Submit at least one academic letter of recommendation (maximum of three allowed)
- Submit a physician’s letter verifying the sibling’s cancer diagnosis and current status
- Write and submit a 500-word essay discussing the personal impact of childhood cancer
- Sign and submit a media release form (applicant and parent, if minor)
- Submit all required documents by March 15th to be considered for the Fall Semester
Scholarship recipients will receive the laptop or tablet in the summer either via mail or in-person presentation. The $2,000 award willl be paid directly to their accredited college/university by August 1st to help with tuition and/or room and board.
