Friends of Zayne Adams -aka- FOZA, Inc. is committed to supporting children who are left behind. This scholarship will be awarded to a student who has lost a mother due to a maternal suicide related to postpartum depression. Suicide related to maternal mental illness typically occurs during late pregnacy and up to a year after child birth.
Scholarship Details
- Designed to increase awareness of maternal mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding postpartum depression
- Recipients must agree to have their name, story, essay excerpts, and photo or video shared on the FOZA website and related platforms
- Applicants should be prepared to verify the circumstances of their mother's death during the selection process
Eligibility Criteria
- Must have lost a mother due to a maternal suicide that occurred during pregnancy or within one year after childbirth
- Must identify as African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, or Native American or Indigenous
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident
- Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Must be a graduating high school senior or a college freshman, sophomore, or junior in the upcoming academic year
Application Process
- Complete the scholarship application
- Submit an official current academic transcript
- Provide confirmation of the mother's death by suicide
- Write and submit a one-page essay titled "Why Community Service Is Important to Me"
- If applicable, include tribal affiliation as part of the application
- Respond to any follow-up requests from FOZA Inc., including a personal interview and additional documentation needed to verify eligibility
Award winners must agree to have their name, story, essay excerpts and photo/video posted on the FOZA Website and supporting platforms. We ask this in order to stop the silence, the stigma, the suffering and suicides that can accompany Postpartum Depression.
