Applications may be submitted for scholarships for a wide variety of extracurricular activities, such as sports teams, music lessons, dance, theatre, and more. You may also apply for funding for equipment (uniforms, shoes, items, etc.) that the child will need in order to participate in the activity. The maximum amount of funding available per child, per calendar year is $500.
Please submit applications and have the child’s letter of recommendation sent in at least THREE WEEKS PRIOR to the date the requested funds are due. If approved, you will be contacted to schedule a meeting (parent/guardian AND child) at our office to go over our agreement, photo waiver and present you with the scholarship funds.
Eligibility
- Child must be age 5 to 18 and enrolled in K-12 school.
- Child must qualify for the free OR reduced lunch program at school.
- Family must live within the Columbia Public Schools district boundaries (Columbia, MO).
Application Requirements
- Fill out the application, available online HERE.
- Provide at least ONE letter of recommendation for the child from a non-family member. The best letters typically come from teachers, coaches, counselors, school administrators, case workers, etc. This can be uploaded to the application, mailed to our office, or emailed to kids@daydreamsfoundation.org.
- Copy of letter/form from the child’s school indicating child qualifies for free or reduced lunch at school. Or you can provide proof of all family income. This can be uploaded to the application, mailed to our office, or emailed to kids@daydreamsfoundation.org. If you need to request a new letter, please contact CPS Nutrition Services at (573) 214-3480 or lunch@cpsk12.org.
Other Requirements
If application is approved, parent/guardian will need to provide the following at a meeting with a Day Dreams Foundation representative:
- Any official form listing the child’s date of birth to verify age.
Community Service
Children in the program are expected to get involved in the community while they are on scholarship. This can be either through a non-profit organization, or something as simple as raking leaves for a neighbor.