Scholarships
Helen Veress-Mitchell Scholarship Fund
This coming year, CCAF will have its first master's program graduate. In all, nearly two dozen students are in college receiving or have received funds from the Helen Veress-Mitchell Scholarship Fund. Since 2002, CCAF has accrued donations totaling about $70,000 to distribute to college students living with HIV/AIDS. Most are pursuing careers in the health care field in hopes of helping other people living with HIV/AIDS.

The Helen Veress-Mitchell Fund was established in memory of the mother of Joyce Mitchell, vice-chair and one of CCAF's founders. She also heads up the Scholarship Fund committee. "The scholarship fund is something my mother would be very proud of," said Mitchell. "I couldn't think of a better way of keeping her memory alive."

The first scholarship recipient contracted HIV through a blood transfusion as a baby. The young woman, who has asked that her name not be publicized, grew-up in foster care, group homes and emergency shelters. The petite, well-spoken scholarship grantee has requested anonymity because she's afraid that people will judge her and treat her differently if they find out she has HIV/AIDS. She lives alone, receives no government assistance and has worked for years to support herself while attending college.

More and more, with medications helping people manage their health; children infected at birth are growing into young adults living with HIV/AIDS. Many have lost their parents to the disease and are on their own. The Helen Veress-Mitchell Fund is dedicated to helping these young people move forward with their lives and attend college.

Lisa Scholarship Guidelines and Application (pdf)