Low-Income Women 40+ in Illinois Are Eligible for Scholarships for Training and Education

CHICAGO, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The AARP Foundation today announced a call for entries to its fourth annual, nationwide Women's Scholarship Program. The scholarships will provide funds to women 40+ who are seeking new job skills, training and educational opportunities to support themselves and their families. Up to 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 will be awarded.

"The AARP Foundation is committed to elevating opportunities for women," said Merri Dee, AARP Illinois State President.  "In this economy, it is vital that women have access to the education and job training resources they need to advance their professional goals.  We are thrilled to be offering the program again this year."

Research shows that women are disproportionately at risk of having insufficient funds in the second half of their lives due to lower earning and different work patterns. The AARP Foundation created the Women's Scholarship Program in August 2007 to help women 40+ overcome financial and employment barriers by allowing them to participate in education and training opportunities they could otherwise not afford. In 2009, 108 women from across the country were awarded more than $345,000 in scholarships.  Since its beginning, the program has helped more than 350 deserving women.

Interested applicants can submit their application online beginning February 1, 2010 at www.aarp.org/womensscholarship. The application process closes on March 31, 2010. Scholarships will be awarded in early summer 2010.

Scholarships are available to women with moderate to lower incomes and limited financial resources. To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must:

• Be female age 40 or older (as of March 31, 2010);
• Be a U.S. Citizen;
• Be able to demonstrate financial need; and
• Be enrolled in an accredited school or technical training program within 6 months of the scholarship award date.

Priority is given to women in three categories: those raising the children of another family member; those in low-paying jobs with no career opportunities and who are missing either a retirement benefit and/or health insurance; and those who have been out of the workforce for more than five years. Scholarships may be used for any course of study at a public or private secondary school, including community colleges, technical schools, and four-year universities.  Funds are payable to the institution and may be used to pay for tuition, fees, and books.

Scholarship winners will be chosen by an independent selection committee established by the AARP Foundation. They will be chosen on the basis of financial need, personal circumstances and achievements, educational goals, and the likely impact of the scholarship on their lives and their families and communities.

The scholarship program is made possible by the AARP Foundation with generous support from Wal-Mart Foundation and the AARP Foundation Women's Leadership Circle cabinet.  

SOURCE AARP Illinois

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