FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2019
Media Contact: Stephanie Hogenson
Outreach Director, Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota
shogenson@childrensdefense.org, 612-978-7365
Five Twin Cities area high school seniors have been selected to receive scholarships in recognition of academic excellence while overcoming tremendous adversity
St. Paul, Minn. – Aye Win and Isabella Brown from Como Park Senior High School in St. Paul, Israel Glenn and Kenija Wallace from North Community High School in Minneapolis, and Jasmine Salter from Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis were recently announced as the 2019 Beat the Odds scholarship recipients. Children’s Defense Fund- Minnesota (CDF-MN) sponsors these awards to recognize students who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership in their communities and college aspirations in spite of facing often overwhelming obstacles such as poverty, abuse, health challenges, homelessness and family tragedy. These students will be honored on Thursday, April 18 at the CDF-MN’s 27th annual Beat the Odds Awards Celebration to be held at St. Thomas University in the James B Woulfe Alumni Hall.
Since 1993 CDF-MN has honored nearly 300 Beat the Odds scholarship recipients and finalists. This year’s award winners were chosen out of 273 applicants. This year’s five honorees will each receive a $5,000 scholarship, a computer, and an array of college supplies to help them pursue their dreams of higher education.
The Beat the Odds awards celebration is an evening of fun, inspiration and celebration that highlights the difference that community support can make in the lives of young people. It also serves as a fundraiser for the work of CDF-MN, which is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the lives of Minnesota children and their families through advocacy, education, outreach and youth development. This year’s event begins with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. for a cocktail reception and the program following at 6:30 p.m.
The highlight of the evening‘s program will be the introduction of the students and their remarkable stories. The night’s keynote address will be delivered by renowned advocate, speaker and author Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president emerita of the national Children’s Defense Fund. Under Edelman’s 45-year leadership, CDF has grown into the nation’s strongest voice for children and families. In addition, local advertising and marketing giant, Fallon, will receive the Champion of Children Award for its support of Minnesota children through its nearly 30-year partnership with CDF-MN. Fallon has donated an estimated 2000 hours annually in staff support, student video production, invitation and program design and other advertising and marketing materials for the Beat the Odds event since the program’s inception 27 years ago.
Tickets to the celebration are available online and will be available at the door the night of the event. Details can be found at: https://one.bidpal.net/bto2019. Proceeds go to help support CDF-MN’s ongoing efforts to change the odds for all Minnesota children.
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ATTN Editors: Bios and photos for Aye Winn, Isabella Brown, Israel Glenn, Kenija Wallace and Jasmine Salter are available upon request. If interested, you may arrange an interview with one of the Beat the Odds honorees by contacting Stephanie Hogenson, whose contact information is listed above.
The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.