Student Humanitarian Creates “Future Is Yours - WV Child” Scholarship Fund

The Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc. announces a new scholarship fund created by 15-year old Hedgesville, WV student Kati Hatfield, Future Is Yours - WV Child Scholarship Fund. Having faced struggles of her own, Hatfield intends for this scholarship to benefit a West Virginia high school graduate who has an ADHD diagnosis and who is, or was at some point, either a ward of the state, foster child or adoptee, internationally or domestically.Hatfield’s means of raising funds for this scholarship is gaining attention - unique bracelets, necklaces and earrings that she sells locally at Nelson’s Supply in Hedgesville, WV and Westwood Charm Boutique in Martinsburg, WV and through her Facebook page, named after her title of Miss Rhododendron's Outstanding Teen 2020, facebook.com/missrhododendronsoteen2020. When asked why she wanted to start this scholarship to begin with, Kati answered, “The main thing I noticed among foster care children is that sometimes they do not have the financial security to attend college and I wanted to create a scholarship for foster care, adoptees, or wards of the state in order to help them to get a college or trade school education.”All funds raised through jewelry sales benefit the scholarship fund directly, with set prices and suggested additional donation dollars. Applications are currently being accepted through the Community Foundation of Washington County with a deadline of March 15th at 11:59pm. Applicants must be a high school student who resides in one of West Virginia’s 55 counties, have an ADHD diagnosis, was at some point a ward of the state, foster child or adoptee, has been accepted into a college, university, or trade school.“These foster care kids are once where I was. I was once an orphan and was blessed with a wonderful family. Some of these children do not have what I do now and because of my awareness of this, I want to give back to them so that if nothing else, they can pursue an education as they work to secure a good life for themselves and their future family,” said Hatfield.General contributions to support this fund can be made by visiting the Community Foundation’s website cfwcmd.org or by delivering checks to 37 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown MD, 21740.